Lecture-11-a-letter-of-recommendation

Lecture11ALetterofRecommendationTeachingtargetandobject:Enablethestudentstowritealetterofrecommendationwithpropercontents,format,structureandlanguage.Teachingfocus:thesemanticstructureofaletterofrecommendationTheguidelinesandlanguagecharacteristicsofaletterofrecommendationThequotationofthedayThosewhoeducatepeoplewellaremoretobehonoredthanparents,fortheseonlygavelife,thosetheartoflivingwell----Aristotle,GreekphilosopherWhatisaletterofrecommendation:Aletterofrecommendationisaletterthatmakesastatementofsupportforacandidate.Thislettershouldpresentawell-documentedevaluation,providingsufficientevidenceandinformationtohelpanadmissioncommitteegetabetterpictureofthecandidateandhis/herpotential.Commontypesofrecommendationletters:•LettersofRecommendationforschools•LettersofRecommendationforemploymentPre-writingTask•Pleasewritealetterofrecommendationinclassinanywayyouthinkappropriate.•Commentononeofthestudents’imprompturecommendationletterortheletteronpage124ClassroomDiscussionTomakeastatementofsupportforacandidate.•LettersofRecommendationforschoolsistorecommendthecandidatetoaprospectiveschoolforfurthereducation(usuallywrittenbyprofessorswhoknowyou,assessingyourcapacitytomeettherequirementsofaprogramyouareapplyingfor.They’resupposedtohelpdecision-makerstogetabetterpictureofyourpotential).•LettersofRecommendationforemploymentistorecommendthecandidatetoaprospectivecompanytogetthejobthere.1.Whatisthepurposeofthiswriting?2.Whatistherelationshipbetweenthewriterandreader?•Writerandreader:formerprofessorsoremployersandtheprospectiveschoolorcompany(thestyle:formal);3.Whatisthemodeofwriting?Isittobereadortobespoken?Whatistheform?It’swrittentobereadintheformofanEnglishletter.thesemanticstructureofaletterofrecommendationHeading^insideaddress^salutation^body(purpose^introduction^descriptionofthecandidate’squalifications^ending)^complimentaryclose^signature•Discussthesamplerecommendationletteronpage125Writingprinciple•Aletterofrecommendation,alsoknownasaletterofreference,isaletterthatmakesastatementofsupportforacandidate.•Itshouldpresentawell-documentedevaluation,providingsufficientevidenceandinformationtohelpanadmissioncommitteeorapersontogetabetterpictureofthecandidateandhis/herpotential.•Accordingtothewritingpurposeandthecommunicativemodeofarecommendationletter,thegeneralsemanticstructureofthisgenrecanbesummarizedasfollows:•Heading^insideaddress^salutation^body(purpose^introduction^descriptionofthecandidate'squalifications^ending)^complimentaryclose^signatureTheoutlineofthebody•1.Purpose:•Statethewritingpurposeclearlyanddirectlyattheverybeginningofthebody.•2.Introduction:•Identifyyourrelationshipwiththepersonforwhomyou'rewritingtheletter.(Areyoutheperson'smanager,co-workerorprofessor?Howlonghaveyouknownorworkedwiththeperson?)•3.Descriptionofthecandidate’squalifications:•Pointoutavarietyofpositivetraitswhilefocusingonpersonality,potential,workethics,accomplishments,skills,andsignificantcontributions(usespecificexamples).•4.Ending:•Closewithaclearstatementofyourrecommendationandawillingnesstooffermoreinformation.Someguidelinesofwritingaletterofrecommendation:•1.Explainhowyouknowtheapplicant.•2.Listtheapplicant’sexceptionalqualitiesandskills,especiallythosethatarespecifictotheapplicant'sfieldofinterestorjobrequestsuchascompetenceinhis/herfieldorpriorexperience,organizationalandcommunicationskills,capabilityofinteractionwithothersandofjudgmentmaking,andacademicorotherachievementsaswellassomeofhispositivepersonaltraits.•3.Emphasizethekeypointsthatyouwantthereadertonoteontheresumeorapplication.Besuretomeaningfullyelaborateinsteadofsimplyrestating.•4.Giveyourvaluejudgmentoftheapplicantandhis/herqualificationsandpotential.Forexample,whyshouldhe/shebeconsideredoverothers?Inyouropinion,howdoeshe/shecomparetoothers?Omitweaknesses.•5.Givespecificexamplestobackupwhatyouhavesaidintherecommendationletter.Again,providingvaguepraiseisawasteofspace.•6.Unlessitisabsolutelyrelevant,donotincludereferences(directorimplied)totheapplicant'srace,religion,nationalorigin,age,disability,genderormaritalstatus.•7.Makeeverywordcount.•Maketheendingstrongwithoutoverdoingit.•8.Listyourcontactinformationifyouarewillingtoreceivefollow-upcorrespondence.Usefulsentencepatterns:•PurposeandIntroduction:•IamdelightedtobecalleduponasareferenceforJohnSmart.IfirstbecameacquaintedwithMr.Smartin1992,whenhejoinedthe...•IthasbeenapleasuretobeMr.Smart'ssupervisorsince1990.•IamhappytowritethisletterofrecommendationforStevenSmart.InthisletterIwouldliketoexpressmyrespectandappreciationforthisbrightyoungperson,whobroughtoutstandingcontributiontotheworkofmygroup.•IhaveknownMs.Smartsince1993,whensheenrolledinmyaccountingclass.•Iamwritingtobringtoyourattentionamostextraordinaryyoungman.ScottCarterhasworkedasseniorsalesmanforDiamondMusicHallforthepastfiveyears.Descriptionofthecandidate’squalifications•SincethebeginningofourcollaborationIknowhimasanenergeticandgoal-orientedperson.•Hegraspsnewconceptsquicklyandacceptsconstructivecriticismandinstructionconcerninghiswork.•Iwouldliketo