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Emailing your instructor
Emailing your instructor
When emailing your instructor, you want to be intelligent, polite and
professional. This is not sending text messages to your
buddies. Most of you know this already, but I see these rules
violated regularly. Here's what I'd like to get in my inbox:
- Identify yourself:
- Set up your email account so that your real name appears with your
email address. If you don't know how to do this, find out
and get it done.
- Always sign off with your full name, first and last
Ideally your email is set up so that it
sends your full real name as well as your email address. We do not
like getting emails from anonymous addresses like
whoopaggie12@tamu.edu, and even less when
whoopaggie12@tamu.edu doesn't bother to identify him or herself.
That might be a great email for use with your buddies, but then you
must make sure your outgoing address also identifies you by your
real name. This may take some time figuring out the computer or
calling in some technical support, but it is worth it.
- Subject: Include a subject indicating what the message is about, and
possibly also the course and section. Don't leave it blank!
- Greeting: Always open with a greeting, using the title you
would normally use for your instructor. I'm fine with Hi Jean
Marie, but not everyone likes that. Use the highest level of
courtesy if you are at all in doubt!
- Dear Dr. Linhart
- Hi Prof. Smith
- Hello Ms. Amundsen
- Title:
Notice I used a title (Dr., Prof., Ms.) above.
Unless your instructor has given you permission to use his or her
first name, always use the instructor's title. Often this is
Dr. or Professor in a university setting. You may also
use Ms. or Mr.. Do not use Mrs. unless your
instructor has told you to. Not all female instructors are
married! Ms. is safer.
- Identify your course and section: Instructors often teach
more than one course or section. Identify your course and section in
your email.
- The body of your email: Be specific about your inquiry.
- If you ask about homework,
specify which homework and which problem, don't assume the
instructor will figure it out from context.
- Keep in mind that often instructors cannot discuss grades over
email or the telephone. Save these questions for office hours.
- When asking for an appointment, specify when you would can
make it, at least generally: Could I have an appointment to come see
you between 2 and 4 pm on Wednesday afternoon? If that doesn't work
with your schedule, I am also available Thursday from 10-11 am or
from 3-4 pm.
- If you are asking for special consideration, please ask promptly,
explain all the circumstances surrounding the request, and keep in mind
we may not be able to say yes.
- Closing: Always use one. Some examples
- Sincerely, Your Full Name
- Cordially, Your Full Name
- Best regards, Your Full Name
- Thank you, Your Full Name
Notice that you conclude with your full name. Even if
your full name is on your email address, always include it here!
- Always reply promptly with a thank you when you have a question
answered.
- Keep in mind that sometimes we must say no. Accept
the no with a "thanks for considering my request", rather
than an argument. An argument with a no rarely turns it
into a yes, and it will almost always annoy your instructor.
There are some more tips here:
Business
email basics
(C) 2009/2010/2011 Jean Marie Linhart, all rights reserved.