A writing portfolio is more than a collection of finished pieces: it can also show how your ideas and composing habits develop. In this lesson, you will reflect on the research and drafting behind your profile, consider how your process shaped the final piece, and organize your insights for an instructor.
Begin by taking notes about your experience researching and drafting the profile. Consider what you discovered about yourself as a writer, what surprised you in your research, and whether your understanding of the profile’s central trait changed or was reinforced.
All flashcards
What is process reflection?
Process reflection examines what a writer learned while researching and composing, including how decisions and challenges influenced the finished work.
What counts as primary research for a profile?
Primary research involves gathering information directly, such as through interviews or field observations.
What is secondary research?
Secondary research uses existing materials, including academic publications and other credible sources, to develop and support understanding of a subject.
How can a writer organize reflection notes?
Group related insights into coherent themes, such as challenging versus manageable tasks or familiar versus new parts of the writing process.
What should a writer clarify before submitting a reflection?
Ask the instructor whether the reflection should be sent by email or attached to the final profile document.
Quiz questions
What is one purpose of reflecting on the process of writing a profile?Answer: To understand what the writer learned and how composing choices shaped the final piece.
Which activity is an example of primary research for a profile?Answer: Interviewing the person being profiled.
How can a writer make a process reflection more informative?Answer: Use specific examples to show how research or drafting choices influenced the profile.
An interview leads a writer to see a subject's defining trait differently. What is the most useful reflective response?Answer: Explain how the new understanding affected the profile's interpretation or focus.
Why organize reflection notes around themes such as familiar and new tasks?Answer: Themes bring related insights together in a coherent account.
Based on Writing Guide with Handbook by Michelle Bachelor Robinson, Maria Jerskey, featuring Toby Fulwiler (OpenStax), licensed CC BY 4.0. Adapted into a summary, flashcards and quizzes.