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Skilled letter writing is typically learned through experience and exposure. One of the most enlightening experiences is serving on a faculty committee that evaluates these letters. Reading several samples, the strengths and weaknesses of letters become evident. Consequently, the best letter writers are often the most experienced letter readers.  \nIdeally the reference letter augments other common parts of applications: CV, personal statement/letter of intent, interview and transcripts. Letters of reference provide details about aspects that are not obvious on a curriculum vita or standardized test. Rather than solely relying on the applicant’s self-reported accomplishments, reference letters offer more objective insights into the applicant’s abilities.  \nMAKE STUDENTS DO THE WORK   \nRequesting material from students will ease the process of writing the reference letter. In addition to providing a minimum of 4 weeks’ notice, sometimes longer with large grants, a student should provide their referees with the following basic information:  \n1. A copy of the student’s academic curriculum  \n2. Information on the deadline; method of submitting reference letter  \n3. The purpose of the post/application and link  \nIt may be helpful to request a copy of a final assignment and other documents that would have been assigned for your classes. Ideally, these would be copies with your final feedback on them. These documents can add detail to your general statements about the student’s ability. Similarly other exceptional work (publication, posters, etc.) could be helpful. Moreover, you could request that students provide a list of accomplishments they are most proud of.  \nFinally, it may be beneficial to review all submitted material for the application, including letters, CV, and application documents. This will help your letter fit the rest of the application. You may wish to know who else is writing the reference letters, allowing you to focus on a particular ability of the student. By reading the other documents in the application, you can avoid redundancy.  \nAdditional Information to Request  \n1. What type of document is required? A letter of recommendation (all positive information) or a letter of reference (where there is an implied evaluation) .  \n2. A summary of the application and the organization requesting it.  \n3. What values or insights are requested or valued by the organization? This information is critical for both the student and referee, as it will help anticipate what information is important to the reader.  \nSHOULD I WRITE A REFERENCE LETTER?  \nReferees should have a candid conversation when they are unable to write a strong letter of support. Ask yourself: Am I in the position to comment on X’s capacity to get into Y? Consider that even a neutral letter can be damaging to the student’s application.  \nExamples of letters that are a disservice to the student:  \n“Now forgive my ignorance I do not know exactly what position Moe is applying for in your organization or what your organization does…”  \n“I recognize the scholarship is looking for outstanding students that are leaders in their community. In my 2 years of knowing Sandy, I have seen him engaged only sporadically on campus. I have seen that he struggles in social settings, especially when working in team environments. I k","cbCaiapxjAkuFscj","https://ap.wps.com/l/cbCaiapxjAkuFscj","pdf",531476,"English","# Introduction\n## Make students do the work\n## Should you write a reference letter?\n## Freedom of Information Policy (FOIP)\n## Key features of a reference letter\n## Additional items","[{\"question\":\"Should a referee always write a reference letter?\",\"answer\":\"No. A referee should only write if they are in a position to comment on the applicant’s capacity for the target opportunity. A candid conversation is recommended when support is weak, and a neutral or limited letter can still harm the student’s application.\"},{\"question\":\"What information should students provide to help you write a reference letter?\",\"answer\":\"Students should provide a copy of their academic curriculum, deadlines and submission method, the purpose of the post/application and relevant link, plus helpful supporting materials such as final assignments with feedback and a list of accomplishments they are most proud of.\"},{\"question\":\"What are the typical key features and structure of a strong reference letter?\",\"answer\":\"Most letters begin by establishing the letter writer’s credibility, then evaluate the student’s performance and abilities, and reaffirm the evaluation in the final paragraph. The guide also stresses following application guidelines and keeping the length to about one to one and a half pages.\"}]","Writing Academic Reference Letters - Student Success Centre - Academic reference letter guide | PDF",1789483203]