Writing About Your Work
Introduced| English |
|---|
| character limits/ˈkærɪktə ˈlɪmɪts/ |
Words the viewer needs
- Writing communicates your inquiry, processes, and ideas to viewers who cannot ask you questions.
- The reader sees only your images and your words.
- Clear writing makes your intention understood.
Within the limit
- Written evidence must fit within the College Board character limits 字数限制.
- Be concise and specific — every word must earn its place.
- State the guiding question(s) of the sustained investigation clearly.
Strong or weak portfolio writing?
Sort each statement as strong (specific) or weak (vague) writing.
Portfolio writing must fit within the College Board...
Written evidence must fit the character limits.
The writing should clearly state the ____ question of the sustained investigation.
State the guiding question clearly and concisely.
Select all features of strong portfolio writing.
Concise, specific, evidence-based writing is strong; flowery length is not.
Match each phrase to strong or weak.
Specific + question = strong; vague = weak.
Show, do not claim
- Describe how the work shows practice, experimentation, and revision — with evidence.
- Point to what is actually visible, not vague claims.
- Write plainly; the reader should understand from words plus images.
Good portfolio writing points to specific, visible evidence rather than vague claims.
Concrete, specific writing beats flowery, empty prose.
Writing has a strict character limit, so do not waste words on vague statements like "I explored my creativity". State the guiding question and point to specific evidence in the images. Concrete, specific writing tied to what is visible beats flowery, empty prose every time.
Weak: "This piece shows my journey and emotions." Strong (within the character limit): "My question was how texture conveys grief. Here I tore and re-layered paper (image 4), then reworked it in ink (image 5) after a critique." The strong version points to specific, visible evidence.
Writing communicates your inquiry, processes, and ideas within strict character limits. State the guiding question(s) clearly and describe how the work shows practice, experimentation, and revision, pointing to specific visible evidence. Be concise and concrete, not vague.