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discusses the issue of how to give praise effectively. Both in the literature and anecdotally, letter readers note that the superlatives used in a recommendation letter can be the most revealing characteristic of all. In particular, adjectives that express the level of quality in a student’s work or character—especially when they are presented with ethos and amidst convincing evidence—demonstrate both your belief in the student and your acumen as an evaluator. Adapting from a study of 625
reference letters (1), what follows is a short list of some of the superlatives used in those letters, categorized here by function: What’s especially interesting about this list, which can be used to generate ideas for superlatives when writing letters, is how the adjectives most definitive of work ethic and character (“pace-setting,” “tenacious,” “on-the-ball”) immediately suggest that the evaluator has thoughtfully assessed the student’s talents in context rather than just plugged in a term arbitrarily. One working in a lab where radioactive waste is handled, for example, needs to be
“diligent,” “orderly,” and even “fastidious”; one seeking to teach poetry writing needs to be “creative,” “understanding,” and “enthusiastic.” In this example—a paragraph taken from a sample letter in Chapter 6—we see how superlatives can be used both to leverage the student and to define a field in which the student works: Of course, one needs to practice restraint when praising a student’s abilities as well. As one group of authors from a recent study on recommendation letters noted: “A member of my department once expressed to me his frustration that the prevalence of superlatives made it impossible to make anyone believe how good a certain student of ours
actually was” (2). By sheer volume or the whiff of exaggeration, superlatives applied to a student’s accomplishments, especially without contextual evidence to back them up, might simply cloud judgment. Encomium heaped too generously only invites doubt. These sites offer tools for understanding and using superlatives in writing recommendation letters: “How to Write a Good Recommendation” article from The Chronicle of Higher Education Download Article Download Article Writing a letter of recommendation can be intimidating, especially because the person you’re writing it for is counting on you to pull through for them. Fortunately, there's a general formula you can use to write a letter of recommendation that is both professional and effective. Sample Letters
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Advertisement ReferencesAbout This ArticleArticle SummaryX The best way to write a letter of recommendation is to start out with a formal greeting, or using "To whom it may concern" if you don't know the recipient. Follow the greeting with 2-3 sentences of praise for the person you’re recommending. Then, explain how you know the person and why you’re qualified to recommend them. Include specific examples of the person's qualifications and successes in the body of your letter, then end with a sentence affirming that you recommend the person for the job or position. For more tips, like why you shouldn’t exaggerate, read on! Did this summary help you? Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 14,641,332 times. Reader Success Stories
Did this article help you?What do you say in a letter of recommendation?It should give an overall picture of the candidate's: personal characteristics, performance, experience, strengths, capabilities and professional promise. Letters of recommendation can also be used to explain some weakness or ambiguity in a student's record.
How do I make my recommendation letter stand out?Be specific.
Choose strong, accurate adjectives over general terms or cliches. Think about what the person reading the letter might want to know. Include details or insight that wouldn't necessarily show up on a resume or application. Your letter should help the recipient get to know the person you are recommending.
What should I write in a letter of recommendation sample?How do I write a personal recommendation letter?. Always start with the date.. State who you are recommending and what you are recommending them for.. Describe how long you know the person and in what capacity.. State their best qualities.. Give details about the person's character, morals, and values.. |