Human Services Major

Writing Portfolio

The CPCS Writing Portfolio consists of an introductory essay and a selection of three (analytical, professional or business-related, and open selection) writing products demonstrating Level II and III Competencies. Human Services major students are encouraged to choose their best works that exemplify the development of their writing skills as critical readers, writers, and thinkers from their courses, independent learning, directed projects, and prior learning.

Writing Portfolios show the student’s ability to comprehend, evaluate, integrate, and synthesize sources into coherent presentations that represent major concepts and philosophies in his/her major field of study. While providing context, translation, and/or explanation, proper attribution by citation and reference for quotations, paraphrases, and summaries should consistently follow APA, MLA, or Chicago-style guidelines.

Completion of the Writing Portfolio is a graduation requirement for all CPCS undergraduate students. We recommend that students complete their Portfolio Competency during the first semester of their graduation year: in the fall semester for a spring graduation or in the spring for graduation the next fall. For your information, please review the Writing Portfolio Competency Statement published on the CPCS website at www.cpcs.umb.edu.

Writing Portfolio Support

The CPCS “Writing Across the Curriculum” teaching philosophy and practices offer our students many opportunities to focus on developing crucial communication skills. CPCS professors are available to assist students both in the classroom and during their office hours. Portfolio Preparation Workshops are offered every semester. Human Services Writing/Advising Tutors (WAT) work with students on their own paper(s) to help you learn how to read closely, construct papers, state your position, advance your arguments, revise your drafts, present your work, and develop the skills to self-edit. As a support for the CPCS Writing Across the Curriculum process, Human Services Tutors advise students individually and in a group setting on developing and revising your written work assignments and projects. Once your portfolio is ready, please submit it to it Human Services Office at W3-154-38, (617) 287 7281, Mon-Fri 9 to 5. After processing, it will then be delivered to the tutors. You can find the Directions for Submission and Cover Sheets on the bulletin board outside the Wheatley 3rd floor Writing Advising Tutors Lab, Room 154/37 or at Human Services office, Room 154/38.

Portfolio Preparation Workshops

Human Services students who are ready, or nearly ready, to submit your Writing Portfolios should attend the Portfolio Preparation Workshops offered twice a week in repeating four session cycles. The competency statement, the introductory essay, the three (analytical, professional or business-related, and open selection) writing products and the submission process are the focus of the Workshops.

Tutoring Services

Human Services Writing/Advising Tutors (WAT) employ the techniques of minimalist tutoring, English as a Second Language (ESL), grammar skills, remediation, and advanced research. Minimalist tutoring involves reviewing your written work for structure, quality, and depth in one-on-one focused and extended sessions. Helping students make enduring improvements in your writing skills and producing an effective written body of work from which to select appropriate Writing Portfolio products is the WAT’s mission.

Human Services Program Writing/Advising Tutors (WAT) offers more than 40 hours of tutoring services--Monday through Thursday from 11:30 am to 9:30 pm, and Saturdays 10:30-3:30pm. You can make individualized appointment as well as attend Writing Portfolio Open-Sessions and Drop-in Sessions. Please contact Joan Parker and Teri Torchia: at the Writing Lab, Wheatley 3-154/37 (617-297-7136).

The schedules for Writing Portfolio Open-Sessions and Drop-in Sessions during Spring ’08 are:

Writing Portfolio Open-Sessions, every Monday, 12 to 2:30pm, beginning on Feb. 25, 2008 in Room W3-154/02.

• Part One: 12:00 to 1:00 we will address aspects of the Writing Portfolio in a question and answer format with appropriate handouts.
• Part Two: 1:15 to 2:30 students will work in small groups on their writing products with tutoring available.

Drop-In Sessions, every Tuesday and Thursday, 5:30 to 6:45pm, beginning on Thursday, Feb. 21, 2008 respectively. all Human Services students are welcome to drop-in for writing tutoring on any of your compositions.

Please note that there will be no access to computers or printers within the classroom, so please bring your work with you. We recommend that you follow The Basic College Essay format. Those handouts can be found on the bulletin board outside the Writing Advising Tutors Lab in Wheatley 3rd Floor Room 154/37 or at the Human Services office, Room 154/38.

UMB Academic Support Programs

Tutoring Services are also available free of charge in the office of Academic Support Programs (617)287-6550 on the first floor of the Campus Center 01-1300.

Tutorial programs include: individual and group tutoring in course content across all disciplines through the Subject Tutoring Program; tutoring in quantitative reasoning, mathematics and computer science through the Math Resource Center; tutoring in general education capabilities of writing and critical analysis through the Reading, Writing, and Study Strategies Center; tutoring for ESL courses; and consultations for graduate students, both native and non-native speakers, in critical analysis, research and scholarly writing through the Graduate Writing Center.

Drop-in writing workshops are available to UMB students several times a week through the Academic Support Programs. CPCS students who need immediate help with writing and revising should visit one of these drop-in workshops. Contact www.academicsupport.umb.edu for a current schedule.