推荐信的写作 （The Writing of Letters of Recommendation）

　　在联系到国外学习或就业的过程中，往往需要以往的同事、上司或老师写一封推荐信。推荐信写得好坏意义重大，因为它关系到对被推荐人人品、能力及知识各个方面的评价。因此，在推荐信的写作中，首先需要对该信的用途加以了解，以便确定被推荐人是否适合这一职位或是否适合进入某一专业攻读学位或从事研究工作。推荐信应包括以下内容：

　　① 被推荐人全名；

　　② 推荐人与被推荐人认识时间的长短及其关系,如：(I have been Mr. Bowman’s immediate supervisor for the past six years.) ;

　　③ 被推荐人的学识及其优秀的品质（最好有具体的事例加以证明）；

　　④ 被推荐人所申请的学校或机构对其感兴趣的理由，总结对被推荐人的信心，并主动提出如有必要的话，可以提供更多的有关被推荐人的资料。

　　在推荐信的写作中，应注意以下几点：

　　1）推荐信一定要写得具体，可以用具体的事例说明被推荐人的长处。

　　2）即便被推荐人有许多优点，推荐信也应当集中在两三个方面。

　　3）在推荐信中，不要使用诸如下面这样的话：“I’d hire her in a minute if she were applying here” 或 “I can’t think of anyone more deserving of this scholarship.” 。因为，推荐人只需要提供证明资料，并不需要做出任何决定。

　　下面请阅读庞加莱(Henri Poincare)1和居里夫人(Madame Curie) 为爱因斯坦申请到苏黎世联邦工学院任教而写的推荐信。

　　Herr Einstein is one of the most original minds that we have ever met. In spite of his youth he already occupies a very honorable position among the foremost savants of his time. What we marvel at him, above all, is the ease with which he adjusts himself to new conceptions and draws all possible deductions from them. He does not cling to classical principles, but sees all conceivable possibilities when he is confronted with a physical problem. In his mind this becomes transformed into an anticipation of new phenomena that may someday be verified in actual experience… The future will give more and more proofs of the merits of Herr Einstein, and the University that succeeds in attaching him to itself may be certain that it will derive honor from its connection with the young master.”

　　注：

　　1． 亨利·庞加莱（Henri Poincare ） (1854-1912) 法国著名数学家，法国科学院院士

　　例1：一封推荐学生入学并获得资助的信

　　To: Office of Admissions

　　From: Dr. Charles Kennedy

　　Re: Steve Monk

　　Date: November 15 2005

　　Dear Sir:

　　I have known Steve Monk for four years. During his first two years at Isherwood Central High, he was a student in my Earth Science class and in my C.P. Biology class. During his junior year, I was Steve’s advisor for an independent study in biology, and this year he is carrying out an extracurricular research project for which I am providing some guidance.

　　This young man is one of the brightest, most research-oriented students I have encountered in eighteen years of teaching. His SAT and achievement test scores only begin to tell the story. I understand he is sending you copies of several of his research projects; this will provide you with more evidence of his understanding of the principles of scientific inquiry, of his passion of exactitude, and of his bottomless curiosity. However, it is only in talking and working with Steve that the full extent of his talents is revealed.

　　In writing you this letter, I hope to persuade you of one thing: to arrange a meeting between some of your science faculty and Steve. There is no doubt in my mind that you will be interested in this young man. I am much more concerned about his financial situation, and I believe that once you see what caliber of student and scientist Steve Monk is, you will find some way of dealing with his financial needs.

　　I am very much interested in Steve’s situation and will be happy to provide any further information.

　　Yours sincerely,

　　(signature)

　　Charles Kennedy

　　例2：一封推荐学生进一步攻读学位的信 （略去信头）

　　Dear Sir or Madam:

　　This is to recommend Mr. Huang Gang for admission to your university. I have known Mr. Huang since 1995 when I served as advisor to the students in the Electrical Engineering Department at Xiamen University. Later, it happened that in 2001 I served as Mr. Huang’s supervisor again in his graduate program at Shangdong University. Therefore I know Mr. Huang very well in terms of his personality and academic performance.

　　Mr. Hang has always been a very diligent student with an integrity. He has a broad range of interest in both academic and extracurricular activities. His academic record has constantly been at the top level, which resulted from his devotion to study and intelligent nature. In dealing with his fellow students, Mr. Huang always shows willingness to help others and it well respected by them.

　　Mr. Huang entered the gradate program of Shandong University through a most outstanding performance in the entrance examination. The competitors were all equipped with good knowledge and practical experience in electrical engineering, but he proved to outdo them in the exams. Last year, he was elected representative of his class and did a very good job. His overall performance was excellent. In recognition to this, I would like to point out some characteristics of his for your reference.

　　Mr. Huang has strong academic background and work experience in the field of electrical engineering;

　　Mr. Huang is a man of integrity with good team spirit;

　　Mr. Huang has strong determination to pursue advanced study and has the potential to fulfill his academic objective.

　　I highly recommend his admission and hope that you act favorably on his application. If there is anything more you need to know about him, please don’t hesitate to contact me.

　　With the best regards.

　　Sincerely yours,

　　( signature)

　　Xu Ming

　　Professor and Deputy Head (Academic)

　　Dept. of E.E.

　　Shandong University