To: Evan Crisp
From: Kathryn Simone
Date: July 18, 2020
Subject: Tips for Writing with “You Attitude”
Introduction
I have reviewed your email to request placement in an at-capacity class. While your message indeed does ask for a spot in the full class, there are several areas where the informal style of writing isn’t appropriate for formal writing. The suggestions I have listed below incorporate using a “You-Attitude” writing style, which places emphasis on the importance of the reader and the benefits available to them.
Tips for Formal Writing
Please consider incorporating the following suggestions below:
- Instead of “bahaguy5454@hotmail.com”, communicate with your academic UBC email, or perhaps a more professional email such as “evancrisp@gmail.com”
- A subject line with a descriptive title will allow the reader to quickly understand the intent of the email
- Instead of introducing the email with “Hey there”, addressing the addressee by name directly is more personalized and professional.
- Unless the instructor has specified you may call them by a different title, address them as “Professor” in the salutation to establish a respectful tone
- Mentioning that you are both going to the beach at 3pm and that you will be on vacation for the beginning of the term is an unimportant detail that does not pertain to the message
- Thanking the reader for their time and consideration at the end of the email will leave a good impression on the reader because it shows them you acknowledge any time they take to read your message and consider or fulfill your request
Conclusion
A working knowledge of how to conduct appropriate email correspondence with instructors is an important tool that translates easily from higher education to the workplace. Formatting your message with the above recommendations will prompt a better response and may just get you into that section. If you have any questions regarding the strategies listed above, do not hesitate to contact me at kathrynsimone@alumni.ubc.ca.
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