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Arizona State University
Department of English
Box 870302
Tempe, AZ 85287-0302
480.965.3168

Main Office Location:
G. Homer Durham Language and Literature Building - LL 542

ASU English Home > Graduate Students > Portfolio Assessment Memo

MEMORANDUM

To: Experienced TAs

CC: Beth Tobin, Director Graduate Studies; Maureen Daly Goggin, Associate Chair; Greg Glau, Director Writing Programs; Jeanne Dugan and Sarah Duerden, Experienced TA Mentors

From: Neal A. Lester, Department Chair

Date: December 15, 2004

Re: Portfolio Assessment

As part of the English Department’s commitment to TA professional development, Experienced TAs submit annually a teaching portfolio to the TA Mentors Professor Sarah Duerden and Professor Jeanne Dugan, who then review and assess the portfolios for strengths and weaknesses. Directions for putting together such a portfolio are attached to this memo and will be posted on the English Department’s website (www.asu.edu/english) and there will be a link on the Writing Programs website http://www.asu.edu/english/writingprograms/index.html. We are continuing this process with some changes so that we better meet your needs and the needs of the University for annual assessment.

• All Experienced TAs will submit a teaching portfolio. In the past, only TAs currently teaching courses in the Writing Programs were required to submit portfolios. As of spring 2005, TAs teaching literature courses, TAs teaching creative writing courses, TAs teaching linguistics courses and TAs about to graduate must also submit teaching portfolios.
• Portfolios will be submitted to Sheila Luna, Graduate Studies Program Coordinator, by March 1, 2005
• Portfolios will be assessed in these terms:
  • Excellent
  • Acceptable with revisions to be made before the next portfolio assessment
  • Problematic and revisions required. In this case, portfolio must be resubmitted to Mentors by April 15
  • TAs will receive a letter from the Mentors indicating portfolio strengths and weaknesses. A copy of this letter will be given to the department Chair and to the Director of Graduate Studies for inclusion in TAs’ teaching files, along with teaching evaluations.
  • Those TAs whose portfolios are Problematic must meet with the Experienced TA Mentors to discuss necessary revisions. When revised portfolios have been submitted, the TA Mentors will review the revised portfolio and a new assessment will be given to the TA. A copy of this new assessment will also be given to the department Chair and to the Director of Graduate Studies for inclusion in the TAs’ teaching files.

This revised process, along with the review of syllabi at the beginning of each semester, will ensure that the department is in line with the Division of Graduate Studies requirement that TAs be assessed on their service to the department. This process will also help with your professional development so that as you enter the job market, you are better equipped with professional materials.

Please let me know if you have concerns or questions.