LAUC-SD CAPA
Writing Your Self-Review 2009
Writing Samples & Exercise
PART 1: Writing samples
In describing your performance, avoid the following:
● Overstatement; no So what? factor
“I published an article.”
Reality: I wrote a 50 word two paragraph blurb for the SSHL newsletter, but still no So
What? factor.
● Understatement
“Aw shucks, you know me; I just helped out where I could with the planning of the
renovation and expansion of the Biomedical library.”
Reality: The designation of Capital Project Coordinator was added to my job portfolio. I was
appointed the primary library coordinator, along with the Head of Library Facilities, for all
aspects of the $17 million Biomedical Library Renovation and Addition. I was responsible
for…
● Overly detailed; no So What? factor
“I developed a new handout on how to access the proxy server. I utilized Astrobright yellow
paper and 16 pt Tahoma font, taking particular care to bold and underline for emphasis of
important points.”
● Passive voice
“Contributions were made to complete the work of the MLGSCA retreat planning
committee.”
● Warm fuzzies
“I was proud, grateful and filled with humility to be selected as the ACRL listserv manger.”
● “Oh, woe is me……”
“Due to four open recruitments and changes in leadership I had to staff the reference desk
16 hours per week, report to six different supervisors, and then the library changed email
systems, so I had to learn a completely new one. All this totally messed me up.”
Avoid including issues not directly related to your performance:
● Pronouncements: sweeping statements about the conditions of a specialty or librarianship in
general.
“I believe that librarianship is at a critical juncture of contextualizing the conceptual
framework of information literacy as a jointly integrated endeavor with regard to academic
curricular constructs.”
● Political diatribes: airing professional gripes, biases
“As a result of a right wing conspiracy, the USA PATRIOT Act was passed and is an affront to
my civil liberties.”
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LAUC-SD CAPA
Writing Your Self-Review 2009
Writing Samples & Exercise
PART 2: Practice writing
Be honest; keep the ‘So what?’ factor first and foremost; describe what and why; don’t evaluate.
Use:
● action verbs: initiated, orchestrated,
planned, coordinated
● short sentences
● first person pronoun
● active voice
1. A. Professional Performance and Quality of Service within the Library
Sentence:
1. B. Professional Activity Outside the Library
Sentence:
1. C. University and Public Service or University and Library-related Public Service
Sentence:
1. D. Research and Other Creative Work or Research and Other Creative Activity
Sentence:
II. Professional Growth and Continuing Professional Education
Sentence:
III. Other Factors Related to Performance (optional)
Sentence:
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