A Practical Guide to Writing Performance Appraisals and Letters of Recommendation - read and apply word lists

Sep 15, 2026

Uploaded by Rizky

A Practical Guide to Writing Performance Appraisals and Letters of Recommendation provides writers with practical direction for selecting effective, appropriate wording when evaluating individuals. It organizes evaluation concepts around seven areas—Mentality, Presence, Disposition, Character, Knowledge, Application, and Results—and supplies word lists to match each characteristic. The guide also includes a template to support the writing process and outlines key components of recommendation letters for formal, role-focused endorsement.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryLetters

FormatPDF

Pages7

Reading Time3 min

AccessFree to download

Introduction

Purpose and impact of recommendation letters

Components of a strong recommendation letter

Selecting the Right Word

Challenges in finding suitable wording

Using evaluation word lists and descriptors

A Practical Guide to Writing Performance Appraisals and Letters of Recommendation W. Terry Dancer Arkansas State University Writing performance appraisals and letters of recommendation is a difficult and timely task for some. This paper provides direction to writers about choosing applicable words for those being evaluated. This is accomplished by providing a list of words useful in describing characteristics of those under consideration. This paper considers Mentality, Presence, Disposition, Character, Knowledge, Application, and Results regarding the person under evaluation. For each characteristic noted, a list of words is provided to reflect the appropriate word/words to describe the individual. The paper also provides a template usefulforgetting started in the writing of performance appraisals and Letters of Recommendation. Keywords: appraisals, letters of recommendation INTRODUCTION During my 46 years of teaching, I have been asked to write hundreds of letters of recommendation. For our purposes here, a letter of recommendation and a letter of reference, though arguably different in nature, are considered synonymous. A letter of recommendation has the potential to change a person’s life. It has the capacity to give the one under consideration the opportunity to enjoy a lifetime of work they enjoy and adequate lifetime earnings. A letter of recommendation is a formal document that discusses a person’s suitability for a particular role. Though similar, recommendation letters differ from standard references in that the latter are often communicated through casual conversations by email or phone. (Herrity, 2023) . Your letter of recommendation should include five items: 1. A brief introduction stating who you are, your relationship to the applicant and your personal experience or expertise. 2. An overview of the applicant ’s strengths as you ’ve experienced them and as they relate to the recipient. 3. A personal story that elaborates on one to two traits the applicant possesses. 4. A closing statement that summarizes why the individual you ’re recommending would be a good fit for the opportunity. 5. A signature that includes your name and contact information. (Herrity, 2023) . Many employers request recommendation letters to help them decide who to hire or internally promote. Throughout the hiring process, the applicant strives to present herself in the best light. Beyond the interview and resume, hiring managers look to recommendation letters to confirm the candidate’s qualifications and to gain insight from an outside party. (Safier, 2020) . Ideally, when you ’re writing a letter of recommendation, it’s about someone whom you feel merits praise, so all you have to do is write down your positive feedback on the candidate. The process isn’t always as easy as it sounds, though. It can be challenging to write a terrific recommendation letter. Also, there are standard things that you would want to mention in your endorsement of the candidate. (Doyle, 2023) . Sometimes, the first step is the most difficult and the most important. In order to adequately write a letter of recommendation you will need to rely on a bit of detective work in addition to the personal information and background you have regarding the individual. Ask the person for whom you are writing to supply you with a copy of the job posting and their resume or curriculum vitae (CV) before you begin composing your letter. It can also be helpful to review their cover letter to see how they themselves pitch their qualifications for the job. Also ask them to share their most marketable assets for that type of work, especially ones you may have observed in your relationship with the person you are recommending. (Doyle, 2023) . A performance review is a regulated assessment in which managers evaluate an employee’s work performance to identify their strengths and weaknesses, offer feedback and assist with goal setting. Grappling w

FAQs

What is the main purpose of this guide for recommendation letters?

It helps writers choose applicable words when describing people under evaluation, making performance appraisals and recommendation letters clearer and more accurate.

Which evaluation characteristics does the guide cover?

It covers Mentality, Presence, Disposition, Character, Knowledge, Application, and Results, with word lists for each characteristic.

What five elements should a recommendation letter include?

A brief introduction, an overview of strengths, a personal story highlighting traits, a closing statement on fit, and a signature with name and contact information.

Sep 15, 2026

Uploaded by Rizky