Email Etiquette

In this world of text-speak, we often forget how to write a professional, polite email, memo, or letter to someone. For this class, you are more than welcome to call me Pamela or Professor Stegeman. Please do not address me as Miss or Ms (as I have a hard-earned professional title) or Mrs. (that is my mother and I do not have the same last name as my spouse).

  • Emails should begin "Hi Beth" or "Hello Professor" or some version of such. Don't just launch into your message without addressing me or each other by name. 
  • Say your name--first and last name--and class you are in--I have different classes and don't always quickly remember which class you are in (mostly at the start of the semester).
  • In complete sentences using standard English (no text speak) tell me what you need. Be specific so I understand your request. Just saying something like "I have a question about the assignment." and leaving it at that doesn't help as you have weekly assignments, discussions, etc. all at one time you are working on. 
  • If you have a question about a grade, just ask politely. I do make mistakes! I am happy to correct mistakes or explain why your grade is at is. Do not get mad or be rude about a grade. 
  • End your email by saying "Thanks," or "Sincerely," or "Talk to you soon."
  • End with your name.

Here is an example of a good email to me:

Hi Professor Bentley,

This is Allysen in your online Principles of Management class. I have a question about my discussion grade on the assignment about "What is ethics?" I did turn the follow-up response in on time but didn't get credit for that. Did I misunderstand something?

Thanks,

Allysen

Here is an example of an email I will ignore:

Can u let me know about this weeks assign. i dunno what we need to do and its gonna be late if you don't get bak to me.

You laugh and think, "I would never write like that to a professor!" but I get these every week.

Questions? Just ask? Send an email and didn't hear back from me in 36 hours (during the week), check what you sent--if it looks like the first example, get in touch with me again--if it looks like the second, try again with a proper message.