You’ve done a lot of work this semester, and of course I’ve been reading and responding as the semester has progressed, but now is the time to compile all of it into a manageable form.

The introduction to the portfolio serves several purposes:

• The introduction serves the rhetorical purpose of telling me how I should read this work.  You as the writer of this work have every right to expect me to read it in a certain way, and your directions will be most helpful in letting me know how. 

• The introduction highlights information you want me to pay particular attention to.  Maybe you feel particularly proud of your teaching philosophy.  Maybe you think your lesson plan kicks.  You’ll want to direct my attention to that in the introduction. 

• The introduction shows your ability to reflect on and contextualize your work.  You can make a statement about the improvement of your work this semester or how what you’ve put in the portfolio reflects the theories and principles we’ve been reading about all semester. 

• The introduction includes a statement that explains how this course will influence your future teaching. You will be asked to do so during screening in your junior year. If you are unable to talk quite specifically about what you learned in your pedagogy courses about teaching, chances are you will not pass screening.  This introduction provides you with a chance to practice articulating your teaching ideas and philosophy and how this course has impacted them.

Write your formal introduction (textbook level of editing) with these purposes in mind, and check the portfolio rubric for specific details on how this part of your portfolio will be formally assessed.

Questions?  Please raise them in class so that everyone may benefit from the clarification.