Sample Letters of Recommendation
This letters demonstrate acceptable formats for a formal letter of recommendation. Use one of these formats for your Outsiders project. You'll want to put the page numbers of the evidence you cite from the text in parentheses.
Thank you to my former student, Garrett, for letting me share his Outsiders letter of recommendation with future students. I've indicated in parentheses where page references from the novel ought to go. --Mrs. CB
May 12, 1963
Scholarship Selection Committee
UC Los Angeles
405 Hilgard Ave
Box 951361
Los Angeles, CA 90095
Dear Selection Committee Members:
I willingly recommend, Ponyboy Curtis, an English student, for a scholarship at your institution. Mr. Curtis has been a student of mine for all his years at are high school. In the past years I have been able to watch Mr. Curtis grow as a person and a student, and I can state that he is now clearly a man of integrity.
Growing up in the harsh low-class environment, Mr. Curtis has shown that he can make the right choices in intense situations. I give you the example of one time when Mr. Curtis and his friend (who is now deceased) saved a bunch of kids in a burning church. Risking his life in the process, he put his life on the line to take others off the line. Though it is true that Mr. Curtis would not be in this situation if he had not ran away from a murder scene (which mind you he did not commit), in the end he made the right decision by returning and turning himself in.
Some might say that Mr. Curtis should not receive any scholarship because of his affiliation with gangs. I contend that his participation was not a violent one. His gang was more of a band of friends than a gang that sought out to participate in criminal activity. His gang members looked out for him, which clearly shows that they all had some sense of respect towards each other, (insert page # here). I also know that Mr. Curtis has broken away from the rumbles and fight that the gangs take place in, and he has decided to work on his running ability and make something out of himself.
In addition to all his attributes you must also understand that Mr. Curtis has achieved his success in a neighborhood full of drugs and gang warfare. His ability to maintain focus and determination under these hard conditions is shows incredible perseverance. Please also consider that Mr. Curtis' parents died when he was just 14, (insert page # here). That he has overcome so much speaks volumes about his potential to succeed in a positive environment like UCLA.
Ponyboy Curtis is one of, if not, the best choice to award a scholarship to. Please remember his integrity and perseverance when making your decision.
Sincerely,
Garrett ____________
Teacher
March
22, 1963
San
Diego, CA 83838
To
Whom It May Concern:
Ponyboy
Curtis is an exceptional young man who is a skillful student, unique hero, and
perseverant young man. I was very impressed with the quality of his schoolwork
as well as his phenomenal personality. He always received above average grades.
(p. 15) It was a delight to have this young gentleman in my class. Therefore, I
would like to recommend him for a scholarship to Yobynop College.
Mr.
Curtis is a talented pupil that has numerous strong points. Firstly, he thrives
in his studies although he is currently living in a hostile environment.
Unfortunately, Ponyboy lives in a dangerous neighborhood. (p. 3) However, even
under that pressure, he continued to succeed and flourish toward becoming a
better person and a well-educated student. Ponyboy is always prepared and alert,
and is an excellent listener. I have observed that he provides support and
advice for his peers. He has a true desire to go to college and granting his
wish would allow this young man to go very far. He picks up information rapidly
and is a very diligent worker. He is from a family of brothers who dropped out
of school and has friends that decided school wasn’t important, but he has
bucked this trend and stuck with his goals. Also, he is a unique individual who
is a voracious reader and this is not common in my community. (p. 177)
In
addition to him being a good student, he is a fascinating young man who is very
courageous and tries to help others. An example of this is when he saved young
children who were trapped in a burning church. (p. 15) Ponyboy, knowing he could
die, went into the flaming building to rescue the kids and give them a quick
route to safety. This generous act truly shows the compassionate hero that
Ponyboy is. He’s not only bold, but makes good decisions. In Ponyboy’s
society, everyone’s involved in fights. There is tons of violence and the
majority of those who do fight, enjoy it. However, Mr. Curtis is different by
making the right choices. (p. 133) Although he still does fight, he would rather
not. He clearly recognizes what is right and wrong and struggles to do the best
he can toward being a better person. He also works well with a wide variety of
people, including those in classes above him. (p. 22) Whether someone’s poor,
wealthy, in between, nice, or strange, Ponyboy can make friends in a matter of
minutes, which will be a helpful tool for working with others in his future
life. He knows what to say and when to say it even to strangers.
However,
no one is perfect. Ponyboy Curtis has his weaknesses as well. One might think
with the dangerous environment that Ponyboy lives in that he is just a worthless
hoodlum who will create chaos at college. Those who think that are terribly
wrong. Ponyboy has the potential to reach his educational goals and he will
succeed in college with that determination. The majority of his weaknesses will
no longer exist after he leaves his current neighborhood. Ponyboy doesn’t know
what opportunities lie outside of the Eastside, where he has experienced rumbles
and drugs. It isn’t Ponyboy’s fault that he is in an unsafe, low-class
environment, because his parents died when he was only fourteen. (p. 110) His
brothers had no other choice for they could not afford to live somewhere else.
Mr.
Curtis isn’t a strong leader either, because he constantly tries to blend in
with the tough crowd he believes is “cool”. I am positive, though, that his
leadership skills will improve when he leaves the struggling world he has known.
He will forget that he ever thought rough is “cool” when he sees what
accomplishments one can make following their beliefs. He will discover how
successful he can be with being himself. Some may protest against Ponyboy being
accepted to Yobynop College, because he has an affiliation with gangs. (p. 12)
Those who say that might not understand that his gang is like his family that
protect, respect, and support each other. Also, I contend his participation was
not one of violence. Many of his gang members made the wrong decisions such as
choosing fights, getting drunk, and stealing, but Ponyboy Curtis selected the
path in which he won’t be involved in crime. Ponyboy was involved in a murder,
which doesn’t put very good information on his record, but he was just an
innocent bystander. Now after seeing his two close gang members die he knows how
important and valuable life is.
Sometimes
Mr. Curtis isn’t always honest and he tries to be secretive. Once, he was sick
and knew it was wrong to smoke, but he did so anyway. (p.164) At college, he
will discover the significance in being open and discussing topics with others.
Ponyboy has family problems too. (p.13) His older brother and him get into
quarrels occasionally, but this should prepare him for the debates he will
encounter in college. When he is away from college, he’ll realize how
significant his family is. Now Ponyboy is ill from a recent fight, but he will
cure fast. (p.162) I believe that with time and experience, Ponyboy will
overcome his weaknesses and his life experiences will actually make him more
prepared for life a college student.
In
conclusion, please select Ponyboy Curtis to receive your college scholarship
where both your college and Mr. Curtis will benefit. Please consider that in
addition to his attributes, Mr. Curtis has achieved his success in a violent
neighborhood. His capability to preserve through harsh conditions shows his
determination and focus. This bright, fascinating, perseverant, heroic student
will make a difference in the world and your hallowed halls. For the reasons
above, I strongly believe that Mr. Curtis will thrive in his college experiences
and he has the potential to succeed at Yobynop College.
Sincerely,
Mrs.
L. Nadia
Teacher
at AIDAN High School
November 15, 2003
Dr. Prena Sadhatman
UC San Diego
College of Education
12756 Gilman Drive
San Diego, CA 92310
Recommendation for Ms. Briana Guttierez
Dear Dr. Padhatman:
In the spring of 2002, Briana Guttierez assisted
weekly in a 7th grade English class at Carmel Valley Middle School.
What a help she was! At the
time, she was beginning her teacher education program, and her daughter was
enrolled in a different 7th grade English class in our school.
Briana wanted to help, and she wanted to learn while she explored the
environment of a middle school English
classroom.
Briana brought a sense of humor and a willingness to
dig into the curriculum with the children.
We studied the heroic adventures of characters in The Odyssey and Redwall.
We researched Shakespearean times before reading A Midsummer Night’s
Dream. We prepared speeches for
the Carmel Valley Speech Contest, and we practiced writing essays and giving
oral reports. Briana brought a
calming confidence to our classroom of 21 boys and 11 girls on Fridays, and the
children looked forward to her assistance as much as I did.
I appreciate her dedication to children and to
literature. I’m so glad that I
was able to share the beginning of her teaching career.
Sincerely,
Michael L. Wong
CVMS English Department Chairperson
March 17, 2003
Martha Stoddard-Holmes, Ph.D.
California State University, San Marcos
333 S. Twin Oaks Valley Rd.
San Marcos, California 92096-0001
Recommendation for Loni Breyer, Masters Program
Dear Dr. Stoddard,
Loni Breyer joined the English department at Miller Middle School, Cupertino Union School District, in April of 1987. I helped interview Loni for the position, and I was impressed with her from the first time I met her. Loni has quickly become an invaluable part of our school and English department.
I highly recommend Loni for a Masters in English degree at CSUSM. She is an excellent teacher and a lover of her subject area. She enjoys learning, reading, sharing, and writing. She becomes so involved with her curriculum that she delves into personal research and shares information with the rest of the department. We encourage Loni to pursue her interest in another degree because we know that we will learn with her and from her while she takes her classes!
Loni is solidly grounded in classroom management, expectations, and teaching techniques. We appreciate her expertise in teaching reading to struggling students and language learners. She effectively works with special education teachers and aides as well as working with bilingual counselors and staff. She constantly displays a team attitude in our English department and is a colleague who strongly supports students, parents, and teachers.
Loni is a perfect candidate for the Masters in English program. It is a privilege to recommend her.
Sincerely,
Mark Bull,
MMS English Dept. Chair