skip to main content

Leading adult education through support for and the effective application of technology.

Creating a Job Cover Letter

Details

Author:
Yecsenia Lorenzo, SME OTAN
Activity Website:
Tech Product/Equipment:
Computer and projector, Computer, Speakers

Activity Description

Cover Letter
Source: unsplash by Unsplash (License: CC0/Public Domain)
 

Upon successful completion, students will be able to create an effective cover letter.

Preparation

  1. Check the video to ensure it is not blocked at your site.
  2. Read through the lesson plan.
  3. Print and make copies of any handouts.

Teacher Tips

Create a class bulletin board with cover letters

More Ways

Beginning students can focus on creating one general cover letter which may be slightly altered for each different job. Beginners should also develop the skills of writing by supporting their claims of being correct for the job through examples and reasons. Beginners should work on basic writing and language skills such as subject-verb agreement, capitalization, and good spelling and not necessarily focus on changing sentence styles or structures. 

Program Areas

  • ABE: Adult Basic Education
  • ESL: English as a Second Language
  • ASE: High School Equivalency Preparation
  • ASE: High School Diploma
  • CTE: Career Technical Education

Levels

  • All Levels
  • Intermediate High
  • Advanced

Lesson Plan

Warm-up
Engagement

The instructor will discuss the importance of the cover letter. It is usually the first piece of an application that is read.

Define for students the purpose of a cover letter.  Explain a cover letter provides an introduction and an opportunity to highlight the applicants' special skills and experiences. 

Student Discussion Questions

  1. Have you ever written a cover letter?  
  2. Why is a cover letter important? 
Introduction

Explain the parts of a cover letter. List the 4 parts on the board to help students visualize.  Heading, Introduction, Body, Closing. 

Presentation
  1. Watch the Cover Letter Video 
  2. Present Cover Letter Presenation 
Practice
Engagement

Activity 1:

Have students create a cover letter for one particular job they have in mind, or make up one using google docs. Remind students that a cover letter must change depending on the job. 

Activity 2: 

Pair students in teams of two. Have students edit and revise their cover letters. Emphasize the need for correct spelling, punctuation, subject-verb agreement, capitalization, and other writing conventions. 

 

Evaluation

Have students apply peer feedback corrections to their cover letters.  Create a final draft and submit it to the instructor for final review and teacher feedback.  

Application
Extension

Find a job posting that you are interested in and create a new cover letter using the knowledge learned and geared towards a specific job. 

Documents

Subjects

  • English Language Arts
    • English 1-4
    • English Electives
  • Language Arts - Writing
    • Organization of Ideas
    • Writing Conventions
  • Reasoning Through Language Arts
    • Mechanics (Capitalization, Punctuation, Spelling)
  • Writing
    • Basic Sentences
    • Mechanics (Capitalization, Punctuation, Spelling)
    • Paragraph Skills
    • Parts of Speech
    • Report Writing

CTE Sectors

  • Agriculture and Natural Resources
  • Arts, Media, and Entertainment
  • Building and Construction Trades
  • Business and Finance
  • Education, Child Development, and Family Services
  • Energy, Environment, and Utilities
  • Engineering and Architecture
  • Fashion and Interior Design
  • Health Science and Medical Technology
  • Hospitality, Tourism, and Recreation
  • Information and Communication Technologies
  • Manufacturing and Product Development
  • Marketing Sales and Service
  • Public Services
  • Transportation

CTE Anchor Standards

  • Anchor Standard 3: Career Planning and Management - Speaking and Listening Standard: Integrate multiple sources of information presented in diverse formats and media (e.g., visually, quantitatively, orally) in order to make informed decisions and solve problems, evaluating the credibility and accuracy of each source and noting any discrepancies among the data.
  • Anchor Standard 10: Technical Knowledge and Skills - Writing Standard: Use technology, including the Internet, to produce, publish, and update individual or shared writing products in response to ongoing feedback, including new arguments or information.
  • Anchor Standard 11: Demonstration and Application - Demonstrate and apply the knowledge and skills contained in the industry-sector anchor standards, pathway standards, and performance indicators in classroom, laboratory, and workplace settings, and the career technical student organization.
Scroll To Top

OTAN activities are funded by contract CN220124 from the Adult Education Office, in the Career & College Transition Division, California Department of Education, with funds provided through Federal P.L., 105-220, Section 223. However, OTAN content does not necessarily reflect the position of that department or the U.S. Department of Education.