If you need a letter of recommendation:

• Send me an email and ask politely that I write a letter on your behalf. I reserve the right to decline if I don’t feel I can create a strong recommendation for you.
• Make your request at least one month before the submission deadlines. Without that much lead time, I may not be able to write an effective letter for you.
• If I agree to recommend you, you’ll need to send me the requisite background about you and the position or award, including but not limited to:

  —The exact deadline for the letter.
  
  —The contact information for the letter (including the individual contact person, if any, the institution name, and the submission address.)
  
  —Any necessary forms.
  
  —A description of the position/award for which you’re applying, the reasons you want it, and the reasons you think you’re suited for it.
  
  —A current resume or vitae.
  
  

Some things to consider before you request my recommendation:

• Did you really do your best work in my class? If you didn’t, do you really think I’ll be able to write a strong recommendation for you? If you’re not sure about the answer to that question, then you may want to consider whether other professors or instructors might be able to recommend you more strongly.
• Am I the best person to recommend your work? For example, if you are an ag student applying for an ag scholarship, will a letter from a rhetorician be as helpful as a letter from an agricultural expert? Will a letter from a graduate instructor be as helpful as a letter from a full professor?  (Sometimes yes, sometimes no. It depends on your specific situation.)
• Do I know your work well enough to write a detailed, enthusiastic letter on your behalf? If not, is there someone else who does?

These pointers will likely be useful when asking any professor or instructor for a letter of recommendation, but they’re essential if you’d like me to do it. I want to write the best letter possible for you, and I need your cooperation in order to do that.