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Remember to write a reply
Emails are part of a written conversation, so as you wouldn't leave a face-to-face interaction without saying anything, you should not abandon your conversation with your instructor once they have replied to your first email. This is specially true for requests that involve higher imposition levels.
In addition, don't make your email just one line. Remember to include a greeting, and a complimentary closing plus your signature.
Below you can find a file with an example of a successful interaction of this kind:
Interaction1.pdfuseful expressions
Thanking recipient for responding to your email:
Many thanks for your email.
Thank you for the quick response.
Thanking for help already given:
Thanks for your help in this matter.
Thank you for your help in solving this problem.
Thanks once again for all your trouble.
Thanking in advance when asking for help:
Thank you for any help you can give me.
Thank you very much for your assistance.
What if my instructor does not comply with my request?
It is possible that your instructor cannot comply with your request (particularly if it was a high imposition one).
In this case, you can thank them for their reply and show your understanding.
Example: Thank you for your quick response. I understand that...
...you have a very busy schedule.
...the deadline was very tight.
...I should have submitted the work earlier.
Below you can find an example of a succesful interaction of this kind:
Interaction2.pdfWhat if my instructor has not replied?
University lecturers receive tens of emails every day, so it may be the case that after a few days you have not received a reply.
If you send a follow-up email, remember to keep a formal and nice tone:
Avoid phrasing your message like this: I have not received a reply to the email I sent you three days ago.
Try this instead: I was wondering whether you had had a chance to look at the email I sent you a couple of days ago.
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