Hamernick 1

Samantha Hamernick
1844 10th St. N. #106
Fargo, ND 58102
651-303-8004
Samantha.Hamernick@ndsu.edu

English Department
NDSU Dept. 2320
P.O. Box 6050
Fargo, ND 58108

Dear Assessment Committee,

During my time in the English program at North Dakota State University, I have
developed writing, analytic, and communication skills transferable to future graduate school
studies and professional endeavors. This letter introduces written work from my undergraduate
years that depict departmental outcomes 1 and 7. For outcome 1, I will present the following
writing samples: a research essay and Prezi Presentation from English 358, a media review from
English 358, and a painting from English 315. For outcome 7, I will present the following
writing samples: my Capstone paper from English 467 and my TAPP editing assignment from
English. Below, you will find sections for each outcome and subsections of each portion of the
outcome. In each subsection, I introduce the project, the class it was assigned, why the work is of
my best, how the assignment is related to the outcome, and how it could be revised.
Outcome 1
English majors will be able to write and speak effectively for a variety of purposes.
For English 358, I completed two essays that show my ability to write and speak
effectively for a variety of purposes a research paper and a media review. I consider the
research paper one of my best works because the process of completing it assisted me in my
Capstone research. One improvement I could make on this assignment is limiting my focus of
scholars to analyze more in depth on a subject. I consider the media review one of my best works
because it effectively portrayed the NDSU theatre production and actors of Peter Pan.
The purpose of the research paper is presented in the following quote from the abstract of
the essay: the purpose of this paper is to review literature from prominent scholars in
multilingual and transnational literacy studies who have investigated this relationship or a
portion of it (1). The supplemental Prezi Presentation for this research project shows my ability
to speak effectively about my research. The purpose of the media review was to inform and
entertain an audience about the NDSU theatre production of Peter Pan. All of these projects have
clear differences in their purposes and thus represent my ability to write and speak effectively for
a variety of purposes.

Hamernick 2
English majors will be able to write and speak effectively for a variety of audiences.
The research paper and media review written for English 358 show my ability to write
and speak for a variety of audience. The audience of the research paper is an academic interested
in refugee literacy studies. The audience for the media review is quite different. I address the
audience of the production of Peter Pan in the media review when I write, the actors must-see
performances leave the audience questioning the balance between adventure and home while
constantly yearning for childlike innocence and pure happiness (3). Since I am addressing a
potential audience of the play in the essay, I am inadvertently addressing this audience in the
quote as well. I am speaking directly to people who are thinking about attending Peter Pan. If I
were to revise this assignment, I would give a more critical review; the current review is very
persuasive and shows that I enjoyed the play and would recommend it, but I think it is important
to include the negative aspects in a review as well. The audience for the media review very
different than the audience for the research paper, and thus, combined, these documents represent
my ability to write and speak effectively for a variety of audiences.
English majors will be able to write and speak effectively in a variety of genres and media.
The above-mentioned research paper and media review from English 358, combined with
the painting for English 315, represent the multitude of genres and media I able to write and
speak effectively in. The genres for the essays are clear in the name of the assignment research
and review. Many of the pieces created for English courses are in written form; the painting
completed for English 315 represents my ability to speak across genres, in this case, art. I
consider this painting one of my best works because I was able to speak through an entirely new
genre in an academic setting. The painting represents an analysis of a scene from Triston and
Isolde. I aimed to capture the themes of love and tragedy in the painting; I communicated this
through colors, textures, objects, and positions. If I were to revise this assignment, I would be
clearer in the my visual analysis. I think I would develop a more abstract painting that could be
interpreted more, rather than the very realistic one presented here. Since these documents are all
different, yet successful, they show my ability to write and speak effectively in a variety of
genres and media.
Outcome 7
English Majors will develop professionalism exhibited in such qualities as self-direction,
cooperation, civility, and reliability.
My Capstone project, completed for English 467, helped me develop professionalism;
this professionalism is exhibited in the self-direction, cooperation, civility, and reliability of the
project. This is my best undergraduate work, by far. I am proud of this work because it is an
exhibition of my best writing on a topic I am passionate about. I chose the project, set deadlines,
and completed the project by myself, with guidance from my mentor as needed. For the project, I
had to cooperate with many parties: my mentor, high school teachers, the IRB office officials,
interviewees, and peers. Finally, for the success of the project, I had to be a reliable participant. I
had to schedule and attend meetings with my mentor and interviewees regularly. All of this
combined shows how I developed professionalism with this project.

Hamernick 3
English Majors will develop professionalism exhibited in such qualities as care in editing and
presenting the final product.
I believe my TAPP editing assignment, completed for English 455, exhibits professional
development through care in editing and presentation of a final product. The process of
completing this assignment is an example of care in editing; I worked with a student in Greece to
perfect the word choice and grammar for an American audience. Furthermore, we consulted
grammar handbooks and cultural textbooks to perfect the document. I was working towards a
perfect final presentation of the document during the process.
Thank you for reading my portfolio, I hope you enjoy the included writing samples. All
of the mentioned portfolio items can be found on my E-Portfolio at this address:
https://samanthahamernick.wordpress.com/

Sincerely,

Samantha Hamernick