In 1990, Miami University of Ohio became the first institution of higher education in the nation to award entering students credit and advanced placement in college composition on the basis of a collection of their best high school writing samples. The student's writing portfolio package consists of four pieces: a reflective letter introducing the writer and the portfolio, a story or description, an explanatory essay, and an analysis of a written text. Each portfolio is read independently by two faculty members of the Department of English specially trained in portfolio writing assessment and scored using a six-point guide. Three to six credits can be awarded based upon the evaluations. Six portfolios are presented, all of them were rated "excellent" by both faculty raters and judged to be truly outstanding--the very best of the 277 portfolios submitted. Appendices include the 1990 scoring guide for portfolios, a description of portfolio contents, guidelines for portfolio submission, and a portfolio cover sheet. (TJH)