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Craft Your Freelance Writing Portfolio Piece

The capstone project for Professional Writing — a free Creative course. Pass it and you earn a certificate anyone can verify.

Start the course free Download the project workbook

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

A link to your well-written and edited portfolio piece (Google Docs preferred) or the text of your piece pasted directly.

What to do, step by step

  1. Choose a niche you are passionate about and want to write for (e.g., food blogging, tech reviews, local business profiles, personal finance tips). Think about what Nigerian businesses or publications might need content for.
  2. Write a compelling article, blog post, or website copy (around 500-700 words) for your chosen niche. Imagine you are writing for a real client like a small business in Computer Village, a local fashion brand, or a Nigerian food blogger. Focus on clear, engaging language and a strong call to action if applicable.
  3. Carefully edit and proofread your piece for grammar, spelling, punctuation, and clarity. Ensure it flows well and is free of errors. Read it aloud to catch awkward phrasing.
  4. Format your final piece professionally. You can use Google Docs, a simple word processor, or even just type it out clearly. Make sure it looks presentable as if you were submitting it to a client.
  5. Share your completed portfolio piece. If you used Google Docs, ensure the sharing settings allow anyone with the link to view it. If you typed it out, copy and paste it into the submission box.

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 · 6 KB

How it is graded

CriterionWeight
Clarity and Engagement: Is the writing clear, easy to understand, and does it keep the reader interested? Is the Nigerian context well-integrated?35%
Grammar, Spelling, and Punctuation: Is the piece free of errors? Does it demonstrate strong proofreading?30%
Niche Relevance and Professionalism: Does the piece fit the chosen niche well? Does it look like a professional submission for a client?20%
Word Count and Structure: Does the piece meet the suggested word count and have a logical flow?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 Professional Writing before submitting the project?

Yes. The submission screen opens once every lesson in Professional Writing 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?

Professional Writing is free and self-paced. Finish the lessons, complete this project, and the certificate is yours to share.

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