How to PROPERLY WRITE an Email to your College Professor

Please try and follow the guidelines below for sending emails to me and the class TAs. I have approximately 1000 students spread across 3 classes for CH301. I could really use some help when you send an email to me. I'm not that picky about etiquette, but I DO need certain information to be in the email. Please try and include the following:

• Subject line should be descriptive of the issue. If it is about something on exam 2, then "exam 2" should be in the subject line. Also would help to include WHICH class you are in... like 10am or 1pm or even unique numbers - 51175, etc...
• Start with "Dr. McCord," - this is the salutation, it is nice to have one. We like to know that you know who you are talking to. If we are sharing back and forth emails, I don't really need it, but for the first one, let's have it.

First sentence! very important!!! Identify yourself completely (remember, I have 1000 students)... Here is an example: My name is Johnathan Reynolds (jhr9023) and I'm in your 11am CH301 class (50960). Make sure you include your name, uteid, and your class.

• Now write out what your question or comment is in a nice brief paragraph. 3 to 4 sentences should get the message across.
• If that doesn't fully get your issue across, you can add another paragraph. Do know that you don't always have to go into all of the details of your issue.
• Sign off (the closing) with something like "thank you,". Or "Sincerely," or anything else you can think of - clever closings are a plus.
• End with your "signature" - which is really just your name (again).
• You might think... My name is in the "From:" line in the header... think again, I get emails all the time with stuff like, From: beiberrules@gmail.com, or premed2015@utexas.edu... neither of which has a NAME attached.
• If your email fills up my entire screen with text, MAYBE you should be coming in for office hours with me or one of our VERY qualified TAs.
• I am NOT at your "beckon call" (as I've seen written) to answer all your homework questions the night it is due. If you want help on homework, start early and come to the reviews or office hours. Late hour emails will not have a response.
• And PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE (with sugar on top)... READ the class webpage BEFORE you fire off the email with the question that is already answered on the webpage. Those black boxes up top aren't just boxes with words in them - they are clickable links to MORE of our website with MORE information for you to read. We don't respond to ANY emails where the answer is already up on the webpage.

All these "guidelines" are for both me (Dr. McCord) and the teaching assistants. Your help with this will really help us more to help you.

Thank you for listening,

Dr. McCord