Teaching and Learning Toolkit ProfessionalCommunication: Writing to Your Instructors Conventions for professional communication differ from the conventions we follow when we write to family members and friends. In the workplace, a poorly-writtenmessage conveys disrespect and may be taken as evidence of insufficient effort and technical skills. To build students communication skills, many instructors at CMU encourage their students to observe professional conventions for course-related communication via. This presentation is an overview of those conventions. Write a meaningful subject line. Poor subject line: Question Better subject line: ProfessionalCommunication Always include a salutation (a greeting line), and address your instructors as they have requested. ProfessionalCommunication Identify yourself in the first sentence when writing initial notes to this instructor. ProfessionalCommunication State the purpose of your. ProfessionalCommunication Keep your message clear, brief, and to the point. ProfessionalCommunication Identify attachments in the body of the. Do not useto submit assignments that should be uploaded to the online course management system or turned in during class. ProfessionalCommunication Use standard capitalization, grammar, punctuation, and spelling. CAPITALIZING EVERYTHING IS CONSIDERED SHOUTING. leaving everything lowercase is seen as lazy or even disrespectful. Avoid using emoticons or textese (e.g., OMG, LOL, BTW). Like this: Id like to make an appointment to review #3 on the homework for October 3. I know you went over it in class, but I am having trouble understanding that problem. Not like this: Hey, can u tell me how to do number 3 on the homework. I no you went over it in class but i missed. ProfessionalCommunication Consider the tonemake requests or suggestions, not demands. Like this: You mentioned a book in class today that sounded interesting. Could you send me the title? Not like this: Send me the name of the book you mentioned in class today. Dont ask instructors of on-campus classes to explain complex course topics via. Instead, useto set up a face-to-face meeting, if possible, to get help with course material. ProfessionalCommunication Finish with a polite sign-off. ProfessionalCommunication Re-read the. Edit to improve content, and to correct punctuation and grammar, before sending. ProfessionalCommunication Never send your instructor this ProfessionalCommunication If you reply to a note from your instructor: Include the entire message chain in your reply. Remember that instructors may write to dozens of students each week and may not remember the content of your prior note. ProfessionalCommunication Remember thatdoesnt go away. Never put anything in anthat you would be embarrassed to make public or that could cause harm to you or another person. Any private or sensitive communications should be handled in person or over the phone. ProfessionalCommunication Microsoft Corporation. (2014). 12 tips for betteretiquette. Retrieved fromHA aspxHA aspx The Writing Center, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. (2013). EffectiveCommunication. Retrieved from Writing Center, Central Michigan University. (2014). Before you hit send. Retrieved from https://www.cmich.edu/colleges/chsbs/Centers/WritingCenter/Documents/ _c onventions.pdf https://www.cmich.edu/colleges/chsbs/Centers/WritingCenter/Documents/ _c onventions.pdf References