Amanda MacLean
macleaney@gmail.com
January 17, 2011
Dear Hiring Manager,
One might be able to say that nearly all grammatical elements are optional. That person, however, would have to be unaware of the restricting effects of ambiguity in language. As a frequent-user-of-compound-modifiers, it is clear to me that the phenomenon of human communication can only occur when grammatical elements are carefully crafted by those with a strong command of a language’s embedded structure. My English professors would have allowed no work to fall short of this basic philosophy (though artistic deviation from form might have been considered on a case-by-case basis).
It would never have done, however, to try turning in a paper (or to present a cover letter) full of over-the-counter clichés, since having just-the-right-words can make all the difference in a piece of writing. And even though the rules of form are not broken by the use of complex and lengthy-though-not-definitively-run-on sentences (or by using conjunctions at the start of a sentence – depending on who you ask), it might be better for the writer to stop trying to impress a potential employer with her exact-if-not-exhausting use of on-the-outskirts grammatical elements like the compound modifier (or the phrasal adjective, as some call it). She might consider simply being a little more to-the-point. (To make the most of its noun-modifying powers, however, she might try consulting the Chicago Manual of Style as a reference for the phrasal adjective’s proper use).
I have been correcting people since I first learned how to put words together. I take great pleasure in the use of words and correct people’s misuse of them in pedagogically constructive ways. Writing is the artistic expression of a language, and every great piece of art is produced through a painstaking process. Though most people find it tedious, editing is the heart of that process. It is therefore indispensable.
Working in customer service for over five years has given me extensive practice with verbal and written rhetoric. I have trained young people in sales and customer service in both large groups and one-on-one settings. My experience, training, attention to detail, incomparable work ethic and my ability to learn quickly make me an ideal candidate for this position.
Enclosed with my cover letter are two academic writing samples, and more of my less formal writing can be reviewed at www.amandamaclean.blogspot.com. Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
Amanda MacLean
(exegesis for this cover-letter: the job posting)