PWR Portfolios

One of the most powerful tools that Professional Writing and Rhetoric (PWR) majors can develop as they prepare for graduation is a portfolio. At Elon, PWR majors must produce a senior portfolio as a part of their senior assessment process. These portfolios go to outside readers for evaluation and are intended to

  • sum up a stage of your academic career
  • provide an image of both your development over time and your current level of accomplishment
  • engage you in a reflective process on your own academic achievements as well as your future aspirations—a looking forward and backward simultaneously.

Portfolios also enable you to showcase your PWR strategies for potential employers. Alumni have told us that their portfolio was instrumental in their job search and helped them stand out from other candidates. Browse the selection of senior portfolios below for examples. Until 2017, seniors were required to complete their work in the e-portfolio program Digication, but seniors may now choose any platform suitable for a digital portfolio.

PWR faculty encourage you to keep physical and electronic copies of all your projects, both drafts and final revisions, in a file or notebook so that you are better prepared to meet portfolio deadlines during your senior year. Items in the senior portfolio will likely come from your coursework, internships, research, and other experiences.

PWR Portfolio Requirements

All PWR students must be able to share a draft section of their portfolios with their advisors during pre-registration for WT and Spring before they will be cleared to register for courses.

A completed draft of the senior portfolio, shared with Dr. Maynard, is due the first Monday in October. Your Revised and Edited Portfolio is due November 30th.

For more information, download the PWR Major Portfolio Requirements handout.

ePortfolio Awards

Two donor-supported awards celebrate students’ work on ePortfolios:

  • The Junior ePortfolio Award for PWR and ENG Majors and PWS Minors ($500) recognizes an outstanding portfolio-in-development by a current junior majoring in Professional Writing and Rhetoric or English or minoring in Professional Writing Studies at Elon University. Submissions are due the third Monday in April.
  • The Senior ePortfolio Award for PWR Majors ($500) recognizes an outstanding senior portfolio by a graduating senior in Professional Writing and Rhetoric. Submissions are due November 30th, when senior portfolios are due for external review, and the winning portfolio will be selected by the external reviewer.

Learn more about these awards.

Sample Senior Portfolios

Winners of the Senior ePortfolio Award for PWR Majors

Morgan Bassett, 2023, Professional Writing & Rhetoric

Emily Holland, 2022,  Professional Writing & Rhetoric; Strategic Communications

Angela Myers, 2021, Professional Writing & Rhetoric

Samples from 2011-2020 PWR Graduates

Hayden McConnell, 2020, Professional Writing & Rhetoric

Jamie Angle, 2018, English: Professional Writing & Rhetoric and Political Science

Jennifer Kane, 2018, English: Professional Writing & Rhetoric

Jessica Mohr, 2018, English: Professional Writing & Rhetoric

Micaela Soucy, 2018, English: Professional Writing & Rhetoric

Kate Sieber, 2018, English: Professional Writing & Rhetoric

Abbey Foucart, 2017, English: Professional Writing & Rhetoric

Lauren Franceschini, 2017, English: Professional Writing & Rhetoric

Maggy McGloin, 2017, English: Professional Writing & Rhetoric

Mags Bryant, 2016, English: Professional Writing & Rhetoric and English: Creative Writing

Kelley Dodge, 2016, English: Professional Writing & Rhetoric

Rebecca Porter, 2016, English: Professional Writing & Rhetoric and English: Creative Writing

Miranda Romano, 2016, English: Professional Writing & Rhetoric and English: Creative Writing

Katie Stewart, 2016, English: Professional Writing & Rhetoric

Jessica Trinidad, 2016, English: Professional Writing & Rhetoric

Miranda Allan, 2015, English: Professional Writing & Rhetoric

Alexa Dysch, 2015, English: Professional Writing & Rhetoric and English: Literature

Rachel Fishman, 2015, English: Professional Writing & Rhetoric

Gabby Melillo, 2015, English: Professional Writing & Rhetoric

Sarah Paterson, 2015, English: Professional Writing & Rhetoric and English: Creative Writing

Kaitlyn Stahl, 2015, English: Professional Writing & Rhetoric and English: Creative Writing

Hillary Dooley, 2014, English Professional Writing & Rhetoric

Ellen Fraser, 2014, English: Professional Writing & Rhetoric and Art History

Kelsey O’Connell, 2014, English: Professional Writing & Rhetoric and English: Creative Writing

Mia Brady, 2013, English: Professional Writing & Rhetoric

Julia Realmuto, 2013, English: Professional Writing & Rhetoric

Chelsea Vollrath, 2013, English: Professional Writing & Rhetoric

Anna Becker, 2012, English: Professional Writing & Rhetoric and International Studies

Jack Dodson, 2012, English: Professional Writing & Rhetoric

Victoria Doose, 2012, English: Professional Writing & Rhetoric and Art History

Morgan Ferretti, 2012, English: Professional Writing & Rhetoric

Mary Kate Hinshaw, 2012, English: Professional Writing & Rhetoric and English: Literature

Katie Kenney, 2012, English: Professional Writing & Rhetoric and Environmental Studies

Kim Lillienthal, 2012, English: Professional Writing & Rhetoric and Literature

Kristin Pinder, 2012, English: Professional Writing & Rhetoric

Erin Blackwell, 2011, English: Professional Writing & Rhetoric and Philosophy