EDUC 3313, Clinical Teaching/Pre-Internship I

Cover Letter, Resume and Three Letters of Reference Assignment


Your professional resume and cover letter, along with three letters of reference, are required elements for this assignment, and for the NSU Portfolio.

I. The Cover Letter

In general a cover letter introduces you (and your resume) to the reader. A resume is never complete without a cover letter. For this assignment, and your portfolio, the purpose of the cover letter is to provide information which may be useful for the NSU Teacher Education program admissions process. The purpose of your letter is to persuade them to consider your admission into NSU’s College of Education Teacher Education program.

Grading Requirements:

  1. Your cover letter should be in a standard business letter format. The heading of the letter should start with your name and address, the date, and the address to which you’re sending the letter. For this assignment the letter should be written (but not mailed) to the “Teacher Education Program Admissions Committee” (see below).


Teacher Education Program Admissions Committee

College of Education

Northeastern State University

600 North Grand Avenue

Tahlequah, OK 74464


You will submit the letter with your resume and reference letters to your EDUC 3313, Clinical instructor; DO NOT MAIL THE LETTER.

The one-page, single-spaced, cover letter should indicate that you are applying for admission to the NSU Teacher Education Program and should provide persuasive evidence of why you should be admitted.

B. Cover letter content:

    1. The first paragraph of the cover letter should explain your reason or goal for writing the letter.

    2. The second paragraph highlights your related experiences and achievements. Some of the information in this paragraph should elaborate or refer to information on your resume. The letter should point out pertinent information contained in the resume that relates to the purpose of the letter. Some where in your letter there should be reference to your resume mentioned.

    3. The third paragraph suggests why selecting you would be an appropriate decision. A sentence stating your gratitude for their consideration and time is also expected. The final paragraph also typically indicates your plan for follow-up action – although you won’t need to do this, it is good practice, so include it!



You should consult available resources about the proper construction of a business letter.

II. The Resume

The resume should be constructed in accordance with generally accepted guidelines for professional resumes. It should be no less than one full page and more than two pages. Below is the required information, however, typically, your resume will also include any recognitions earned (awards, certificates, other honors). Information about hobbies and personal information such as health or family status may be included at your discretion.


Grading Requirements: A minimum of the following information must be included (not necessarily in this order):

  1. Your contact information (name, address, telephone number, e-mail address),

  2. Identification of your educational experiences and locations of schools attended, dates of attendance, certificates and degrees earned) with most recent first. List NSU with the following information


Northeastern State University

Broken Arrow, Oklahoma
[for those not yet completed a Bachelors degree use the following]

Bachelor of Science degree, anticipated graduation May 2006

[modify to your expected date]

Major in Early Childhood Education [list your major]

G.P.A. in major: 3.77, Cumulative G.P.A. 3.4,

[GPA & other academic honors are optional]

[For those completing certification requirements use the following]

Certification in Early Childhood, anticipated completion May 2006


  1. Employment history - jobs held, dates of employment, employers, descriptions of work performed/responsibilities held

  2. OGET Test Passing Date

OSAT and OPTE anticipated testing (list by semester)

  1. Pre-Internship I information – including the district, school, grade (and subject if applicable), and time period (if you have not yet been placed, list all of the information, except the District/School/Grade). Example:

NSU Pre-Internship I Clinical Teaching

October-December, 2004

Tulsa Public Schools, Carnegie Elementary, Grade 2

F. Create the above for Pre-Internship II and Final Internship, but list the date

as “anticipated [semester]” (i.e. Anticipated Fall 2005) and school information with “TBA.”






III. Three Letters of Reference

Your letters of reference should support your application for admission to the NSU Teacher Education Program. You may request the letters from former employers, past teachers or school administrators, ministers, community leaders, etc.

The address for references letters is the same as your cover letter. Your reference letters should be sent or given directly to you, they should NOT be mailed to me or the College of Education.


If possible, encourage your references to use letterhead or formal business-letter formats in the preparation of the letters (an e-mail letter is not an advised method for a reference). Before turning in your references review them to be sure there are no misspelled words or other distractions.


You may wish to prepare a “Reference Letter Request Form” for each reference letter, or use the suggested form. Not only will this assure that your references know why they are writing, but it will reinforce the formality of the process. This is an optional, additional step, but it may save time and confusion in the long run.



IV. This assignment must be posted in your folder on NSU’s P drive. You may substitute the final product, rather than the one turned into the instructor.



EDUC 3313: Fall 2004