Depending on your course area or profession, as well as the type of portfolio you are presenting, the structure will vary. However, a number of elements are universal and should be considered within the structure of your portfolio, including:
Title page
Table of contents
Philosophy or vision statement
Evidence / Artifacts
Reflections
Specific examples of portfolio structure can be found below:
Please note: these are generic examples. For specific guidance on structure, please contact your module leader or lecturers.
Title page
- Creating a title page that is visually appealing is important, as it will set the tone for your reader/audience and will provide information that identifies you, the author/artist/professional.
- Apart from your name and title of the portfolio (where appropriate), you may consider identifying the programme to which the portfolio is associated, the year in which the portfolio was completed, and any other information required in your instructions or criteria.
Table of Contents
- A well-organised portfolio provides a table of contents in order to give an overview of the contents and their location in the portfolio.
- A skillfully organised table of contents will facilitate a coherent presentation of your evidence and demonstrate your ability to showcase your mastery of the subject area or profession.
Philosophy statement
- The philosophy statement should present your viewpoint about the discipline/profession as a whole. These statements usually reflect your attitudes, beliefs, and values, often with a focus on guiding ideologies related to ethics and quality standards.
- During the course of a program, it is likely you will formulate and revise your philosophy, which will reflect your growth and development.
Vision statement
- The vision statement varies slightly from the philosophy statement. Your vision should provide a discussion of what you view as a desired future state for your discipline/profession. You may want to include what you expect to accomplish for yourself as part of the profession as well as your influence on the wider community.
- Your vision statement is a good place to address your personal knowledge, skills and dispositions, as well as reflect personal beliefs and values related to the discipline/profession.
Evidence / Artifacts
- Information about collecting evidence and artifacts to include in your portfolio can be found in the 'Collecting evidence' section.
Reflections
- Continually writing reflective statements is an essential component of portfolio development, as they record developmental and summative information about your professional/artistic growth. More information about the reflective process can be found in the 'The Reflective Journal' section.
