Cover Letter
Evaluation instrument (to copy paste in students’ work)
Content Grammar
/7 /6
Descriptors:
Rubric 7 6-5
/points
The introduction of the Cover Letter contains
the purpose of the letter, how the person
learned about the job, a brief idea of the
company’s mission, and how the writer will
help the company in one sentence. The
argument of the cover letter provides at least
2 skills and abilities of the candidate, well-
supported by evidence of past jobs, and
Content /7 connects them with how they can help the
company to achieve its mission. The closure
provides a brief re-statement of abilities or
interest, reader thank you, reader invitation
to see enclosed résumé and information
about when/how to be reached. The cover
letter’s arguments are convincing and
persuasive through the evidences observed.
(180-220 words aprox)
6 5-4
There are little (2 spelling- 1 syntax mistakes)
to no grammar present in the entire cover
letter. Spelling/ syntax Mistakes don’t affect
Grammar /6 understanding at all. Capitalization is used
correctly.
Style/ 5 4
Style /Register Structure/ Cohesion
/2
The cover letter contains the purpose of the
letter, how the person learned about the job,
why is the person interested in the position, it
may fail to provide details about the
company’s mission. The argument of the
cover letter provides at least 2 skills and
abilities of the candidate supported vaguely
by evidence of past jobs. The closure may fail
to provide 1 of the following aspects: a brief
re-statement of abilities or interest, reader
thank you, reader invitation to see enclosed
résumé and information about when/how to
be reached. The cover letter’s arguments are
mostly convincing and persuasive through the
evidences observed (150-200 words aprox)
There are 3-4 ( 3 spelling or 2 syntax)
grammar mistakes in the entire cover letter.
Spelling/syntax Mistakes affect understanding
slightly. Capitalization is used correctly in
almost all the text.
Formatting
/3
4-3
The Cover letter fails at including 1 of the
following elements: the purpose of the
letter, how the person learned about the job,
why is the person interested in the position.
The argument of the cover letter provides at
least 1-2 skills and abilities of the candidate
supported vaguely by evidence of past jobs. It
feels a bit shallow in its supporting. The
closure may fail to provide 1 of the following
aspects: a brief re-statement of abilities or
interest, reader thank you, reader invitation
to see enclosed résumé and information
about when/how to be reached. The cover
letter’s arguments are somehow convincing
and persuasive through the evidences
observed (120-150 words aprox)
3-2
There are 5-6 (5 spelling or 3 fatal) mistakes
in the entire cover letter. Grammar mistakes
affect understanding occasionally. There are
more than two capitalization mistakes.
3 2-0
Total
/2 /20
2-0
The Cover letter fails at including 2 of the
following elements: the purpose of the letter,
how the person learned about the job, why is
the person interested in the position. The
argument of the cover letter provides non-
supported skills. It’s mainly listing skills and not
proving. The closure lacks 2 of the following
aspects: a brief re-statement of abilities and
skills, reader thanks, reader invitation to see
enclosed résumé and information about
when/how to be reached. The cover letter’s
arguments are barely or not convincing and
persuasive through the evidences observed. It’s
mostly incomplete.
(less than 120 words)
1-0
There are more than 6 mistakes in the entire
cover letter. Grammar mistakes affect
understanding frequently. Capitalization rules
are incorrectly used. There are more than three
capitalization mistakes.
 The vocabulary and expressions used have a
formal register. Vocabulary is business-like
and varied. Writing isn’t too emotional: it
lacks the use of unnecessary adjectives. It
possesses an adequate not too
Register personal/over- friendly tone. The writer uses
/2 complete sentences and no contractions.
The vocabulary and expressions used have a
formal register frequently. Vocabulary is
business-like and varied in almost all the
letter. Writing isn’t too emotional: it lacks the
use of unnecessary adjectives. It possesses an
adequate not too personal/over- friendly
tone. The writer uses complete sentences
and no contractions.
The vocabulary and expressions used have a
formal register in almost all the letter.
However, there are 2 parts of it that contain
informal expressions. Vocabulary is business-
like and at times repetitive. Writing is at some
point using unnecessary adjectives at times. It
may occasionally be personal or over-
friendly. The writer uses contractions.
Infrequent punctuation mistakes could be
observed (3).
The vocabulary and expressions used are
informal in almost all the letter. The vocabulary
fails to be business-like, being mostly repetitive.
Writing is emotional: it uses unnecessary
adjectives. It possesses an inadequate tone,
being too personal and over- friendly. The
writer uses contractions..

3 2 0-1
There are three paragraphs visible in the There are three paragraphs visible in the There aren’t three paragraphs visible in the
Structure/ letter: introduction, argument and closure letter: introduction, argument and closure letter: introduction, argument and closure. The
Cohesion with their proper content. There aren’t with their proper content.. The document is content is somehow mixed. Punctuation isn’t
punctuation mistakes: comma splices, run- on written using single spacing. Infrequent used properly which leads to heavy
/3 sentences. No indentation is used. punctuation mistakes could be observed (2): misunderstandings. There are frequent
comma splices, run-on sentences. punctuation mistakes (+3): comma splices, run-
on sentences. Indentation may be observed

1
2 0 - 0.50
Formatting The heading is complete and located The heading is a bit incomplete and located The heading is incomplete and located
appropriately. The opening and salutation are appropriately. The opening and salutation are appropriately. The opening and salutation are
/2 also located in the proper place in the located in the proper place in the document. located in the proper place in the document. The
document. The document is written using No indentation is used. document is written using other spacing than
single spacing single. Indentation is used.

Overall The Cover letter possesses persuasive and convincing arguments about why the candidate should be hired. There is a connection between the candidate’s abilities and the position. This information
should be coherently distributed in the three paragraphs presented. The heading and closure must also be properly located in the document.

- Grammar mistakes which affect understanding will automatically deduct points from content.
- Lack of content/incomplete assignment will deduct points from all the other features of evaluation.
Facts to - Mistakes in Organization/Structure will deduct points from content, as it is difficult to understand the message without the appropriate text structure.
consider - All Cover Letters improperly identified, sent by email, sent in the wrong Edmodo folder, or without proper teacher permission to edit, will have a deduction of -2 points