Count Draculas Application Cover Letter

Time: 50 minutes
Materials Needed: Paper/Computer to draft letter, Job Posting/Description, Draculas Resume,
and Technical Communication Today as reference for writing the application cover letter.
Preparation: Students should come to class having previously read Chapter 11 of Technical
Communication Today. Students should be familiar with the necessary elements of the
application cover letter having discussed the chapter in an earlier class.
Purpose: The purpose of this activity is to familiarize students with the general format of an
application cover letter (paying attention to style/language, length, and focusing on key
skills/abilities).
Lesson Plan:
Speedy Overview (2-3 minutes): At the start of class, quickly review the basic
components of the application cover letter. Emphasize the kind of
language/content needed for potential employers.
Introduce Activity (1-2 minutes): Go over rhetorical situation with students.
Dracula has had a bad run of luck lately and would like to change careers. After
a couple of centuries, running a personal business can be draining. Hes decided
to pursue a lifelong passion for dancing/teaching. After searching through a long
list of job opportunities, hes found the perfect fit. Using the job description, his
resume, and the characteristics soon to be listed on the board draft the perfect
cover letter to go along with Draculas resume.

 Brainstorming Session/Review Draculas Resume (3-5 minutes): As a class,

on the whiteboard or Word projected on the screen, discuss/list key characteristics
of the classic character, Dracula. Even if students havent read the novel, they
should be familiar with some features. After you create a list, project or hand out
Draculas resume as a reference when composing the cover letter.
Group Breakout/Letter Drafting (15-20 minutes): Break students into small
groups of three. Have each group draft a version of a cover letter that would be
sent in conjunction with Draculas job
Pass Around/Examination of Letters (7-10 minutes): Pass around (email or
post to Google Docs) the letter clockwise. Students read other groups version of
the cover letter and discuss its strengths and weaknesses. Students should read
these letters as if they are the intended audience (the hiring committee for the
Dance studio).
Class Discussion (7-10 minutes):
o How did you write to a specific audience? What did you see in the other
letters you read?
o How else did the Rhetorical Situation and/or genre influence your
decisions?
o

Additional Materials
Job Description:

Dance Instructor/Choreographer
Homewood-Flossmoor Park District - Homewood, IL
$17 an hour
The Homewood-Flossmoor Park District is currently looking for an independent contractor to teach 6
week sessions in the Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter. The instructor must have a background and
demonstrate knowledge/experience in teaching one of the following classes: Latin Dance, Wedding
Reception Dance (Ballroom) and Swing Dance. Additional dance class suggestions are always
welcomed. Contractual salary will be discussed during interview.
Salary: $17.00 /hour
Required experience:

Dance Instructor: 1 year

Required education:

High school or equivalent

Draculas Resume:
See attachment.