MID -TERM EXAM & STUDY GUIDE |1
MID-TERM EXAM
Using the Brainstorming for Mid-term Exam you have already completed before class, write a
Letter Requesting a Letter of Recommendation - - to me - - evaluating your performance in
the class thus far. See the examples included:
1. Amelia’s Letter (you can follow her example, but use your own information)
2. Recommendation Letter I wrote for her
3. Amelia’s short email letting me know she got the STEM scholarship
MID -TERM EXAM & STUDY GUIDE |2
STUDY-GUIDE FOR MID-TERM EXAMINATION
(YOUR PROFESSIONAL LETTER MUST BE WRITTEN IN CLASS)
Composition 1 Mid-Term Exam Essay
Professional Recommendation Request Letter from You to Me
Directions: Write a professional letter from you to me asking me to write a Letter of Recommendation
for you. (If you have written an Evaluating Essay in the past, this is comparable to such an essay, but you
are evaluating YOU and YOUR WORK thus far this semester.)
1. This can be a general letter that would work for seeking employment, getting a scholarship, or
applying to colleges and universities, etc., or it can be a specific letter in which you indicate that
you are applying for one of these so I can gear the letter to that specific situation.
2. Pretend a year has passed so, first of all, you would want to remind me of what class (or classes)
you took and the semesters you were enrolled.
3. Now comes the hard part: You want to emphasize those things that will enhance the chances of
my agreeing to write a Professional Letter of Recommendation for you, and you want to
minimize those things that would cause me to choose not to write this letter, one that will be
important to you as you apply to schools, apply for scholarships, or apply for employment.
4. Consider the following as you decide what to include or not include (but don’t limit yourself to
these):
A. Tone: Formal, Professional Business Writing (Formal SWE, the type of written English used
in Business and Education)
B. Your Disposition/Demeanor/Attitude in the Class: Simply put, were you professional in this
particular college class so that I can, in good faith, write a letter that indicates you will be
professional in other venues? (Of course, professional reputations depend on writing these
letters only for people that professors can, in good faith, recommend.)
C. Perspective: You are writing one year from now, so keep in mind that I will have had many
more classes and students. Don’t assume I remember your grades, projects, my comments
on your work, etc. (Your goals are to make me WANT to write the letter, to make it easier
for me to write the letter by giving me information I need, and to remind me of the most
important information that will result in the BEST letter to assist you in your goals.)
D. Grades: You could tell me your grade in the class (give yourself the grade you have
contracted for or the grade your work thus far demonstrates). And then you could remind
me, if you choose, of the specific grades for some of the major assignments (essays, group
projects, quizzes, etc.).
E. Other Skills: Did you complete the Required Revisions for the class? Did you succeed in
achieving the grade you contracted for? Did you understand and follow the guidelines for
the class on the website and in the grading contract (state, specifically, how you
accomplished this).
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F. Stick to the Truth: Tell me accurately what you did in the class; this is not fiction. However,
since a year has passed, you can elaborate on what you did after the class (therefore, your
favorable predictions after the class would be made up).
G. Autobiography: You can include a bit of autobiography to create a well-rounded picture of
you. It might include community service, awards you received during the time you were in
the class or after the class finished, why you are applying for the school/ scholarship/
employment for which you are asking me to write the letter, anecdotal information about
why you are going to college - - for instance - - you may be the first person in your family to
graduate with a college degree, or you have always wanted to be a doctor or a physical
therapist or a ___________, or you are fulfilling a promise to yourself or someone else, or
you have gotten an opportunity to return to school, etc. Help me to better understand who
you are so that I want to write the letter (and feel compelled to assist you in your
professional goals).
H. Conversations We Had: Face-to-face, via email, Written Comments on your papers in Turn It
In, Voice Comments from Turn It In, conversations from a conference, anything that made
you feel especially proud of yourself and your work.
I. Specific Essays that Made You Most Proud: Remind me of the title, give me a quotation
from your paper that was especially pleasing to you (either yours or mine), and feel free to
mention the grade.
J. Your Writing: Did I ask you to use your work as an example for future classes? Did I
recommend you submit to La Frontera (LCC’s literary journal)? Remind me, quote your
writing, quote my comments on your writing.
K. Timeliness: Did you turn your work in on time? Were you present most of the time? Were
you usually on time for classes?
L. Etc.: Anything that you feel will result in A. My ability to write the letter (professors’
credentials are on the line here so they are discriminating in agreeing to write them); and B.
Writing a good (specific) letter that will assist you in your professional goals.
MID -TERM EXAM & STUDY GUIDE |4
1. SAMPLE LETTER I RECEIVED FROM FORMER STUDENT ASKING ME
FOR A LETTER OF RECOMMENDATION
(SHE EVALUATES HER PERFORMANCE IN THE CLASS)
9 September 2012
Amelia Gutierrez
123 Professional Lane,
Laredo, TX 78040
Professor Cunningham-McEachin
Department of English & Reading
Laredo Community College
West End Washington Street
Laredo, Texas 78040
Dear Professor Cunningham-McEachin,
It has only been a couple months since I was last in your English 1302 class, which taught me
writing skills I will use for the rest of my academic and personal life. I was the blue- eyed girl who was
sometimes a bit quiet in class, but with a pen and paper I let all my thoughts and emotions come to life. I
also received an almost perfect score of a ninety eight on the first essay we were assigned to conduct,
our reader’s response to Gloria Anzaldua’s poem “El Sonavabitche.” A comment you wrote on my
reader’s response essay was, “I love how you go back and forth from the poem to your life. Perfect
transitions.” And I believe that comment demonstrates that you saw the hard work and time I put into
that essay. I use to be self-conscious about my writing, but your reassurance and positive comments in
my papers gave me confidence. You gave me confidence to write to the best of my ability, and that “the
only thing we have to fear, is fear itself,” as Franklin D. Roosevelt had once said.
I am applying to participate in a program which will help me succeed academically and inform
me of scholarship opportunities. STEM Scholars are high-achieving students pursuing careers in STEM
(Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics). In the application process, I am required to submit
two letters of support, and I would greatly appreciate if you could take the time to write me a letter of
recommendation. STEM scholars will have assistance and support from the program through an
academic advisor in planning their academic and professional careers. As part of our college experience,
STEM Scholars are also required to participate in STEM workshops, community service, mentoring and
internship opportunities, and tutoring activities during the academic year.
Not only will this program help me succeed and become available to scholarship opportunities,
but it will give me the opportunity to give back to my community. I have already been giving back to the
community by volunteering my time at the Doctor’s Hospital Physical Medicine Department. The
Physical Medicine Department at Doctor’s Hospital is where I would shadow the Physical Therapists to
gain more knowledge of this career I am working towards. I conducted these volunteer hours in the
spring semester of twenty-twelve, while I was also working as a receptionist at Dr. Rodriguez and
Guerrero Dental Associates, and taking a full load of classes. I hope you see the commitment I have to
further my education and to succeed in the profession I have chosen to pursue.
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I would greatly appreciate if you would take the time to write me a letter of recommendation
for the STEM Scholars Program I am applying for. I know the faculty reviewing my application would
appreciate a positive letter from you, with your fantastic writing skills and credentials. If you have any
questions please feel free to contact me at your earliest convenience. If you cannot find the time, I
completely understand and I appreciate you taking the time to read this letter.
Sincerely,
Amelia Gutierrez
Amelia Gutierrez
MID -TERM EXAM & STUDY GUIDE |6
2. PROFESSIONAL LETTER OF RECOMMENDATION I WROTE FOR AMELIA
BECAUSE I AGREED WITH HER EVALUATION OF HERSELF:
September 20, 2012
Subject: Letter of Recommendation for Ms. Amelia Gutierrez (STEM Scholarship Candidate)
Dear Colleagues,
I am most eager to write a letter of recommendation for Ms. Amelia Gutierrez, a former student in
my Composition II class in Spring 2012. I understand that Ms. Gutierrez is applying for a STEM
Scholarship, and I can recommend no finer candidate.
Ms. Gutierrez took English 1302 very seriously, and I felt fortunate to have the opportunity to come
to know her both through her writing and our conversations. But, in reality, I came to know her before
the semester even began, for one of my colleagues told me that he had formerly been her instructor - and that I was going to enjoy having her in my class. Let me begin to tell you why.
Ms. Gutierrez is a serious scholar and someone whose analytical abilities are highly developed,
whether she exercises them by participating in class discussion, carefully probing a topic in an essay, or
delighting a present or past instructor in a hearty conversation that continues after class. The bottom
line is that she is learning for the enjoyment of learning, and that is a quality that cannot be taught. She
arrived in Composition II having cultivated the desire to understand course material for herself - - never
for a grade. However, she gives credit to her instructors for sharing their knowledge. Indeed, she once
told me that she had attained writing skills in the class that she would “use for the rest of [her. . .]
academic and personal life.”
I remember one particular assignment that I suspect Ms. Gutierrez took considerable pleasure in
writing, a Reader Response essay over Gloria Anzaldua’s “Sonavabiche.” Of course, she received an “A”
on the assignment, and I noted that she moved back and forth from the poem to her life, expertly,
weaving the fascinating details of her own life with the poem. Later in the semester, in response to my
feedback about her writing, she wrote: “I used to be self-conscious about my writing, but your
reassurance and positive comments on my papers gave me confidence. You gave me confidence to write
to the best of my ability and that ‘the only thing we have to fear, is fear itself,’ as Franklin D. Roosevelt
once said.” This, then, exemplifies the approach I witnessed her taking in every assignment: a brave
progression into unchartered territories at the beginning of each unit - - and then an even braver exit,
one that was now augmented by new writing skills she was eager to learn. Personally, as a teacher of
English, nothing can be more enjoyable to observe.
I understand that the STEM Scholarship is not given without expecting students to give back; for
instance, STEM Scholars are required to participate in workshops, community service, mentoring and
internship opportunities and tutoring activities. So it is that Ms. Gutierrez will be quite able to meet the
demands of the program, for I learned that she has volunteered her time at the Doctor’s Hospital
Physical Medicine Department where she job-shadowed physical therapists in order to prepare herself
for her future career in Physical Medicine. She did this while also working as a receptionist at Dr.
Rodriguez and Guerrero - - and taking a FULL load of classes. I am certain that this schedule was taxing,
but she did it because she is highly-motivated and has a definite career path planned. Whereas some
students may be struggling to figure out which direction to head, that is not the case for Ms. Gutierrez.
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I will be blunt: Ms. Gutierrez can do anything she sets her mind to, whether her goal is becoming a
Physical Therapist or a Nurse, or a Doctor, or. . .you name it. She is very intelligent, highly motivated,
obviously creative - - and if that isn’t enough, she’s a really nice person.
I heartily recommend her.
Please feel free to contact me if you should have any questions.
Sincerely,
Mrs. Cunningham-McEachin
Mrs. Cunningham-McEachin
Professor of English
Department of English and Reading
West End Washington Street
Laredo, Texas 78040
Email: ccunningham@laredo.edu
Phone: 956-721-5344
MID -TERM EXAM & STUDY GUIDE |8
3. FOLLOW-UP I RECEIVED FROM AMELIA: SHE GOT THE SCHOLARSHIP.
2 October 2012
I'm so excited I got the scholarship! Thank you so much again for writing me that letter; it was very nice
:)
I'm so relieved I don't have to worry about the rest of my tuition for this semester. Oh, and I got a job at
Johnny Carinos :) I stopped working at the dental office back in August because I just wanted to take a
break for a couple weeks and I really wanted to work somewhere different. How has your week been?
-Amelia :)