This is going to be the first time that I have written a cover letter while applying for a job and before these readings I was not sure at all how to write one, or what to include in one. It seems to me like a waste to that I would go through all that effort to write something that might never be read at all. Since most of my experience applying for jobs at this point in my life has been walking around job fairs talking to recruiters and handing them my resumes, I have not had to write a cover letter while applying for a position yet. I found these readings very helpful especially the one entitled "Kairos and the Cover Letter". It brought up a few very useful examples (even if they were slightly exaggerated) of what I should not do while writing a cover letter.
Also in the "Kairos and the Cover Letter" were two examples of cover letters by the same person applying for different jobs. The difference in the letters really stuck me as showing the importance of what we learned in our previous readings about knowing your audience and catering your writings to your readers. Even though both cover letters were nearly the same, the author did a very good job of changing them to fit the specific job and institution she was applying too.
The rest of the readings also did a good job pointing out tips and strategies. I would never have thought about calling a company to get the name of an HR person so I could address my cover letter to him or her specifically. Also I need to make sure my cover letter has an informal conversation like tone and that it does not seem to formal to the HR recruiter.
Finally, I think the instructor blog did a good job giving advice on what to include as well as giving a basic idea of what the layout of a cover letter should be. This help will probably be the most useful to me since up until now I wouldn't have had a clue what type of layout to use or how to organize my cover letter correctly. All in all these readings stuck me as very beneficial and they will be very helpful when I write my first cover letter.
Layout and tone
This is also my first attempt at a cover letter because I have never previously had to create one, although if you think about it, it is a good idea to do so. I also think that the examples in “Kairos and the Cover Letter” helped me think of what not to write. Like you said using the right tone in your cover letter can really help you chances. If you just babble like you are talking to a brick wall it will most likely lead to a trash can. I thought the instructor blog did a good job helping with the layout, but there is an example in the book that also really helped me get on my way writing the cover letter.
Templates
I too have never been faced with writing a cover letter, before now that is. I agree that the examples presented in “Kairos and the Cover Letter” are useful but for an opposing reason to yours. Whereas the majority of the students think, perhaps correctly, that the article is suggesting you fully reject using any of the approaches covered, I differ. I think any one of those approaches might be very effective if used appropriately. The key is to customize and personalize it by adding specifics and keywords. For instance, one might begin with the ‘Me-Approach’ template, revise it with some position- and company-specific information, and yield a pretty effective cover letter. This is not the route that I went, but that doesn’t suggest one could not benefit from doing so.
Cover letter experience...
I also do not have any experience at all when it comes to writing cover letters. I would have to agree with you with the fact of writing a cover letter when nobody is going to be reading it any. I have seen over the past year or so that not all companies want you to write a cover letter. I guess that it couldn't really hurt any ones chances by writing one as long as the cover letter is written properly. I believe that calling and finding out who to address the letter to is probably the best advice that you have stated. To me, properly addressing the letter to someone has to show that you have an honest interest in getting a job with the company and you'll do what you can to get the job.