If I have agreed to serve as a reference for job or internship applications, please send me, as soon as possible, a couple of paragraphs 1) describing the job or internship for which you're applying, 2) explaining why you think you're a good fit for this position, and 3) articulating how the work you've done for me in class or at the Writing Center has prepared you for or is relevant to the work you'd be doing in this position.
Letters of Recommendation
Please note: I require a minimum of two weeks' notice in order to write an accurate, effective, and specific letter. If you give me less time, I may still be able to write a letter, but I cannot guarantee that it will be the best possible letter.
If I have agreed to write a letter of recommendation for you, I will need the following materials by two weeks before the letter deadline:
- a copy of your résumè (or equivalent list of accomplishments and awards)
- a copy of the latest draft of your personal statement or letter of intent, or, if neither of those is required for the position for which you're applying, a brief paragraph or two explaining what you're applying for and why
- a list of schools, due dates, and whether letters will be sent electronically or by mail (for graduate school applications)
- stamps and address labels (but not envelopes) for any letters to be sent by mail
I will also need your written responses to these prompts:
- Tell me about the class(es) you've taken with me. What have you learned, and how does what you've learned relate to the position or program for which I'm recommending you? How have you applied what you learned in our class(es) in other courses or contexts?
- Remind me of particular contributions to class discussion, paper-writing breakthroughs, journal entries, or outside-of-class conversations we've had that you think show something important about you or your development as a writer and thinker. If possible, give me a copy (paper or electronic) of your best writing for the class(es) you've taken with me—whether a formal paper, a journal entry, or something else—so that I can refer to specific characteristics of your writing in my recommendation.
- If you've worked in the Writing Center, tell me what you've learned from that work and reflect on its relevance to the program or position to which you're applying. Tell me something concrete about your experience as a Writing Center consultant: a memorable session, something a writer said that stuck with you, something about which you now think differently as a writer or student or (future) teacher.
- Tell me what other aspects of yourself as a student, a writer, a tutor, or a person you think I'm in a good position to discuss.
- Tell me how this recommendation letter fits in with the other recommendations you've asked for. Do you want me to emphasize your writing? your participation in discussion? your work in the Writing Center? your development over time? your work with me outside of class? some combination of these things? (I will shed light on as many aspects of you and your work as I can, but think about what you most want me to discuss.)
Your responses will help me write a convincing recommendation letter. I keep your answers on file for future reference, so if you need me to write another letter in the future we can simply update and add to this information as needed.
last updated: Monday, 03-Nov-2014 15:28:53 CST