Finalizing Cover Letters

Lesson Title: Unit #7

Curriculum Area and Level

Curriculum Area: English - Senior Secondary Level
Level: Year 12 (16-18 year olds)

Duration

60 Minutes

Lesson Overview

In the seventh lesson of our nine-unit series, students will concentrate on finalizing their cover letters. We aim to ensure students achieve excellence by meeting the performance criteria: clarity, relevance, and sequence. This interactive session will enable Year 12 students to perfect their cover letters, crucial for future job applications or university placements.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this lesson, students will:

1. Refine their cover letters to meet specific performance criteria.
2. Demonstrate an understanding of clarity, relevance, and logical sequence in writing.
3. Incorporate feedback to enhance their documents.
4. Exhibit confidence in their ability to self-assess and peer-review.

Performance Criteria

• Clarity: The cover letter must be clear, concise, and easy to understand.
• Relevance: The content should be pertinent to the job description or course application.
• Sequence: Ideas should be logically sequenced, with a coherent flow from introduction to conclusion.

Materials Needed

• Student notebooks
• Draft versions of cover letters from previous lessons
• Access to laptops or tablets
• Whiteboard and markers
• Assessment rubrics

Lesson Outline

Introduction (10 minutes)

• Objective Discussion: Begin with a brief discussion on the importance of a well-written cover letter in job and university applications. Ask students why they think clarity, relevance, and sequence are essential in this document.
• Q&A: Encourage students to share their thoughts on potential challenges they face when writing cover letters.

Main Activities (40 minutes)

1. Peer Review (15 minutes)

   • Split students into pairs to exchange cover letters.
   • Provide each pair with a checklist based on the performance criteria.
   • Guide them to give constructive feedback focusing on clarity, relevance, and sequence.

2. Incorporating Feedback (15 minutes)

   • Students will revise their cover letters based on peer feedback.
   • Encourage self-reflection by asking students to identify two strengths and one area of improvement in their own work.

3. Teacher-Led Workshop (10 minutes)

   • Host a mini-workshop focused on common pitfalls in cover letter writing.
   • Use examples from previous classes (anonymously) to highlight key points.

Conclusion and Homework (10 minutes)

• Recap: Summarize the main points of the lesson. Reinforce the importance of using the feedback received during peer review.
• Homework Assignment: Ask students to finalise their cover letters as a homework task. Each student should incorporate the feedback received and email their final drafts for review before the next class.
• Plenary Session: Invite volunteers to share one change they made based on peer feedback and how it improved their piece.

Assessment

• Use the completed cover letters to assess students against the performance criteria.
• Provide individualized feedback to support their ongoing improvement and readiness for real-world applications.

Extension Activity

• Suggest students explore job or university openings they are interested in and tailor their cover letters to fit these roles or courses. Encourage them to think about different styles of cover letters for varying contexts.

Special Considerations

• Be mindful of students who may need additional support with language skills. Offer one-on-one sessions or suggest relevant workshops for skill enhancement.
• Encourage all students to maintain a positive and respectful environment during peer review sessions.

This lesson plan ensures that students not only finalize their cover letters but do so with a critical understanding of the essential elements required for impactful and effective communication.