Letters of Recommendation
In order to write an accurate, effective, and specific letter, I will need a copy of your résumè (or equivalent list of accomplishments and awards) and a copy of the latest draft of your personal statement. I will also need your written responses to these prompts:
- Tell me about the classes 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 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—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 Room, 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 Room consultant: a memorable session, something a writer said that stuck with you, something you now think about 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 Room? your development over time? our work 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.
last updated: Wednesday, 26-Aug-2009 10:36:18 CDT