Gamification in Education

Gamification in Education Often the term â€Å"gamification† is met with controversy, resistance and confusion, as it is not completely clear what is meant by its implementation into education. If you strip away all of the additional information that has been added over the years, gamification is simply adding elements that are usually related to games or game-like activities into the classroom. Some examples of these features include: points, a focus on competition and a clear set of rules. This does not just mean games that are used in the classroom but rather activities or tasks that have game-like features added to them. This is an important difference to note. It seems like a straightforward concept but it is usually poorly implemented within education. This misuse can range from gamification being a mild yet useless distraction right to transforming an educational program into a farce of games masquerading as learning opportunities. In this article we will look at the best use of gamification and how it can increase the overall retention of information. We will also provide a range of methods to successfully bring gamification into everyday classroom activities without it becoming a waste of the student’s time.   More Complex Than Playing Games Often students, teachers and parents make the mistake of thinking that gamification is simply adding games to the classroom. There is a famous range of games that are considered educational but this is not the same as the concept of gamification. This is explained further in a great article by Steven Isaacs. To better understand the key differences between games, game-based activities and gamification, here are some points to consider: Win or Lose? In gamification there is not always a built-in chance of losing. The purpose is to motivate the students to learn or to take action and therefore there shouldn’t be any form of demotivation. This is why the focus is always on achievement and the attainment of new goals. Content – The game features are added to the educational system rather than the focus being on content, such as with traditional games or game-based learning. This is why gamification usually has in-depth storylines, which makes it an easier and less time-consuming system to implement. Objective – The main aim for gamification is for the participants to collect points as a form of reward. This is in direct contrast with games or game-based learning, as these forms of education have strictly defined learning objectives or even no objective at all. Gamification, therefore, has a wider and more flexible learning style that means students can develop knowledge rather than immediately stopping once a certain goal has been reached. For more details there is a useful infographic that shows the major differences between gamification, games and game-like activities. In More Detail   By now you will have a better picture and understanding of what gamification really is in a general sense. This is a good start and will now allow us to shift the focus to not what it is, but rather why it is important and significant in education today. Before we look at why gamification has become widely used and what the benefits are, we must first examine a brief history of this theory. The first example of gamification came in 1896 when stamps were sold to retailers and then used to reward loyal customers. This was all put into motion by marketers that claimed great success and results in reinforcing buying behavior and company engagement. In the 70s the theory began to form with Thomas Malone publishing, â€Å"What Makes Things Fun to Learn: A Study of Intrinsically Motivating Computer Games† in 1980. After this work was published companies, such as American Airlines, Holiday Inn and National Car Rental, began implementing reward systems for their customers. While gamification has been present ever since, it was not until Nick Pelling coined the official term in 2003. For businesses, consumers and lifelong learners, gamification is now a mainstream approach and a way of life with support and funding from many official bodies. To put things simply, the growth of gamification has established a place in both the workforce and education because it has been proven to be successful, whether it is with consumers gaining rewards for flying frequently or students achieving better test results. The reason for this success is due to the fact that this approach makes any task more interactive and essentially playful. This includes: Providing Goals. This offers the consumer or the student a step or a level to get to. This means that there is a visual progress throughout the process. Keeping The Participant Motivated. Having goals is a good way to stay motivated. This, paired with being able to get rewards, keeps the learner or the consumer interested and motivated to continue to focus on the task. Constant Rewards. What is better than getting rewards for your work or for your loyalty? This gives real value to any progress that is being made.   In these ways, gamification can make anything more enjoyable and hook users into a process of learning. This means that consumers will be more likely to buy from one company or buy more often as they are being rewarded for doing so. Students will reap different educational benefits. What Teachers Can Expect From Gamification The same principles that are applied to gamification in any setting can be successfully used in the classroom. The strength of this theory in schools is something that can create synergy between classroom learning as focused on by the teacher and classroom learning becoming a focus for students. Few students would say that the normal classroom setting is playful or enjoyable. Gamification is something that changes that by giving students the goals and rewards as previously mentioned, but this can also have lasting positive effects in other areas. This process will: Motivate students to become more involved, Give teachers better tools for teaching and for giving out appropriate rewards, Encourage students to present their full capacity for learning at all times. Gamification shows students that learning can be more interactive, they can receive rewards to give value to their work and that formal and informal educational settings can combine for great results. Teachers can expect their students to be more self-motivated in the classroom. Rather than pulling teeth to get students to sit down and work through problems, they will want to work towards goals and reach those achievements on their own. Removing some aspects of having a formal learning environment can be extremely beneficial in the sense that students will not necessarily view the gamification aspects as uninteresting but rather will participate in active learning. While immediate benefits are regularly seen by teachers in the way students view the classroom, in their approach and their results, there are other advantages to consider that will follow the students throughout their learning career and life. These include: Modern Life Skills It is especially important for students to gain the skills necessary for them to enter into the 21st century as successful citizens. This means giving students access to technology and programs that will show them the real life situations. Students will develop a new framework for understanding the tasks around them and their school environment through gamification and being able to work within a reward system similar to many work situations. Deeper Understanding This theory will promote a better understanding of issues and solutions. Gamification helps students understand which problems need to be fixed, create systems of thinking that will promote a solution and maintain the effectiveness of those solutions. Students will be able to be creative throughout this process and this is actively encouraged. Promote Creative Thinking Students are able to experiment more as they learn. By testing the rules and the roles they are a part of, students will be able to understand the boundaries of the situation and of their learning. This promotes more awareness of the student’s self and abilities. Love of Learning The encouraged lifelong pursuit of learning is another side effect of introducing gamification and using it as a tool in the classroom. Students will no longer find learning a dull experience but rather something to be approached with the intent to achieve a goal and become a better person overall. Engaging the Learner Gamification, if implemented correctly, makes education more engaging and enjoyable. The learning environment can be more creative, playful and free as students have the game-like features of their education promoting a subject in a more digestible manner. The potential for gamification in practice and the results can be endless depending on how it is used and implemented. If these reasons are not enough for you to become invested in this method then we have included examples of specific learning programs and procedures that have been proven to be effective in the classroom.   The Success Stories   Gamification can be a useful classroom tool that will encourage a student’s natural desire to learn by presenting them with interesting materials and tasks with aspects of games built into them. The effectiveness of this education method has been proven time and time again. Here are some noteworthy examples: The World Peace Game. This is a political simulation for the classroom that is game-based but is more of a scenario task for students to carry out. Created by John Hunter in Virginia, this version of gamification is designed to teach the children about being a part of the global community and the complexity of relationships between different nations around the world.How does it work? The teacher introduces the information students need to interact. This is generally a scenario with details about the resources of a country, their political positions, issues they face and various other important pieces of information. The students use these facts and achieve cooperation and positive relationships. While this specific case of gamification is marketed as a game, the details give students focus and goals while they work. Pai’s Class. This is a digitally assisted learning environment for students. In this kind of classroom, students use various devices to access games, programs and the Internet in conjunction with their studies. This means that students will be learning about a particular subject or many subjects and be introduced to basic concepts using technology. This use of technology and age-appropriate graphics has increased interest and improved overall test scores. Students can reach different levels and get rewards for their success within the technology that they use. This is a school of gamification that can be used across many different age groups and with a wide range of subjects and topics. Coursera. This is an educational technology that operates collaboratively with leading universities to make their courses available to students for free. This is an example of gamification that applies to higher-level learning rather than the more commonly thought of elementary school environment. This program requires students to watch videos on their subjects of choice and then submit assignments and tests for evaluation. In this process students can level up and receive badges and rewards for their achievements. There is also a level of interaction between students to enhance the overall learning experience and create a community feeling. Bringing The Theory Into The Classroom We Haven’t Been Properly Introduced It is very difficult to immediately include a full range of gamification techniques into the classroom. Some of the most challenging aspects are: Getting students to the idea of a constant reward system, Fully understanding a potentially complex system before putting it into place, Creating the unique style of gamification that suits the specific group of students. When first starting to use gamification, it is a good idea to focus on educational games. Many classrooms have game-related activities built into the daily routine but not all focus on the concept of being rewarded, beyond the student being able to enjoy the process of learning. Including gamification concepts in the classroom is easy by gently adapting existing games that students are familiar with. By including badges, achievements, points and other aspects of the theory, any game-based activity becomes a starting point for implementing the theory as a whole. Here are some classic games that are easily transformed into tools for gamification. Scheduled Doses – A common issue with this theory is choosing the right time to include it in the daily timetable of a classroom. It is a huge task for students to go from nothing to absolutely everything they do being point-based. By selecting activities that will have a system based on points and building from there, the atmosphere will become implemented slowly and it will quickly spread to other activities, usually at the student’s request. It is important to not try to make gamification an all-or-nothing system and to integrate it into a full curriculum. One of the best places to start are grades. Instead of using the traditional system you can equate these to terms that remind students of games. This includes concepts such as: Achievements, XP points, Badges, Lives, Levels, If you are creative, then it is fun to invent all of the ways that your class’ favorite video game references can be implemented into the grading system. For some inspiration there are fantastic suggestions here. Foster Competition – It is a common theme in education to not create too much competition between students but this is crucial for gamification to be successful. There has to be a desire for points and this is important to foster, especially at the beginning. There are several ways that the teacher can encourage competition including: Leaderboards – Making the number one spot publicly means that students will know what they need to do to get higher on the board. Prizes – Whether this is something relatively small or more coveted, having a prize to reflect the achievements will help develop a competitive nature in the students. Having more of a focus than simply points has a great overall benefit on the energy levels in a classroom and the desire to achieve more through the education system. It is, however, still important to keep a balance between a cooperative and a competitive classroom. To see how to do this more effectively you should definitely check out this article.   Equalize The Playing Field It is a common misconception that gamification is only suited to extroverts. By introducing the aspects of gamification into quieter more introverted activities you will be able to level the playing field and provide the benefits to the entire class. One of the greatest tools for this is the range of apps available for quieter quizzing. The use of the app is on an individual level but the points or XP can be easily tracked and added to a collective leaderboard. This research is indispensable when you are trying to better understand how to implement gamification for both introverts and extroverts.   Common Mistakes To Avoid It is often said that the use of gamification can be potentially harmful. There are several reported reasons for this but it should be noted that the most common cause of gamification failing is due to mistakes made with the implementation of the theory. Here are some of the most common errors made by educators. They are not necessarily made by those new to gamification but they can also develop over time as the original idea becomes stale with the students in the educational system. Focusing on the successful implementation and the maintenance of that focus can really make a difference in the results observed in the classroom. Winning Isn’t Everything – One of the most common errors that educators make is crafting the classroom to be too focused on achieving points. Having students too focused on winning means that the educational value of the tasks will be lost.   The reason that this happens is almost always because the stakes are too high or the prizes are too desirable. It is the duty of the teacher to put themselves in the mindset of their student and choose prizes that are desirable enough without them becoming the main focus. This issue might seem contradictory to the push for prizes and points mentioned previously, but it should be considered how exactly this has to be done for your specific class. A good way to avoid this from happening is to keep the focus on: â€Å"Does this result in learning?† This will ensure that winning is always secondary to a learning objective. Too Much Reward – The concept of gamification is often oversimplified when it is put into place. It is a common belief that it is the achieving of goals that drives the students forward and this means they create systems that awards points or achievements almost arbitrarily. If the success is not meaningful and consistent then the students will quickly lose interest. Students need to feel like they are really progressing whilst they are earning points and getting rewards.   At first this can be a very laborious task of continually checking the reward system and keeping to strict rules, but once the students get a hang of the system it will start to regulate itself.   Not Integrating The System – Whether this is treating gamification as an isolated learning technique or not following up on a natural process, not bringing it fully into the daily schedule means it is usually a waste of time. It should be a solid part of a larger curriculum that gives students a chance to get to know the system and fully benefit from it.   This should be balanced when you first introduce this theory into the classroom so that it is not overwhelming. In the end, however, the theory should be a normal part of the overall educational approach.

Writing a Character Reference Full Template

Writing a Character Reference Full Template SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips Thoreau once wrote, â€Å"The language of friendship is not words but meanings.† In the case of a character reference, the language of friendship involves both words and meanings. If you’re tasked with writing a character reference, then your mission is to write about your friend and all her amazing qualities. How exactly can you fulfill this mission of writing an outstanding character reference? This guide will help you through the writing process with a template for your letter. To begin, let’s go over the purpose of a character reference. What’s the Purpose of a Character Reference? You might have a friend, relative, or neighbor ask you to write a character reference. You usually base this reference on your personal, rather than professional, relationship with the subject. There are a few different reasons why someone might need you to write her a character reference. In the Professional World... Some people need a character reference for a job. Hiring managers could ask for one as a way to get to know the candidate on a more personal level. They might also want to make sure the candidate is trustworthy, particularly if the job calls for a high level of ethics. My friend, for instance, recently provided a referencefor his friend applying to the U.S. State Department. If the applicant didn’t provide at least three great character references, then there was no way he was gettinghigh level security clearance. Another reason that a job candidate might seek a character reference is to use it as a supplement to her application. If she’s young and hasn’t had many jobs before, then she may add a personal letter to support her cause. Outside the Professional World... Outside of job applications, there are other circumstances that call for a personal recommendation. Someone might be applying to a position in the community, like membership in a local club. Students could need a character reference as they apply to scholarships or awards. People looking to adopt or provide foster care for a child often need character references. They also seek them when trying to buy a house or condo. Finally, character references can also be used to support someone in court. The purpose of your letter will shape what you say to some extent. For this article, I’ll focus on a character reference that gives insight into someone’s personal attributes and could most realistically be used for a job or volunteer-type position. In a general sense, all character references share the same mission: to reveal the subject’s personal strengths and to show support. If you’ve taken on this mission, how can you produce a memorable character reference? This guide will lead you through the writing process, step by step. Whether your friend wants to get a job, buy a house, or go on the next mission to Mars, your character reference should explain why she's the best person for the role. Writing a Character Reference: 4 Steps While there are several ingredients that go into producing a strong letter, there are two in particular that stand out. The first is organizing your thoughts in a clear and meaningful way. The second is giving specific examples to paint a picture of the subject. These are two of the most important lessons in crafting a strong letter, but also two of the most challenging to carry out. To help you meet this challenge, I’ve broken down the writing process into four steps. The first, you might be happy to hear, doesn’t require you to do any writing yet! Step 1: Speak to theCandidate The responsibility for this first step of the letter writing process actually falls on the shoulders of the person asking for the letter. She should share details of the letter’s purpose, whether it’s for a job, community position, or house, for example. She might have ideas for qualities or stories you could share in your letter. If the position seeks someone with a strong code of ethics, then the candidate should let you know to highlight instances when she showed honesty and integrity. The subject of your letter might also share her resume or any other relevant materials. By getting all the important details, you can make sure your character reference is customized and relevant. You both might brainstorm ideas together, too, which brings us to the next stage of the reference writing process. Step 2: Brainstorm Ideas for Your Reference This second stage of your character reference writing process is all about preparation. Take a few moments to gather your thoughts and sort through your ideas for the letter. What qualities jump out when you think about the candidate? What anecdotes could you share to support your evaluation? Why does she deserve to get the position or move into the neighborhood? Some qualities that could jog your thinking include, Ethical, honest, trustworthyDetermined, goal-oriented, hard-workingFair, honestGenerous, giving, helpfulCreative, curiousConsiderate, empathetic, kindLoyal, committed, reliableResponsible, matureCharming, funny, lighthearted, charismaticEasygoing, lightheartedIntelligent, studiousOrganizedPatient, supportive, sensitiveGood listenerGood communicator, well-spokenIndependentResilient Once you’ve brainstormed qualities, pick out three or so to highlight. These should really capture the subject, as well as be relevant to the situation. If you’re writing a letter for a babysitting job, then you might want to zoom in on the candidate’s caring and responsible nature. If you’re supporting someone’s application to buy a house, then you might focus more on her reliability or neighborlyqualities. Once you’ve chosen your top three, think about specific anecdotes you could share when the candidate demonstrated those qualities. As you’ll see in the template below, you should share two to three specific examples to really illustrate the person and validate your description. Once you’ve thought of some ideas, you’re ready to start drafting! Ready to start drafting? Use the roadmap below to reach your destination! Step 3: Draft Your Character Reference with this Template Once you’ve arrived at the drafting stage, you should have some idea of what you want to say in your character reference. You know what the letter is for and have thought of some ways to describe your friend. Once you have yourideas, you can follow a pretty straightforward structure for producing your letter. The following template will go over this structure, piece by piece. To begin, let’s start with basic contact information. Insert Contact Information at the Top Ideally, you can address your reference to a specific person. Writing to a specific person is more personal than, â€Å"To Whom It May Concern.† If it’s not possible, though, then a more generalized greeting is fine. If you have official letterhead with your contact information at the top then you should go ahead and use it. If not, then you might write out your contact information on the top left margin, followed by the addressee’s contact information. Your contact information could look something like this: Joe SmithSchool DirectorFun Among Us Daycare5 Main St.Anytown, CA 90210 Below your contact information, insert the details for the person to whom you’re writing, like this: Stella McKayDirectorA+ Tutoring60 School St.Booktown, TX 73344 Below this contact information, start your letter with a salutation of, â€Å"Dear [name].† Once you have your contact information set, you can start in on the introduction. Paragraph 1: The Introduction Now you’re ready to start your letter. You should start out strong with a statement of support. Some positive phrases include, I am honored to support...I am pleased to provide a reference for...I am delighted to be called upon...I am happy to recommend...I have no hesitation in recommending...It’s my pleasure to recommend... Here are a couple examples for starting your letter: 1. It’s my pleasure to recommend Jackieto the position of Intelligence Operations Officer with the U.S. Secret Service. 2. I’m very happy to recommend Aaronfor membership in the Hometown Community Service Club. 3. I’m pleased to provide a reference for Alishaas she seeks a nannying position with your family. In addition to starting out strong, you should also explain who you are and how you know the candidate. Qualify the nature of your relationship so that the reader understands why your opinion is a valuable one. Here are a fewexamples for your next sentence. 1. I met Jackie, my assigned roommate, on the first day of college, and we continued to live together for the next four years. Despite living in different cities aftergraduation, we've remained close friends. 2. Aaron and I developed a strong friendship since he moved in next door four years ago. 3. As Alisha's aunt, I've watched her grow up into a mature and responsible young woman who's always her cousins' first pick for Saturday night babysitter. Once you’ve introduced yourself, you could give a brief summary of what qualities you’ll touch on in the rest of your letter. For example, these lines set up the content in the next couple of paragraphs: 1. Jackie inspiredme with her ethics, intelligence, and ambition throughout our college years and beyond. 2. Aaron's an exceptional neighbor and friend whoactively contributes to the well-being of our community. 3. Alisha's a reliable, warm, and creative person who's skilled atcaring for children of all ages. Overall, your introductory paragraph should consist ofthreeto five sentences. Show your support right off the bat, and make sure to explain who you and why your reference holds weight. Indicate the reason for the reference, and give a brief description of the candidate. Then you can flesh out this description in two to three body paragraphs. Body Paragraphs You couldinclude two to three body paragraphs, depending on what qualities you want to touch on. Each paragraph should have a specific focus; for instance, you could highlight one facet of the person’s character and pair it with an anecdote. You should order the body paragraphs starting with the most relevant point. Consider what qualities the reader of your letter is looking for. What will be most helpful and impressive? Put that quality first. Here are a couple examples for body paragraphs. 1. Jackie is a person of high moral character. Her strong sense of ethics came through in discussions in and out of our political science classes. A real-life ethical test came along junior year, when she found a wallet with hundreds of dollars of cash outside. Keeping any of the money didn’t seem to occur to Jackie for a second, and she tracked down its owner and mailed it back first-class. She’s always someone I can trust to do the right thing and is the first person I think to call when confronted with my own moral dilemmas. 2. Aaron is motivated by a strong sense of social responsibility. He makes a difference everyday in his position as physical education teacher at the middle school and volunteer coach of the soccer and wrestling teams. Last year, the district recognized his contributions with the Coach of the Year award. One of his soccer players, who’d been identified as an at-risk student, said a few touching words about how Aaron believed in him and helped him feel reconnected to school. Aaron's a much-lovedteacher and coach who’s committed to the well-being of his students. 3. Alisha is a creative person who’s able to keep even my energetic kids engaged and happy. She’s chock full of ideas for art projects, sports competitions, and make-believe games. Last time she watched her cousins, they ended up putting together and acting out their own production of Frozen. She’s great at devising activities that are fun, safe, and surprisingly effective at getting kids active and away from their iPads. Of course, your body paragraphs will be customized to the individual. The basic formula of â€Å"description + anecdote† is useful to keep in mind as you draft these. You’ll find a summary of a basic template for the body paragraphs of your character reference below. First, though, let’s consider the final paragraph of your letter, the conclusion. Conclusion and Signature After wrapping up the body paragraphs, you’ve reached the end of your character reference. Your conclusion can just be three to five sentences long, and its content is pretty straightforward. First, you can reiterate your support or high opinion of the candidate. Here are a couple examples of how to do this: 1. In closing, I'd like to reiterate my unequivocal support for Jackie as she seeks appointment to the Secret Service. 2. As you can tell, I think the world of Aaron and recommend him for membership in Hometown Community Service Club without hesitation. 3. Alisha has my highest recommendation as a childcare provider and all-around great human being. Then, you might summarize the points you’ve made or add a few more descriptive words. Remember that the conclusion is your final chance to communicate your recommendation, so you want to leave the reader with a lasting good impression. For instance, you might say something like this: 1. Jackie is not only brilliant,but also a highly ethical person and loyal friend. 2. Aaron's made countlesscontributions to our community and will be able to extend his reach as a club member. 3. Alisha is responsible, patient,and sensitive to the needs of children. Finally, invite the reader to contact you for any further information. Show that you’re happy to confirm your character reference or add anything else via email or phone. You can also thank the reader for her time. 1. Please don't hesitate to contact me for any further information. Thank you for your time. 2. Please feel free to get in touch with any questions. Thank you. At the end, sign your name and print it beneath, perhaps with your phone number and email if they're not at the top of your letter. Then, you’ve reached the end of your character reference! To review, let’s put all the pieces together into this final template. Use the template below to shape your letter from a rough ball of clay to a polished final product. Drafting your Character Reference: Final Template The personal recommendation letter template below reflects the above structure, including the contact information, introductory paragraph, body paragraphs, conclusion, and final signature. YourNamePosition [if relevant]Workplace [if relevant]Street AddressCity, State, Zip Code Addressee's NamePosition [if relevant]Company [if relevant]Street AddressCity, State, Zip Code Dear [Addressee'sName], It's my great pleasure to provide this character reference for[name] for [purpose of letter]. I've been close friends with[name] for the past [number of years]. [Name of candidate] is [two to three descriptors], and I have no doubt that he/she would make an outstanding addition to [company, club, etc]. Please allow me to give threeexamples of her personalstrengths. Body Paragraphs 1 - 3: [Name] stands out for his/her [quality]. Last year, for example, he/she [specific example]. He/she consistently [description of personal attributes]. [Name] is uniquefor his/her [specific qualities].* *Present 2-3 main characteristics of the candidate in the body paragraphs, each with a specific example if possible. Put them in order of importance andrelevance. Usestrongly positive language, but try not to soundover the top. In closing, I'd like to restate my wholeheartedsupport for [name's] as she seeks [purpose of letter]. He/she is [most important qualities]. I have no doubt that she will continue to have great success with [company, club, etc]. Please don't hesitate to contact me for any further information. Thank you for your time. Sincerely, [Signature] NamePosition [if relevant]EmailPhone Number Of course, the body paragraphs leave a lot of space for customization. This space allows you to make your personal recommendation letter unique to the candidate. Once you’ve drafted your letter, you just have one more important step in the writing process. Step 4: Edit for Clarity Before sending off your character reference, take a few minutes to edit and revise. First, make sure there are no spelling or grammar errors. Beyond fixing any mistakes, take a look at your writing and make sure it’s clear. Whoever’s reading your letter may not have a ton of time to look closely at every word. Your letter should leave a powerful impression without requiring a big time commitment from the reader. In other words, your goal isto be concise. If you can make the same impact with fewer words, do so. Eliminate unnecessary adverbs and adjectives that add bulk but not meaning.If a sentence feels cluttered, try your best to clean it up. Once you’ve tightened up your writing, your letter is ready to submit! You’ve produced a well-structured reference that compliments the candidate and gives specific examples that speak toher character. In closing, let’s review the key points to remember about drafting a character reference. This wary cat has no reason to worry. Her canine roommate just finished writing an excellent character reference. He didn't even mention her habit of clawing the couch or knocking over glasses of water. Key Points: Writing a Character Reference If you’re writing a character references, chances are you’re writing about a friend, neighbor, or relative. Your task is to write about this person’s favorable attributes and describe what makes him/her special. The content of your letter will largely be shaped by what it’s being used for. If you’re writing for a job, then you may want to shed light on the subject’s personality and relevant qualities, like ethics and trustworthiness. If you’re writing for membership in a community club, then you might talk about the subject’s community connections or leadership. Whatever your letter’s purpose, it should be strongly positive and use specific examples. Rather than turning into a list of adjectives, your letter should have anecdotes that reveal positive things about the subject. By telling stories and using a clear and concise structure, you can produce a stand-out character referenceandimpress yourreaders! What’s Next? Are you interested in professional letters of recommendation for jobs? This guide contains a recommendation letter template to help you through the writing process. Ready to read some referenceletter samples? This article has nine free samples of recommendation letters, including a character reference! Interested in recommendation letters for college? This guide has four amazing recommendation letter samples written by high school teachers.