If you haven’t been assigned an academic email address, create a Gmail account that separates your first name and your last name with a period: “john. tran@gmail. com” “kate. lopez@gmail. com” “charlie. jackson@gmail. com”
“PSY 103-13401: Inquiry About My Grade” “HIST 176-2458: Concern About My Recent Exam” “ENG 101-1043: Question About My Essay”
“Dear Professor Stewart,” “Hello Professor Cruz,” “Good Afternoon Dr. Mohamed,”
“I am writing to discuss the possibility of changing my grade in PSY 103 from a ‘C+’ to a ‘B-’. ” “I am reaching out to talk about receiving a ‘60%’ on my recent exam and to check in about opportunities to improve my overall grade in class. I am hoping to receive an “B-” by the end of the semester. ” “I am sending this message because I submitted my essay after your deadline. Right now, my grade has dropped to a ‘B’. I would like to do all that I can to bring my grade percentage back up to a ‘93%’. ”
“I have had ongoing health issues that have caused me to be absent for the past two weeks. ” “Recently, I experienced an emergency in the family that affected my ability to study for the exam. ” “An unexpected personal situation arose that prevented me from submitting the essay on time. ”
“Before my recent absences, I had perfect attendance and earned high scores for all my group projects. I received positive evaluations from all my teammates as well as full points on all of my reflection papers. ” “Prior to this crisis, I had an average of ‘88%’ in your class. All of my scores on your exams were over ‘80%. ’ In addition, I took advantage of every opportunity for extra credit. I even received 100/100 points for your optional assignment to perform a short skit. ” “Last week, I had an ‘A-’ and turned all of my essays in well before the deadlines outlined on the syllabus. I also regularly visited office hours to discuss all my prompts and visited the tutoring center to polish my assignments to the best of my abilities. ”
“This subject is new to me, and I don’t have a lot of background information about it. I’ve found it difficult to answer all the questions on the exams, which has impacted my overall grade. Can you recommend any additional resources that may help?”
“I have always enjoyed your class, and I would be glad to complete any additional assignments that you suggest. ” “I am willing to take another version of the exam or write an essay related to the content on the most recent test. ” “I am happy to review any additional readings you assign and create a new thesis based on these. I’m also open to writing reflection papers based on a similar novel. ”
“I’ve learned so much about the way psychology impacts performance, and I hope to apply this information in the future. I believe this class is essential for helping me prepare to become a teacher. "
“Do you have any availability this Thursday to discuss my grade?” “Would you be open to talking more about extra credit opportunities tomorrow?” “May I speak with you about this matter after class today?”
“Sincerely, John Tran” “Warm regards, Kate Lopez” “Thank you, Charlie Jackson”
Instead of starting with your concerns or anxieties about your class, begin with a thoughtful remark like, “I hope this week has treated you well. ” Avoid slang, acronyms, emojis, or lots of exclamation marks. Aim for a higher level of vocabulary. For instance, instead of saying, “I want to talk about my grade,” try, “I am reaching out in order to discuss my recent progress in your class. ”
While tools like spell check can help, you shouldn’t rely on them 100%. Use your own best judgment and proofread your message very carefully to pinpoint any errors. Aim to proofread your email at least 2-3 times.
If your professor has available office hours, attend them so you can bring up the matter.
“Hello Professor Stewart, I hope you are well. I am reaching out to discuss my last email about my grade. Would it be possible to talk about opportunities for extra credit? Best, John Tran” “Dear Professor Cruz, Good afternoon. I am following up regarding the message I sent a few days ago. I was wondering if we could discuss my grade during office hours tomorrow. Many thanks, Kate Lopez ”
Dear Professor Miller, I hope this week has treated you well. I am reaching out in order to discuss my grade in your class and to see if it’s possible to receive a “B” average by the end of the semester. Currently, I have a score of ‘75%’ in your class, but I’m hoping to earn an ‘80%’. My grade declined after the most recent exam on the French Revolution. A family emergency arose that impacted my study schedule last week. Before this event, I submitted every essay on time and received at least an ‘85%’ on every exam. In the past, I have been very diligent about reviewing all my materials. I was wondering if it would be possible to retake the exam. Alternatively, I can write an essay on the French Revolution in order to show my understanding of the content. I really appreciate the opportunity to learn from you. I am particularly inspired by how civil unrest can lead to significant progress in society. I would value the chance to demonstrate how seriously I take this class. Do you have any time available this week to talk about this matter in person? Best regards, Mary Kline
Dear Dr. Lopez, I hope you are having a wonderful week. I am sending this message to discuss my current grade in your class as well as my overall performance. As of today, I have a ‘65%’ in your class, and I am hoping to receive at least a ‘C+’ by the end of the semester. I want to be transparent and acknowledge that I’ve been struggling in this class. Since this is my first philosophy class, I’m unfamiliar with many of the theories we’ve discussed in class. Due to my lack of background knowledge, I haven’t been able to receive many participation points in our Socratic seminars. Are there any resources you can recommend so I can learn more about the key themes in this course? I am willing to write multiple reflection papers or submit an essay on a philosophical movement, like existentialism, in order to improve my grade. While this subject is new to me, I appreciate the opportunity to discover how important figures reflected on the world around them. I plan to attend tomorrow’s office hours, and I hope we can discuss this matter in further detail. Sincerely, Joshua Woods
