Always Identify Yourself in the Subject Line
There is a good chance that your instructor or teaching assistant is handling several students from several classes each semester. Make sure that the subject line of your e-mail includes the name of the course as well as the call number. It is more important to have the course title in the subject than it is to include the actual subject topic of your e-mail. Most online instructors receive quite a few e-mails from students, so it is helpful if they can sort the e-mails into classes without having to actually open each e-mail first. Identifying the course title and number in the subject line will help make sure you receive a timely response.
Use Short, Concise Sentences
No matter what the topic of your e-mail is, you want to be sure that your point is understood by the instructor. Avoid flowery language and long run-on sentences. An e-mail should be straight to the point. Think of a school-related e-mail the way you would think of a business related e-mail. It does not need to be overly formal, but it does need to be short and clear. Whenever possible, use page numbers, author names, or web addresses to support the things you mention in your e-mail. These give the instructor a better frame of reference when he or she is composing a response.
Avoid Emoticons or Abbreviations
Since e-mail is a sort of short cut communication mode for most people, it can be tempting to include smiley faces or other emoticons to emphasize the emotions behind the sentences. Remember that not all online professors are fluent in the normal abbreviations that are used for text messages or social networking. Use correct grammar and spelling at all times when you e-mail your instructor. The e-mail should follow all of the rules that you would use if you were composing a short essay.
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