Use a business letter format to format the letter of recommendation. Place the recipients name and address, if known, in the upper left hand corner of the letter.
Address the letter to the specific recipient. This should be in the format of "Dear Mr./Mrs. Jones". If the recipient is unknown, it is appropriate to use "To Whom it May Concern."
Introduce yourself in the first paragraph of the letter. A few lines pertaining to your line of work and your relationship to the candidate will suffice.
Start your second paragraph by verifying information on the candidate, such as their academic and professional background, their accomplishments and their stated goals. Don't overly detail the candidate's history, but instead give a brief overview of their most outstanding accomplishments.
Provide your judgment of the candidates appropriateness for the position. This should be a positive recommendation where you tell the recipient why the candidate would excel at the position or deserves the scholarship.
Use the fourth paragraph to list any concrete examples you have of situations where the candidate has excelled. This can include awards they have received, grades, grade point averages or other scholastic or professional accomplishments. This paragraph is optional and can be left out if need be.
Close the letter by giving your contact information and letting the recipient know if you can be reached for further information or comment. Use an appropriately formal closing, such as "Yours Sincerely".