As a student, you will need letters of recommendation to find a job, to apply for a scholarship or grant, or to enter graduate school. Naturally, you will consider asking one or several of your college instructors. You talk to a senior you know to find out how to get a busy professor to write you an effective letter. Your friend Mark has the following basic advice for you:
• Ask only instructors who have had the opportunity to observe your performance and may still remember you fondly. Two to five years after you attended a course of 20 to 40 students, your teachers many not recall you at all.
• Contact only instructors who can sing your praises. If your grades were poor, the endorsement won't be glowing. Some instructors refuse to write recommendations. Make it easy for your instructors to agree to your request and to write a solid letter promptly by following these guidelines:
• Make the first request in person if possible; your former instructor will be more likely to remember you.
• Introduce yourself by name and try to point out something memorable you did to help your professor recall your performance.
• Have a copy of the job description, scholarship information, grant requirements, or graduate school application ready.
• Carry a copy of a recent polished résumé or promise to e-mail the requisite documents and any other information to help your recommender understand what you need.
• Confirm any agreement by e-mail promptly, and set a firm yet reasonable deadline by which the letter must be received. Don't expect to get a letter if you ask at the last minute.
• Gently nudge by e-mail to remind the recommender when the deadline is approaching.

Your Task. Write a persuasive request by e-mail asking your instructor (or supervisor or manager) to write you a letter of recommendation for a job application, grant, scholarship, or graduate school application. Provide all relevant information to make it easy to write a terrific letter. Explain any attachments.