Your Reading-and-Writing Portfolio
The capstone project for Nigerian Literature: From Oral Tradition to the 2026 Bestseller List — a free Civic & Life Skills course. Pass it and you earn a certificate anyone can verify.
- Free
- 5 steps
- Pass mark 65%
- Graded within minutes
- Beginner-friendly
The project unlocks once you complete the lessons. The workbook is free to download now so you can see exactly what is expected.
What you will submit
One shared link (Google Doc, Notion page or PDF set to 'anyone with the link can view') containing the comparative essay with works cited, the original creative piece, and the 300-word reflection.
What to do, step by step
- Part 1 — Choose two Nigerian texts from different eras or genres (for example, a 1950s–60s novel or play and a post-2010 novel, poem sequence or story; or a poem and a play). At least one must be by a Nigerian author covered in this course; the other may be any Nigerian text, including a WAEC set text or a work in a Nigerian language with your own translation of quoted lines. State the editions you used.
- Part 2 — Write a 1,200–1,800-word comparative critical essay with a clear argument (thesis) about how the two texts treat a shared theme — for example the colonial encounter, power and corruption, gender, war and memory, the city, migration, faith, or language itself. Quote at least six passages (with page, act/scene, or line references), analyse the language of each quotation rather than summarising the plot, and end with a conclusion that answers your thesis. Include a works-cited list.
- Part 3 — Write an original creative piece set in a Nigerian world: a short story of 1,000–1,500 words, or three poems totalling at least 60 lines, or a dramatic scene of at least ten minutes' playing time with stage directions. It must be your own work, written for this course, in English, a Nigerian language with an English gloss, or Pidgin.
- Part 4 — Write a 300-word reflection explaining one technique you borrowed or resisted from the tradition you read (for example, proverbs and idiom, an unreliable narrator, myth retold, orality on the page, code-switching) and where it appears in your piece.
- Part 5 — Put the essay, the creative piece and the reflection in one shared document (Google Doc, Notion page or PDF set to 'anyone with the link can view'), with your name, the date and a one-line declaration that the work is your own and that any AI assistance is disclosed, and submit the link.
Files to work with
Project workbook (fill in, then submit)The whole brief, an evidence checklist, the grading rubric as a self-check and the link-sharing steps in one file. Opens in Word, Google Docs or WPS.Word · 7 KBHow it is graded
| Criterion | Weight |
|---|---|
| The essay has a clear, arguable thesis and a real comparison — it explains how the texts differ and why, not just that they share a theme | 20% |
| Close reading: at least six accurately referenced quotations, each analysed for language, form and effect rather than summarised | 25% |
| Accuracy and context: authors, dates, genres and the literary-historical context are correct, and the works-cited list is complete | 15% |
| The creative piece is original, complete, set in a convincing Nigerian world, and shows control of its form (story shape and voice; line and image in poems; conflict and stage directions in the scene) | 25% |
| The reflection names a specific technique from the tradition and shows exactly where it is used or resisted in the piece; the writing throughout is clear and proofread | 15% |
You need 65% overall to pass. A failed submission comes back with feedback and can be revised and resubmitted.
Before you submit: make your link public
If your work lives in Google Drive or Google Docs, open Share → General access and change “Restricted” to “Anyone with the link” (Viewer). Then paste the link into a private browser window: if it opens without sign-in, you are ready. A private link cannot be graded — it is the single most common reason a good project fails.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to finish Nigerian Literature: From Oral Tradition to the 2026 Bestseller List before submitting the project?
Yes. The submission screen opens once every lesson in Nigerian Literature: From Oral Tradition to the 2026 Bestseller List is marked complete. The lessons are where the methods, the Nigerian context and the worked examples the project depends on are taught.
How is the project graded?
An examiner scores each rubric criterion from 0 to 100 and weights them as shown on this page; you need 65% overall to pass. Most submissions are graded within minutes and you get written feedback on what was strong and what to improve.
Can I resubmit if I fail?
Yes. A failed project comes back with feedback; revise the weak parts and resubmit. A passed project is final — the certificate is issued and cannot be re-rolled.
What do I actually submit?
A write-up of what you did (under 5,000 characters) plus a public link to your work — a Google Drive folder, Google Doc, spreadsheet, GitHub repository or video. The link must open without sign-in; a private link cannot be graded. The free project workbook on this page walks you through all 5 steps.
Is the certificate real?
Yes. Passing this project issues a certificate with a unique verification code. Anyone — an employer, a client, a school — can open the verification page and see that the certificate is genuine and which project earned it.
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Ready to earn this certificate?
Nigerian Literature: From Oral Tradition to the 2026 Bestseller List is free and self-paced. Finish the lessons, complete this project, and the certificate is yours to share.
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