Your Portfolio - Overview
(Note: Current students should check Blackboard for details regarding the following:
1. Portfolio and extra credit opportunities, 2. Portfolio grading and deadlines, 3. Example portfolio plans
)

Portfolio Project concept and goals
The portfolio project is the central out-of-class activity for this course. Your portfolio project will allow you to learn in depth about a sustainability-related subject that interests you. No two students will do the same portfolio project — the portfolio is designed to allow you to explore a topic that interests you by doing self-directed activities and field experiences that you either choose from our suggestions or design yourself. Your portfolio will consist of 10 “units.” Units assignments are made such that each portfolio turned in as part of the class requires approximately the same amount of work. (See examples of units and portfolio plans below.) This assignment provides you with a chance to get credit for exploring something that interests you by doing activities that you enjoy – we encourage you to be creative! We also require you to choose at least one “off the couch” (OTC) portfolio activity that gives you the chance to go somewhere, see something, or do something.

Portfolio Components
Your portfolio will include the following components. Note that, in addition to the completing 10 portfolio units as described below, you also must submit a one-page portfolio proposal and give a short presentations to your section. See the grading rubric linked at the top of this document for a description of how your portfolio will be evaluated.

 

  1. Reflection/Synthesis Essay (3 Units)
    Write a 750-word reflection essay that synthesizes the key ideas and themes in the components of your portfolio, and that provides your perspective on the theme in terms of the nature of the challenges and/or potential solutions. You will write this after you have completed the other 7 portfolio units. See the grading rubric at the end of this document for a list of necessary components.

  2. News Thread (1 Unit)
    Find at least two news articles from reliable sources that discuss aspects of sustainability that are related to your chosen topic. Write 250 words to summarize your findings. Example topics are given for each theme. Do not use one of the topics given, you must come up with your own news thread. See the grading rubric at the end of this document for a list of necessary components.

  3. Portfolio Activities of Your Choice (6 Units
    Choose or design a combination of activities that help you to explore your chosen portfolio subject. You can choose any combination of activities so long as they total at least 6 Units. See below for suggested activities; feel free (and you are encouraged!) to design your own (provided that you clear them with your TA). One of your portfolio activities must be an “off the couch” (“OTC”) activity, in which you must go somewhere and/or do something away from your typical study area. In the list of pre-approved portfolio activities posted on the web, “off the couch” activities are denoted with “OTC” beside the activity name.

 


Propose your own portfolio activities (optional)

We encourage you to design and/or seek out your own portfolio activities. If you have one or more ideas for a worthwhile activity that you would like to make part of your unique portfolio project, send your TA an email with the subject heading “Proposed Unique Portfolio Activity(ies)” in which (1) describe what you plan to do and (2) suggest the number of units that you think your efforts will be worth. If you would like that one of your proposed activities count as your “off the couch” activity, specify why in your email. Your TA will ask for clarification if necessary. Please note that if you complete an activity without first obtaining the approval of your TA to use the activity as a component in your portfolio, then credit for the activity as a component of your portfolio is NOT guaranteed and is solely at the discretion of your TA.