1. The Art of the Recommendation Letter
Mary Swanson and Nancy Levinger
Colorado State University
Professional Development Institute 2016

2. Activity 1 Read the description of the student applicant
Brainstorm about adjectives you would use to describe the student
Discuss in your group
Report the student name, group and the adjectives your group chose

3. Language we use Gender and racial bias
Studies show that we all have bias
Language used to describe white men overshadows that for
Women
Underrepresented minorities (e.g., African-American, Latino, etc.)
Careful monitoring can mitigate bias in recommendations
Test your bias at
Project Implicit:
Test your letter at:
See for example:
Schmader, et al., Sex Roles, 2007, 57, 509–514;
Moss-Racusin, et al., PNAS, 2012, 109, 16474–16479.

4. Activity 2 Read the description of the student applicant
Brainstorm about what characteristics you would use to describe the student
Discuss in your group
Report the student name, group and the characteristics your group would highlight in a letter

5. Applicant’s Job Provide information for recommender CV/resume
Description of future goals
Description of scholarship/job/graduate application
Applicant qualifications for the position/scholarship/award
Do NOT ask applicant/nominee to write their own letter

6. Recommender’s Job Recommender/applicant relationship
how long do you know the applicant?
in what capacity do you know the applicant?
How have you interacted with the applicant?
Provide context for applicant’s achievements
Vision for future
Applicant’s qualifications
Applicant’s potential
Recommender’s personal knowledge of applicant
Focus letter toward the scholarship/job/school
Sometimes a direct comparison is appropriate

7. Now that you have agreed to write…
Structure of the letter
Opening paragraph
Body of the letter
Final paragraph

8. Opening paragraph Introduction Who does the letter support?
For what are they applying?
What is your relationship to the applicant? In what context do you know the applicant?
For how long have you known the applicant?
Why are you qualified to
Recommend this candidate?
Recommend for this job?
What do you know that others do not?
What special knowledge do you have?
What are you qualified to say?

9. Letter of recommendation Body
Applicant activities and accomplishments
Not just a summary!
Why is this applicant great?
First hand knowledge
Other relevant information, e.g., from other people

10. Letter of recommendation Final paragraph
Restatement of who and what
Places the recommendation in the context of the program
Shows why and how applicant matches the call

11. Knowing when (and how) to say “No”
Do you have time?
How well do you know the applicant?
Can you give a positive recommendation?
Are you qualified to recommend for the position?
Are you the best person to support the applicant?

12. Activity 3 Write an introductory, body or final paragraph about…
One of our student descriptions OR
A person you know for whom you are writing or are likely to write
…a letter of recommendation

13. Thanks for your participation!
Please fill out an evaluation survey
Thanks to TILT for organizing the PDI!