 Today's world is dominated by technology. When the students live their lives on their smartphones, testing amazing near friends on Facebook, sending pictures of good times, and the not so good ones, communication is getting easier and faster. And when students are writing to their teachers, they sometimes forget that there are things they need to consider. Here, Joey is writing email to her instructor, Peter Bramley. She's been sick and missed a class, and she doesn't want her attendance record affected. She also doesn't want to miss out on anything important. Let's see how she gets on. Now, let me attend to some of my emails. You're student. I am sorry that I wasn't in class last week. I was ill, and I can prove it. Please tell me the content of the lesson. ASAP. I am so worried. Thank you. As you can see, Mr Bramley is confused and irritated by the email. He doesn't know who is from, the content is unclear, and the tone is rude. All in all, it is a very ineffective email that neither achieves his intention nor leaves Mr Bramley with a good impression. There are a number of simple things that you need to consider when writing emails to faculty members. Let's take a look. First of all, consider your email address. The email address you use will create an impression. If you're writing to a faculty member, you are advised to use your Polly U account. Second, pay attention to the greeting. In general, use DEA, followed by the family name of the person you're writing to, plus the correct title. If your teacher is a lady and you don't know her marital status, usually we use professor only if the recipient holds that title. So check this first. Thirdly, make sure your subject is clear. Teachers receive lots of emails every day. Condense the main idea of your email into a succinct subject and use a noun phrase where possible. For example, if you're writing to ask for some ideas for an essay title, you might write request for assistance in typing my essay. Fourthly, consider the content of your email. Establish some goodwill. Remember that your teacher is a fellow human. It might be appropriate to write I hope this email finds you well or thank you for teaching us this semester. The key is to be sincere. Be clear and concise. Avoid mentioning details you think are unnecessary. If you're sick and writing to explain your absence, it might not be necessary to explain your symptoms. However, it might be appropriate to mention what the sickness is. Refer to any attachments. Readers often may not notice that an email has something attached, so in the email you should refer them to the attachment. Attaching the file before you type in anything is also a good way to ensure that you have attached what you intended. Avoid excessive punctuation. Exclamation marks, smiley faces, etc. are best avoided since sending an email to your teacher requires a relatively formal tone. Avoid typing your message in capital letters. This can appear like you're shouting and is considered very disrespectful. Consider an ending to establish goodwill. You want to finish on a positive and pleasant note. I look forward to seeing you soon. Would often be appropriate if a future class is coming. Finally, include an appropriate ending. You can use best regards or kind regards here. Sincerely would be best reserved for longer or more formal emails. Include the following at the end. Your full name and English name are applicable. Your course code. Your class day and time, e.g. Monday 2.30 to 4.30. When you've finished your email, remember to proofread it before you send. You will be judged on your email, so try to spot any mistakes you have made and check attachments before you send. It's also a good idea not to send an email when you're angry or emotional, but to wait until you've calmed down. So let's put these rules into action with Mr. Bramley's student. Dear Mr. Branny, I hope this email finds you well. I'm writing to explain my absence from class on March 2 which was due to an upper respiratory tract infection. I have attached a medical certificate with this email. I will find out from my classmates what I have missed and ensure that I studied. I look forward to seeing you next class. Kind regards, Joey Chan. So how's Joey's email this time? Clear, precise, polite and effective. Her attendance record will remain intact and she will leave a good impression. By following these simple practices next time you email a teacher, you can ensure that you get your message across and sharpen your communication skills for success both at university and in your future workplace.