Cover Letter and Resume

Assignment 1: Cover Letter Rubric

A Excellent

(Above and beyond

expectations)

B Well Done

(Meets expectations

and is excellent or

almost excellent in one or two

areas)

C Satisfactory

(Meets expectations)

D Needs Work

(Almost meets expectations)

F Failing (Below

Expectations)

4 3 2 1 0 Audience (x2) • The cover letter is an excellent match to audience needs (fulfills the reader’s needs and

(contains the information the audience needs to make a decision or take an action) • The cover letter is tailored in some way to the specific job and organization and is not

overly generic • The cover letter is an excellent match to the genre, following the good writing advice

discussed in course readings and class discussion

Context and Purpose (x2) • There is a clear purpose • The cover letter contextualizes important qualifications rather than simply summaries the

resume • The cover letter makes a persuasive argument that the writer will be a good fit for the job

or organization • Ideas are clear, coherent, and demonstrate complexity • The cover letter identifies and considers the influence of appropriate contexts on the

issue: cultural and professional (the writer has considered company culture and conveys the appropriate persona in their letter)

Design • Excellent match of design elements to document genre • Effective use of design principles (white space, alignment, etc.) • The cover letter is formatted as a formal letter and not an email

Style and Editing • Clear and succinct prose • Word choices are concrete and specific

• Excellent matching of level of formality and technicality to audience • Gender- and culture-appropriate language • No grammatical, mechanical, or typographical errors • Errors do not affect usability

Structure and Organization • Follows structural conventions for the genre • Arranges parts logically • There is a clear beginning, middle, and end • The letter effectively makes use of the FES (“forecast, expand, summarize) method of

organization

Critical Thinking • The writer is aware of and clearly identifies the writer’s own assumptions and/or beliefs • The document identifies the assumptions and/or beliefs of the appropriate stakeholders • Claims are clear and substantiated with evidence • The evidence is appropriate to the audience and/or stakeholders • Evidence adds insight to the writer’s own ideas • Content and design decisions seem to take into account insights from readings and class

discussions

Student Ownership • The document seems unique to the writer and also tailored well to the specific rhetorical

situation • The assignment goes beyond minimal expectations • If necessary, the writer took risks

Assignment Completion • Fulfills assignment precisely and fully • Includes all parts of the assignment

Total

40-34 30-24 20-14 10-5 4 or less