McClintic SP17

My International Experience
Portfolio Assignment
Description

Throughout the semester, you will be applying specific grammar structures to various writing and
speaking tasks. In order to highlight your grammar knowledge, you will be creating an online portfolio.
The purpose of the portfolio is to show your progress throughout the entire semester and to help you
develop a more analytical perspective of your grammar in writing and speaking. In addition, it will give
others the opportunity to learn more about you!

The portfolio will include a variety of topics and examples of both formal and informal language. Most
assignments will be peer revised and graded by your instructor. The type of assessment—major or
minor---will be determined by your instructor. The content of your online portfolio will be given to you
as each grammatical structure(s) are discussed in class in the form of modules. There will be 4-5
modules throughout the semester.

**Use your creativity and imagination. This is your chance to show your personality to others.**

Online Component & Requirements

You will create your online portfolio using Weebly, a free website builder software. You will need to
create an account at www.weebly.com.

Your online portfolio should be structured in the following format:

 Title (home) page: My International Experience

o Reflective Statement (this will be completed at the end of the term)
o Pictures, videos, quotes, etc.
 Pages (tabs)
1. About Me
2. Exploring American Culture
3. Advice for Future International Students
4. Where I’m From
5. Reflection: Where I’m Going (Career and Academic Success)
 Pictures, videos, quotes, etc. throughout
You will have time to work on your projects in the computer lab every Thursday; however, you may also
need to work on your online portfolio outside of class. This is an on-going assignment.

Sample Portfolios

Katie: International Experience in Indonesia: http://katiemccindonesiaelf.weebly.com/

Sample student portfolio: https://sites.google.com/site/mcclintic9440project/home

 McClintic SP17

Online Portfolio Module 1: About ME

Module 1 Overview

In this module, you will be writing one-to-two paragraphs using a variety of verb tenses with time
clauses and phrases. For each paragraph, you will focus on target grammatical structures. This means
that you must use the target grammar least ONCE in each section.

However, you should try to use the various structures multiple times in order to practice using them in
context.

Submission / Grading

Once you have completed the final draft of each section, you will upload it to your online portfolio. After
you have completed all four sections, you will submit all of them to me in one document via Canvas in
modules Portfolio Project Portfolio Module 1: All about Me”. This will be graded as a major
assignment. You will be graded on the following:

 Target grammatical structures

 Overall accuracy of other grammatical structures
 Editing / Revising of grammatical structures

Section Section Description Target Grammar / Units

Number
My Goal Unit 2
1 What are some of your goals? What have you done or  Present Perfect
have been doing to reach this goal?  Present Perfect Progressive
( based off the example on p. 47)  Time clauses
Unit 1
2 This is ME!  Simple Tenses in past,
Introduction: give basic information about yourself present, and future
 Time clauses
Unit 2
3 My Life Before MU  Simple Past
What has changed about you since you arrived in the US?  Past Perfect
What are you proudest of—personally, professionally, or  Past Perfect Progressive
academically—in your life? Why?  Time clauses / phrases
Unit 3
4 My Plans  Simple Future 3.1, 3.2 (will,
Paragraph about future plans. What will you be doing in 5 be + going + to, present
years? 10 years? 20 years? progressive)
 Future Progressive 3.5
 McClintic SP17

Online Portfolio Module 2: Exploring American Culture (25 points)

Module 2 Overview

In this module, you will be writing a one-to-two paragraph summary and response about your American
culture interviews. For each paragraph, you will focus on target grammatical structures. This means
that you must use the target grammar least ONCE in each section. However, you should try to use the
various structures multiple times in order to practice using them in context.

Submission / Grading

Once you have completed the final draft of each section, you will upload it to your online portfolio. After
you have completed all four sections, you will submit all of them to me in one document via Canvas in
modules Portfolio Project Portfolio Module 2: Exploring American Culture”. This will be graded as
a major assignment. You will be graded on the following:

 Target grammatical structures

 Overall accuracy of other grammatical structures
 Editing / Revising of grammatical structures

Section Section Description Target Grammar /

Number Units
Interview Questions Unit 14
1 1. What are some things that Americans do that you find Embedded Questions:
interesting, confusing, etc.? With your group, make a list of information and
questions and/or observations about life in this country that you Yes/No questions
would like to know more about.  charts 14.2 and
14.3
2. Rewrite the questions in a more indirect form by creating
embedded questions using noun clauses.

3. With your group, conduct your interviews and record the

responses.

Unit 14
2 Interview Summary (1 paragraph) Reported speech
1. Type the answers you recorded during your interviews as direct  charts 14.4, 14.5,
quotes in your group document. 14.6

2. Summarize your interviews using reported speech. Include the Unit 12

following information in your summary: Adverb clauses to
a. Who you interviewed show reason/purpose
b. When and where did you do the interview  chart 12.3
c. What questions you asked
d. What were the responses to those questions
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Section Section Description Target Grammar /

Number Units

3 Interview Response (1 paragraph) Unit 14

Briefly summarize your predictions about the answers to your Noun clauses with
questions. “that” to give you
opinion/reaction
Describe your reaction to the responses that you got from your  chart 14.1 and the
interviews. Were you surprised by the answers? Were the answers yellow handout
similar to your own predictions about the answers?
Unit 12
Adverb clauses to
show contrast
 chart 12.2
 McClintic SP17

Online Portfolio Module 3: Advice for Future IEP Students (25 points)

Module 3 Overview

In this module, you will work in groups to create suggestions for future IEP students coming to the
University of Missouri.

Submission / Grading

Once you have completed the final VoiceThread, you will be graded on the following aspects:

 Target grammatical structures

 Overall accuracy of other grammatical structures
 Editing / Revising of grammatical structures

Section Section Description Target Grammar /

Number Units
List: Top Ten Tips Unit 7
1 You have a friend who is interested in studying at the University of Modals Part 1
Missouri. Your friend has studied English in the past, but she might pp. 176-199
need to take classes at the IEP. In addition, your friend has never (necessity, obligation,
advice, etc.)
been to the USA and has never even left her home country! What
advice can you give your friend about studying English, studying at Unit 8
MU, traveling abroad, and living in the USA? Modals Part 2
pp. 208-228)
Write a list of the top ten things new students who want to come to (possibility and
the IEP should know; explain why future students need to know this. logical conclusions)

2 PowerPoint: Top Ten Tips Unit 13

Create a PowerPoint presentation with your group. Your Conditionals
presentation should have 12 slides: chart 13.1 and 13.2—
 slide 1: title of presentation, group members, date present/future real
 slides 2-11: top ten tips with images conditionals
 slide 12: Final comment

Unit 13
3 VoiceThread: Personal Examples Conditionals
Think about your own experience of preparing to study at the IEP. pp. 358-385
What would you have done differently? What should you have done charts 13.3, 13.5
to prepare for your time here in the USA? Include some specific
examples from your experience. Give some advice based on your Wish
experiences and what you have learned. pp. 358-385
charts 13.4, 13.6
 McClintic SP17

Online Portfolio Module 4: A Tour of My Hometown (25 points)

Module 4 Overview

In this module, you will create a virtual tour of your hometown. Your tour can include pictures and
video of your hometown, your family, your house, or anything else you want to include. You will also
provide brief written descriptions of the videos/images that you provide.

Submission / Grading

Once you have completed the project and posted it in your online portfolio, you will be graded on the
following aspects:

 Target grammatical structures

 Overall accuracy of other grammatical structures
 Editing / Revising of grammatical structures

Section Section Description Target Grammar /

Number Units
Unit 11
1 Collecting, organizing, and describing your pictures/videos Adjective clauses
Begin you project by deciding on what images of your hometown charts:
you would like to include. You can include both video and pictures if 11.1 Subject focus
you want. Your project must include at least 3 photos or videos. 11.2 Nonessential AC
11.3 AC with whose
11.4 Object focus
For each photo or video, you will write a brief description (1-2 11.6 Reduced AC
sentences) of the content of the photo or video. Use a variety of 11.7 AC with where
essential and non-essential adjective clauses to help the viewer and when
understand what is happening in the photo/video.
Unit 5
Count/Non-count
2 Your hometown: an overview Nouns
Write a brief description of your hometown (3-4 sentences). In your chart 5.1 (p.118);
description, try to include a variety of adjective clauses, count and handouts
non-count nouns, and expressions of quantity to help make your
description more specific. Unit 5
Count/Non-count
Nouns with Quantity
Expressions
chart 5.2 (p. 120);
handouts