1. Journal Imagine that five different people would each write one sentence about you: 1)Your character 2)Your personality 3)Your talents 4)Your weaknesses, and 5)Your flaws. What would they say? Imagine that five different people would each write one sentence about you: 1)Your character 2)Your personality 3)Your talents 4)Your weaknesses, and 5)Your flaws. What would they say?

2. Letter of Recommendation 1)When might you need one? 2)Who would you ask to write one for you? 3)What would they say? 1)When might you need one? 2)Who would you ask to write one for you? 3)What would they say?

3. “Code of Confidence” There are four levels of confidence for recommendation writers: 1) strongly recommend (writer is very confident of the applicant’s ability) 2) recommend (writer is confident) 3) recommend with reservations (writer is somewhat confident but has concerns) 4) do not recommend (writer does not believe in applicant’s ability to succeed). Letter writers use these phrases at the beginning or end of the letter to express their professional evaluation. Applicants should not ask writers who cannot support them at the first two levels of confidence to write letters on their behalf. There are four levels of confidence for recommendation writers: 1) strongly recommend (writer is very confident of the applicant’s ability) 2) recommend (writer is confident) 3) recommend with reservations (writer is somewhat confident but has concerns) 4) do not recommend (writer does not believe in applicant’s ability to succeed). Letter writers use these phrases at the beginning or end of the letter to express their professional evaluation. Applicants should not ask writers who cannot support them at the first two levels of confidence to write letters on their behalf.

4. How to Request a Letter of Recommendation  Ask in person and/or send a formal email as a request.  Make sure you address the reasons why you are asking your recommender.  Provide the recommender with your resume or some type of questionnaire (like the one we will work on today).  Give the recommender as much detail as you can about the job, college, or opportunity they are recommending you for. It helps to know specifics!  Ask in person and/or send a formal email as a request.  Make sure you address the reasons why you are asking your recommender.  Provide the recommender with your resume or some type of questionnaire (like the one we will work on today).  Give the recommender as much detail as you can about the job, college, or opportunity they are recommending you for. It helps to know specifics!

5. What makes a letter of recommendation successful? A letter of recommendation succeeds on the same merits as any forms of persuasive writing : good control of vocabulary, solid essay structure, appropriate content, and details, details, details.

6. Format/Organization  1 st paragraph – state how long writer has known applicant, in what context (employer, instructor, supervisor, etc), and general “thesis” statement regarding applicant’s abilities/suitability for position  Body Paragraphs – should have 2-3 well explained examples or qualities – each example or quality should have its own paragraph – must include not only details, but interpretation (i.e., what should the reader learn about the applicant from the example and why does it matter for the position?)  Conclusion – may begin with brief additional info (good place for “non-essentials” such as personality traits), then states EXPLICITLY level of recommendation (strongly/highly [my strongest/highest], recommend, recommend with reservations [must provide explanation], do not recommend [must provide explanation]) with farewell close and contact info  1 st paragraph – state how long writer has known applicant, in what context (employer, instructor, supervisor, etc), and general “thesis” statement regarding applicant’s abilities/suitability for position  Body Paragraphs – should have 2-3 well explained examples or qualities – each example or quality should have its own paragraph – must include not only details, but interpretation (i.e., what should the reader learn about the applicant from the example and why does it matter for the position?)  Conclusion – may begin with brief additional info (good place for “non-essentials” such as personality traits), then states EXPLICITLY level of recommendation (strongly/highly [my strongest/highest], recommend, recommend with reservations [must provide explanation], do not recommend [must provide explanation]) with farewell close and contact info

7. Assignment 1)Complete the questions for a recommendation request (many teachers will ask you to complete something like this). For today, it is a good step to think about what someone might be able to write about you. 2)Write your own letter of recommendation (you can make it something currently useful for you, or imagine that you are applying to a specific job, college, or some other opportunity such as a scholarship, summer program, or internship. 1)Complete the questions for a recommendation request (many teachers will ask you to complete something like this). For today, it is a good step to think about what someone might be able to write about you. 2)Write your own letter of recommendation (you can make it something currently useful for you, or imagine that you are applying to a specific job, college, or some other opportunity such as a scholarship, summer program, or internship.