Evaluating the Purdue Online Writing Lab's Guide to Cover Letters

This report provides a review of the cover letter writing guide available on the Purdue Online Writing Lab (OWL) website. The review highlights the key aspects of the guide, including its structure, formatting tips, and advice on researching job positions and addressing qualifications. The report emphasizes the importance of cover letters in creating a positive first impression and showcasing an applicant's skills and enthusiasm. It discusses the guide's examples and samples, which aid in understanding the topic, and the necessity of customizing cover letters for each job application. The review also outlines the key strategies learned from the guide, such as improving writing and communication effectiveness by providing precise content and making effective introductions and closings. The report includes a bibliography with cited sources like Michael Page International Inc. and the Purdue OWL website, along with various footnote and bibliographic examples.

1
Review A Guide to Writing Cover Letters
The Name of the Student
The Name of the Course
The Date

The Cover Letters
Purdue Online Writing Lab is a free resource for those looking for information about all
aspects of academic writing, referencing styles. The paper makes a review of the guide on cover
letters by Purdue Online Writing Lab and if it imparts essential learning points when written
cover letters and improves communication effectiveness.
A cover letter is not just a routine document or a formality, but it offers the job applicant
the opportunity to create the first good impression. A compelling and impressive cover letter gets
immediate attention and showcases the unique skills and experience of the applicant1. The cover
letter informs the reader about the personality and enthusiasm of the writer about the job, the
company, and how he can add value to the organization he joins.
The Purdue Online Writing Lab website page covers essential points relating to how to
write cover letters and segregates the information under different sections like what is a cover
letter, formatting tips, researching job positions, addressing qualifications, and more related
topics. There are different sections on the introduction, body, and closing of the cover letters.
After going through each and every section on cover letters, I gained significant
information regarding the structure of cover letters for a job application and its importance. What
I liked about the guide was that there were sufficient samples and examples to enhance the
understanding of the topic. The cover letter has to be customized for a particular job application
and should show why you are a good match for the job and organization2. The basic purpose of a
cover letter is to create a professional image to potential employers and with no mistakes. The
1 Michael Page International Inc. Company, “Why Cover Letters Are Important,”
2 Purdue Online Writing Lab, “Welcome to the Purdue OWL,”

guide educates as to why it is essential to proofread the cover letter and impress prospective
employers and enhance your chance of getting an interview and hired.
The two key strategies that I learned after going through the Purdue guide on how to
write cover letters is how to improve my writing and communication effectiveness by giving
maximum information in precise content. Next, I gained valuable insight on how to make the
right introduction and start with the cover letter and what to include in the main body and how to
close the letter effectively by providing contact information and request an interview.

Bibliography
Company, Michael Page International Inc. Why Cover Letters Are Important. 2020.
https://www.michaelpage.com/advice/career-advice/cover-letter-and-resume-advice/why-
cover-letters-are-important.
Lab, Purdue Online Writing. Welcome to the Purdue OWL. March. 2020.
https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/purdue_owl.html.
Foot note: Resource,” Publishing Organization/Web Site Name, http
Biblio” “Title.” Publishing Organization/Web Site Name. http
Foot note: Susan MacDonald, “Language,” College 58, no. 4 (2019): 619.
Biblio: MacDonald, Susan. “Language.” College Composition and Communication 58, no. 4
(2019): 585-625.

N:
Henry Bent, “Professionalization,” Communication 58, no. 4 (2007): 141, accessed October 26,
2019, htt
B:
Bent, Henry "Professionalization.” Composition 58, no4 (2007): 141, accessed October 26, 2019,
htt
The Writing Lab & The OWL at Purdue and Purdue University. All rights reserved. This
material may not be published, reproduced, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without
References

Ca, F., 2019, ‘Public’, Journal, Vol. 11, no. 11, pp. 11-11.
Ss, A. 2019, Potamopyrgus, United States Geological Survey, viewed 5 August 2019, htt