This memorandum to Evan Crisp is about the best way to ask a professor to be admitted to an already full class. The memo was practice for writing with a “you” attitude when giving constructive criticism. This entails staying positive, protecting the reader’s ego, avoiding imperative verbs, and emphasizing the reader’s benefit to following the advice given.
MEMORANDUM
To: Evan Crisp, Student at UBC
From: Phillip Tellier, Student of ENGL 301 at UBC
Date: November 7, 2021
Subject: How to Write with a “You” Attitude
Recently, you emailed a professor asking to be added to their full English class. Regrettably, no response was sent by the professor. On the bright side, it is definitely a good idea to reach out to a professor when help is needed with class related issues. Here are a few tips that can help make emails more persuasive.
Suggested Strategy
Human beings are fundamentally focused on the self and therefore respond better when they can see how something will benefit them. Writing with a “you” attitude by focusing on reader benefit and making the reader feel important will result in more persuasive writing. Specifically, a professor might be more willing to enroll someone in an already full class.
Proposed Edits
Instead of writing that “any three credits” will do to graduate, and that the class was chosen because of the time it takes place, one suggestion is trying to make the professor feel special. For example, an improvement would be writing that the class is interesting because of the reputation of the professor.
The reason for taking the class could also be rephrased to focus on reader benefit:
- Original: “The 8:00 am section is way too early in the morning for me, so I refuse to take that one.”
- Suggested Edit: “It’s far easier to interact with a class that is fully awake, if added to a section besides 8:00am I would be perkier and participate more.”
Conclusion:
Keeping these tips in mind is sure to get a positive response from recipients. With a little luck, this strategy will allow entry into a full course as well.