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Sample Letter
November 2, 1998
Dr. Naomi Sellers
Chair, English Search Committee
Box 58
Baxter College
Arcadia, WV 24803
Dear Dr. Sellers:
I am writing to apply for the position as assistant professor of
English with an emphasis in rhetoric and composition that
you advertised in the October MLA Job Information List. I
am a graduate student at Prestigious University working on a
dissertation under the direction of Professor Prominent
Figure. Currently revising the third of five chapters, I expect
to complete all work for the Ph.D. by May of 1999. I believe
that my teaching and tutoring experience combined with my
course work and research background in rhetoric and
composition theory make me a strong candidate for the
position outlined in your notice.
Use the form of address and
title of the contact person as
they appear in the job notice.
Refer to the job title as it
appears in the notice, and
state where you learned of
the position.
Mention your major
professor by name, especially
if he or she is well known in
your field. Also, mention
your expected completion
date.
Make a claim for your
candidacy that you will
support in the body of the
letter.
As my curriculum vitae shows, I have had excellent
opportunities to teach a variety of writing courses during my
graduate studies, including developmental writing, first-year
writing for both native speakers and second language
students, advanced writing, and business writing. I have also
worked as a teaching mentor for new graduate students, a
position that involved instruction in methods of composition
teaching, development of course materials, and evaluation of
new graduate instructors. Among the most satisfying
experiences for me as a teacher has been instructing students
on an individual basis as a tutor in our university Writing
Lab. Even as a classroom instructor, I find that I always look
forward to the individual conferences that I hold with my
students several times during the semester because I believe
this kind of one-on-one interaction to be essential to their
development as writers.
For a position at a small
undergraduate college,
emphasize teaching
experience and philosophy
early in the letter.
My work in the composition classroom has provided me with
the inspiration as well as a kind of laboratory for my
dissertation research. My project, The I Has It: Applications
of Recent Models of Subjectivity in Composition Theory,
Describe your dissertation
and plans for future research.
Emphasize links between
your teaching and research