Writing a letter of recommendation for my professor

[lilgop]

Hey all,

I was asked to write a letter of recommendation for my professor (she is applying for a promotion). I really, really, like this professor, and I loved her classes so I want the letter to be good.

Here's the problem: I can't think of a good introduction. I looked at examples online, and they all started out with something like: I'm writing you to recommend Mrs. so and so for promotion....

I just don't like the way that sounds...

Does anybody have any ideas?

[llg, PhD, RN]

I think that sounds fine. I always start my letters of recommendation in a similar straightforward way. Don't try to be to literary or flowery. Let the reader know why you are writing right off the bat.

Maybe something like ... "I am writing to recommend Mrs. X for the position of blah blah. Mrs. X was my instructor in Nuring 101, Fundamentals of whatever and ..."

Or maybe .... "I am pleased to recommend Mrs X for ..." Something straightforward and simple is best and sounds most professional.

[JoseQuinones]

For a letter of recommendation, boilerplate is best. In my other life, I managed a department of a rather large concern that often had Masters and Ph.D. students coming in to intern for their thesis. I had to read lots of letters of recommendation, and I always skipped right over the long, flowery ones. Get to the point:

To whom it may concern:

I would like to recommend Professor X for the promotion she is requesting. As my professor for X time in X program, I found her to be uniquely capable of capturing my attention and helping me learn confidently. Her tactics of X, Y, and Z helped me in X, Y, and Z way (be specific). Comments from many of my classmates confirm that I am not alone in this impression of Professor X. This university has many fine professors, and Professor X is a credit to it.

Sincerely,

My Name

[VampyrSlayer, CNA]

My boss used "it is my honor to recommend..." I thought that was sweet

[lilgop]

I wrote the letter this afternoon, and it turned out to be about 2/3rds of a page (5 paragraphs) . Do you think that it is too long?

Thanks!!