This was a fun assignment as the purpose was to provide insight to an Evan Crisp on how to write in a professional tone towards his professor. He had already wrote to his professor and received no reply back, for a multitude of reasons. Our job was to let him know why the professor might have not responded, and offer tips on how to improve on writing professional emails in the future. I feel I executed this task well, providing Evan with many ways to improve.
To: Evan Crisp, UBC Undergraduate Student
From: William Jackson ENGL 301 Student
Date: July 3, 2021
Subject: Best Practices for Effective Communication through Emails Correspondence
Introduction:
Thank you for reaching out to the English 301 class for some advise on writing emails for your professors. I have compiled a list of some good practices to implement into your emails to prompt a positive reply from your professors:
- Having a subject line in your email will help your professor find your email and add a greater chance of them reading it.
- A professional email address is an important asset to use to gain the trust of the professor. If it is a school email, the professor may be obligated to reply.
- Greet the professor formally; this indicates respect towards the professor and will help the tone of the email to seem friendly and polite.
- Provide some sort of background information as to why you may be interested in the course and how it will help your academic/professional career. Stating that you want to take it only for the credits does not show your interest for the subject matter.
- Express some appreciation and gratitude towards the professor. You are asking for a favor from this professor, they are not obligated to fill your scheduling needs.
- Ensure the email does not have any spelling or grammatical errors, so as to demonstrate professionalism and your commitment towards this class.
- Avoid demanding anything from the professor. Again, remember you are asking for a favor from them, and you are trying to get them to help you.
- Implement a YOU attitude into your writing. This style of writing focuses on your readers perspective, with the purpose of having a more favorable reading experience for the audience.
- Conclude your email with a formal greeting: Sincerely xxx”, or “best regards, xxx”. This ends the email on a respectful and positive note.
Conclusion:
Emailing professors is not as cut and dry as a non-professional email to a friend or family member. When emailing a professor, remember to implement a professional tone, and to put the professor first in the situation. Learning to do this takes practice, but is a skill well worth learning as you will use it the rest of your life in your business endeavors. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions about the material above, I am happy to help. You can reach me at the following email address: wcjackson99@gmail.com