Hey Marv – your posted advice above seems to be focused on rec letters for grad school and PHD programs. This is a kid applying to college undergrad. Pretty yuge difference between the volume and specificity of rec letters in those two contexts.
And most of the comments to that advice disagree with your position fyi. Here’s what one of the college prof commenters asks of his recommendees. The difference between this and asking for a first draft is minimal:
"I can write a better reference if you send me a current copy of your resume and tell me a little bit about why you’re particularly qualified for the job, educational program, or award you’re applying for. I don’t require those things for a recommendation, but it is probably worth your trouble to send them along. (You have to get this stuff together for your application anyway; you may as well get the maximum mileage out of it!)
If you have items you’d like me to mention in the recommendation, tell me what they are; email is fine. (However, I don’t promise to mention all of them; I have to have some personal knowledge of them to write about them.)
If you’re applying to a school, a copy of your application essay will help me write a better recommendation."