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Volume XXXIII, No. 1 | January 21, 2011

WRITING LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION: ABC’s OF STUDENT ATTRIBUTES

All of us are asked to write letters of recommendation. Often the request comes at a time when we lack the time to give it the time and attention it requires. Several years ago, I started work on a list of student attributes that I could write about in a letter of recommendation. This list has now grown to 82 items! A valuable supplement to the list is a form I use to obtain information from students. Together, the two have allowed me to respond more quickly and to write better letters. Please feel free to adapt my work to fit your needs.

TO: My Students

RE: Writing Letters of Recommendation

In these legalistic days, I have been cautioned to be very careful about what I say in a letter of recommendation. Consequently, if you ask me for a letter, I try to be as factual as possible when I write it. What does this mean? Let me give you two examples, using illustrations of what I once might have written and what I would now write.

Then— ___________ seems to be a hardworking, conscientious student who can usually be counted on to perform at or above expectations.

Now— ___________ occasionally turns in assignments late. However, when the work is eventually turned in, it usually meets expectations.

Then—relaxed, easy going.

Now—slept in class.

Please keep this in mind as you progress through the program. At some time in your career—either when you graduate or later—you may want me to write a letter for you. I am anxious to help you and will always be happy to write a letter. But I must be very careful to tell the truth. So—help me help you, by:

  1. Always coming to class prepared.
  2. Always following the directions for assignments.
  3. Always doing your best work.

Examples of observable behaviors with which I have enough experience with you to feel comfortable commenting include the following “ABC’s” of student attributes.

If you anticipate wanting a letter from me, ask for a copy of the outline of information from which I might write a letter of reference. Follow the directions, then give the information to me. I will write a letter, then let you review it. After we finalize the letter, give me the name and address, or email address, of the person to whom you are applying, and I will take it from there.

The ABCs of Student Attributes

  1. Ability—innate capacity to do graduate work
  2. Achievement orientation
  3. Analytical ability
  4. Attitude—general disposition
  5. Articulation of ideas
  6. Attention to detail
  7. Carries load in group activities
  8. Clarity of goals
  9. Commitment to profession
  10. Commitment to self-improvement
  11. Common sense
  12. Communication skills—orals
  13. Communication skills—written
  14. Computer literacy
  15. Conceptual ability
  16. Conflict management skills
  17. Conscientiousness
  18. Cooperation
  19. Contribution to class discussion
  20. Constructive criticism—ability to take
  21. Creativity
  22. Cultural awareness
  23. Decision-making
  24. Desire to learn
  25. Dress—appropriateness of
  26. Empathy
  27. Energy level
  28. English—spoken
  29. Enthusiasm
  30. Flexibility
  31. Follows directions
  32. Humor—sense of
  33. Information retrieval
  34. Improvement—orientation toward
  35. Initiative
  36. Integrate—ability to
  37. Integrity
  38. Interest in class
  39. Knowledge of field
  40. Leadership skills exhibited
  41. Lifelong learning—commitment to
  42. Listening skills
  43. Maturity
  44. Motivation
  45. Organizing ability
  46. Openness
  47. Planning ability
  48. Perseverance
  49. Punctuality
  50. Preparation
  51. Quality—interest in
  52. Quality of work
  53. Quantity of work
  54. Preparation for class
  55. Presentation skills
  56. Problem solving skills
  57. Professional promise
  58. Professionalism—behavior
  59. Professional organizations—involvement in
  60. Punctuality
  61. Rapport—ability to establish
  62. Reading—involvement in professional reading
  63. Relationship with colleagues
  64. Reliability
  65. Resourcefulness
  66. Respect from others
  67. Respect from faculty
  68. Respect from fellow students
  69. Responsibility—sense of
  70. Scholarship—interest in
  71. Self-analysis
  72. Self-confidence
  73. Social skills
  74. Stress—performance under
  75. Team member—able to work as one
  76. Time management skills
  77. Tolerance for others
  78. Tolerance of others
  79. Wellness—physical
  80. Wellness—mental
  81. Work habits
  82. Writing ability

Outline of Information

You have asked that I write a letter of recommendation for you, and I am delighted to do so provided that you furnish me with the following:

    1. Name, address of the person(s) to whom I should write
    2. Position for which you are applying
    3. When we first met
    4. Courses taken with me, when, and grades
    5. Areas of strength, broken down into:

      a. Knowledge

      b. Skills

      c. Attitudes (strong beliefs)

    6. Areas of weaknesses that I should know about, divided into:

a. Knowledge

b. Skills

  1. Anything specific about which you want me to comment
  2. Finally, allow at least one week for me to write the letter and have it typed—two weeks if you want to see a draft before it is mailed (highly recommended).

Jim Hammons, Professor of Higher Education

For further information, contact the author at The University of Arkansas, 254 Graduate Education Building, Fayetteville, AR 72701. Email

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