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The final stage of the course where students curate, revise, and present their best professional and academic work.
If an employer or admissions officer spent only 30 seconds looking at your work, would they see a student who followed instructions, or a professional who solved problems?
In the final stage of writing, we distinguish between Local Revision and Global Revision. While local revision handles the 'micro' (grammar, spelling, and syntax), global revision addresses the 'macro'—the rhetorical situation. This involves re-evaluating your argumentative logic, audience alignment, and structural integrity. To reach an advanced level, you must treat feedback not as a checklist of errors, but as a map for structural transformation. Cognitive science suggests that 'chunking' your revision—focusing on logic in one pass and tone in another—prevents cognitive overload, as the working memory can only handle roughly items at once.
Quick Check
What is the primary focus of a 'Global Revision' pass?
Answer
Addressing big-picture elements like argumentative logic, structure, and audience alignment rather than just grammar.
1. Feedback: 'Your transition between the second and third paragraphs feels abrupt.' 2. Local Fix: Adding a simple word like 'However.' 3. Global Revision: Re-ordering the paragraphs to ensure the logic of the first point naturally necessitates the second, then adding a 'bridge' sentence that synthesizes both ideas.
A portfolio is a curated gallery, not a storage bin. Your goal is to demonstrate Linguistic Awareness—the ability to adapt your style across different contexts. When selecting pieces, aim for a balance of academic rigor (e.g., a literary analysis) and professional utility (e.g., a technical report or grant proposal). Including a 'Growth Piece'—a work shown in its initial messy state alongside its polished final version—is a powerful way to demonstrate your ability to process feedback and evolve. This evidence of 'process' is often more valuable to recruiters than the final product alone.
Quick Check
Why is it beneficial to include a 'Growth Piece' in a professional portfolio?
Answer
It demonstrates your ability to accept feedback, engage in the revision process, and evolve as a writer.
Scenario: You have 8 assignments but only 3 slots. 1. Selection A: A Research Paper (shows depth and citations). 2. Selection B: A Business Proposal (shows professional tone and layout). 3. Selection C: A 'Growth Pair' (shows a heavily revised essay with a 200-word reflection on the changes made).
Drafting a high-level reflection: 1. What?: 'I revised my analysis of Hamlet to remove passive voice.' 2. So What?: 'This forced me to identify clear agents for every action, which clarified my argument about Hamlet's indecision.' 3. Now What?: 'I will apply this directness to my future workplace communications to ensure accountability in project reporting.'
Which of the following is an example of a 'Global Revision'?
A professional portfolio should include every piece of work you produced during the term to show your work ethic.
In the reflection formula , what does 'Analysis' represent?
Review Tomorrow
In 24 hours, try to recall the three parts of the reflection formula and the difference between global and local revision.
Practice Activity
Select one piece of feedback you received this year. Write a 3-sentence 'Growth Reflection' using the What/So What/Now What framework.