Advice for Students: How to Talk to Professors1. Call them by the right【T1】【T1】

Advice for Students: How to Talk to Professors
    Yes, I recommend that students get to know their professors. I realize, though, that many students are intimidated or put off by their professors. This is especially so when students need something —a favor, special helps with an assignment, a second chance on a test.
    There are a few things you should keep in mind when you talk to your professors, especially if you’re going to be asking for a particular favor:
    [1]Firstly, call them by the right title. A "Doctor" is someone with a PhD; not all professors have a PhD. [2] "Professor" is usually appropriate, unless you’ve been told otherwise. If you’re totally unsure, a "Mr." or "Ms." is usually fine. Do not use "Mrs." unless the professor herself uses it; after 30 years of women making this point, it’s time to recognize that not all adult women are or want to be married.
    [3]Secondly, tell the truth. If a professor thinks he or she’s being played, they’re not going to respond very well to whatever request you have to make, so you might as well be honest. If you feel you absolutely must lie, at least make it a huge flaming whopper of a lie, so the professor can get a good laugh when they share it at the next faculty meeting.
    Thirdly, be prepared to do the work. [5]If you’ve missed an assignment or a test or are falling behind in your reading, and you are seeking help to make it up. [4]You’d better be prepared to do the work—and generally under more difficult circumstances. I get the impression that a lot of students imagine I might just say "don’t worry about it, I’ll give you the points anyway" which, of course, is not going to happen.
    [6]Fourthly, be clear and brief. Get to the point quickly: tell your professor what you need or want and be done with it. Don’t spend 30 minutes explaining your childhood and family arrangements and how hard it is getting a job for a 10-point assignment. It is a waste of your time. Simply say "Professor, I missed an assignment, can I make it up? Can I do something else?"
    [7]Fifthly, prepare for disappointment It depends on how far you’ve let your studies get behind, and a professor still should be fair to the rest of her or his students. For example, arranging make-up tests is difficult. So often a professor won’t or can’t help you. [8]Your only option might be to shift into damage control, see what you can do, and ask honestly if you should continue in the class. [9]And learn from your failure; take the class again and do it right.
    [10]Lastly, as a general rule, professors respect commitment and genuine curiosity, and will go out of their way to help if they feel that you are honestly interested in doing well. On the other hand, professors get to feeling pretty used by the numerous students who work hard only at gaming the system, and if they feel you’re one of those students, they’re not likely to bend very far to make life easier for you.
    Good luck!