9 December 2014

Dr. Leslie Bruce

Department of English, Comparative Literature, and Linguistics
California State University, Fullerton
P.O. Box 34080
Fullerton, CA 92834-9480
Dear Dr. Bruce,
The purpose of this letter is to demonstrate my mastery of the Student Learning Outcomes
(SLOs) outlined at the beginning of this course. The documents I have chosen to represent my mastery of
these outcomes include this cover letter, the progress report assignment, and the peer review of group
ones progress report.
SLO number one is the ability to write formally and informally for a variety of audiences and
purposes. I have effectively mastered this SLO through my work in the progress report, which is designed
to formally relay to my iFixit supervisors my accomplishments on the assignment as well as my future
objectives. Through my peer review of group ones progress report, I have also demonstrated my ability
to write on an informal level for an entirely new audience, with the purpose of helping another team
improve their written work.
I have demonstrated mastery of SLO number two, the use of appropriate citation to communicate
outside information, in my encountered problems section of the progress report. Here I pulled a direct
quote, as well as additional information from the Cr-48 Wikispaces website, to explain to my audience
why it was difficult to find technical information on the Cr-48 Chromebook we chose for the iFixit
project.
SLO number three requires that a student be able to write with the purpose of persuading your
audience to see or support your position or argument. One key aspect required in an effective persuasive
paper is the use of facts and statements to back up your arguments, giving them credibility when faced
with opposition. I have demonstrated the mastery of this SLO throughout this cover letter, making my
points as to why my assignments chosen for the portfolio have demonstrated my capabilities as a writer in
covering the other learning objectives outlined in your syllabus.
According to the ENG 360 syllabus, SLO number four states that a student must be able to
organize ones thoughts and communicate them clearly and coherently to address a rhetorical situation
(Bruce, 2014). Any capable writer should be able to present their thoughts in a clear, organized fashion.
Any document of mine should be able to demonstrate this SLO, such as the concise structure of my
progress report; and well as this cover letter, which has systematically demonstrated how my writing has
met each expectation outlined by the SLOs of this class.
Language and design are absolutely fundamental in the composition of well-written works. As
such it only makes sense that it is made one of the learning objectives for this course, as SLO number
five. As with SLO number four, most writing can adequately meet the expectations of having language
and a design appropriate to meet the needs of the audience; and my work is no exception. My progress

report was designed to be a thorough evaluation of my iFixit work, while my cover letter is tailored to
demonstrating how my chosen works have met the expectations outlined by your syllabus. Both use
language appropriate to the message I am conveying, and both refrain from utilizing language that would
be viewed as containing the cultural biases of race, gender, or religion.
My peer review of group number ones progress report demonstrates my ability to assess and
critique written works in the effort to improve their writing, which is the objective of SLO number six. I
worked with my iFixit team to thoroughly assess another groups work, while also providing them with
feedback that I and my team believed would be instrumental in improving the quality of their writing.
As you have read above, I have effectively demonstrated with my portfolio my mastery of the
Student Learning Objectives that are expected in college level writing. It is my hope that as you reread
this letter and review my portfolio assignments, you will recognize my competency in these six learning
objectives for technical writing.

Thank you for your time,

Sincerely,
Robert McLaughlin

References

Bruce, L. (2014). Course Syllabus, Fall 2014. ENGLISH 360: Technical Writing.