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Peer Review

Guide to Reference Letters

Reviewed:

Mar 5, 2019 by Business
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Ratings

Overall Rating: 4.2 stars
Content Quality: 4.2 stars
Effectiveness: 4.0 stars
Ease of Use: 4.2 stars
Overview:

This is a website that provides samples and templates for writing letters of reference for employment, character or personal reference. Generally speaking, there should never be any negative criticism or defamatory comments because this could constitute libel. Writers also need to keep in mind information about age discrimination and equity legislation. Check with your organization to see if there are policy about writing references. 

Writers also need to keep in mind information about age discrimination and equity legislation. Check with your organization to see if there are policy about writing references. This is based on UK law and conventions.

Type of Material:

Tutorial

Recommended Uses:

The material can be used in-class, homework, individual, team, lecture, self-paced, etc. But most likely in real life situations.

Technical Requirements:

Google Chrome version 72.0.3626.109

Adobe Reader version  19.010.20098

Quicktime 7.78.80.95

Java 8 Update 161

Adobe Flash 32.0.0.142

Identify Major Learning Goals:

  • Students will learn to provide structures and templates appropriate for writing letters of reference for employment, character or personal reference.
  • The learner will observe many samples so that he or she can write their own letters based on the same
Target Student Population:

This is recommended for anyone who may be requested to provide such letters of reference to include faculty, executives, and anyone who wishes to support by using a personal reference.

For students, this would be useful in a business program, in an English program, a communication program, or any course of study which may engage the user in writing a recommendation or letter of reference, especially in a business course.

Prerequisite Knowledge or Skills:

Knowledge of business writing, composition and basic writing skills are strongly recommended.  User should be able to navigate the Internet, download files, work with templates and PDF documents.

Content Quality

Rating:
Strengths:

  • The material is very flexible and easy to understand by a beginner gives basic inputs
  • Provides a detailed overview of the material with samples to test and upgrade learners knowledge.
  • Design is modular and is effective which helps is multiple user groups.
  • Lot of samples are provided so that users can use it directly by filling it up.
  • Guidelines are included, along with reminders about potential legal issues such as individual rights and data protection.
Concerns:

  • Advertising is embedded throughout the site and can be cumbersome. 
  • The user needs to be aware of agreeing to internet cookies and being on mailing lists if downloads are accepted.
  • Appropriate samples are not given in a broader perspective

Potential Effectiveness as a Teaching Tool

Rating:
Strengths:

  • This is a very effective teaching tool
  • Material is made in such a way that students and teachers can easily navigate and learn with given concepts
  • Learners get an idea about various reference letters.
  • It is very simple to use as it is just to be filled to use it.
  • Can be adapted and used for letters of reference for various reasons.
Concerns:

  • The site is based on UK law and this is notable in the spelling of certain words.
  • The user needs to be aware of the differenced in law and procedures (for example, between the UK and the US), as well as the acceptable (country) spelling for some words.
  • Illustration of the concepts is not effective

Ease of Use for Both Students and Faculty

Rating:
Strengths:

  • The site is easy to read, and users can copy and paste samples into a document for future use and avoid the need to sign up for forms in the various reference styles.
  • A table of contents with live links is provided for quick access and easy navigation.
  • The Key concepts are explained in a very nice way and students can recall the same easily.
  • Visual examples are good.
  • Students learn some business terminology
Concerns:

  • Real Life Examples should be used more
  • Lacks updates in this material.
  • The graphics need to be updated.
  • More picture based ones can be used for more user acceptance
  • The embedded ads can be cumbersome.
Other Issues and Comments:

  • The basics for letters of reference are very useful, especially for those who are unfamiliar with this process.
  • Helps to get basic and more descriptive ideas

 

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