If you’ve ever had to write an email to a teacher, you know how daunting that can prove to be.

What is an appropriate way to start?

Does my message come across as too informal? 

Did I state my questions or request properly? 

There is a big chance that similar questions ran through your head every time you tried to create an email worth sending to your teacher.

And just when you think you’ve sent a great email, there is no response. 

Why is your teacher ignoring you?

In reality, most emails don’t get replied to, not due to teachers’ laziness but because the emails are not clear enough. 

In other words, teachers didn’t know what you actually wanted from them.

Thus, if you want to avoid this happening to you again and write emails that get opened and replied to, you’re in the right place.

We’ll show you all the tips on how to write a persuasive email to a teacher, backed up with examples.

Let’s begin!

What is a Persuasive Email?

A persuasive email is an email intended to convince or persuade the reader to take some form of action.

For example, you might want your teacher to extend the deadline, or you have further questions about your grades, etc.

To capture and maintain a teacher’s attention, writing effective persuasive emails requires:

  • planning, 
  • formatting, and 
  • persuasive language strategies 

Furthermore, not only do you want to capture a teacher’s attention but also to get the teacher to reply.

Therefore, let’s look at the most important elements of a persuasive email that will help you craft emails that get a response.

5 Tips on How To Write a Persuasive Email to a Teacher

Regardless of the reason for your email, there are certain elements that a well-crafted persuasive email must have.

1. Use a Succinct Subject Line

A subject line is the first thing your teacher will notice so it needs to be clear because you want the teacher to know or at least get the gist of your email.

In addition, having a straightforward subject line minimizes the risk of your email being skipped.

For example, don’t just write:” Question.” Your teacher probably gets tons of emails per day.

Instead, be more specific and  include your name and and a project or task in question. 

It will help the teacher immediately know who wrote the email and what it is about. 

2. Use the Appropriate Greeting

You should usually use more formal greetings that include titles, such as: 

“Dr.,” “Professor,” “Mrs.,” or “Mr.”

The way you address your teacher will largely depend on their relationship with students and the way the teacher wants to be addressed.

Some teachers prefer a first-name basis, and it is ok to start with Dear John, for example.

But even in this case, it doesn’t mean you should be too informal and use greetings like “What’s up” or “Hey.”

Another useful tip is to see how the teacher signs their emails. If they sign with their name, it is safe to use it when addressing them.

3. Structure Your Email Properly

Structuring your email properly is essential if you want to encourage your recipient to reply. After all, it does represent the main part of your email.

Thus, a properly structured email will have: 

  • A subject line
  • Opening one-liner
  • A reason for reaching out
  • A call to action
  • Closing line which ends an email on the positive note.

1. Opening One-liner

You should open your email with a simple one-liner.

For example: 

  • Hope you're having a great day.
  • I really enjoyed your lecture today.
  • Hope your Monday is going well.

It is a simple yet effective way to draw attention to your email, but don’t go overboard and pour what I like to call “superlative compliments.”

❌ You’re the best teacher ever.

❌ Everything you say is so brilliant.

There is nothing wrong with complimenting a teacher, but you’re writing a persuasive email, so showering your teacher with compliments might come across as insincere and corny.

2. State the Reason for Reaching Out

The next thing on the agenda is to state the reason for your writing. Therefore, you need to be clear and concise in what you want from your teacher.

With so many emails your teacher gets daily, they usually don’t have time to read a two-page email just to figure out what you want.

Thus, state your reason quickly and at the beginning of your email.

  • I am writing to inform you I am unable to attend the exam next Monday.
  • I would like to change my project group.
  • There is conflict within our study group.
  • I am requesting an extension to the essay due Monday.
  • I am asking for your permission to change my essay topic.

After that, you can explain your situation or why you need to extend your deadline in more detail.

Bonus Tip:  If you write an email because you want to extend a deadline or apologize for giving in your paper later, tell the truth.

Don’t come up with excuses that will raise red flags. If there is anything that a teacher dislikes, it is being tricked. 

And trust me, an experienced teacher has heard so many excuses that you can’t win in that game.

And how should you end your email?

 3. Have a Clear Call to Action

Before you sign your email, make sure to finish it the proper way.

After stating why you’ve written this email in the opening paragraph, you should gently remind your teacher you expect a reply. 

In email marketing, it is known as a call to action. 

It serves the same purpose here- you want your teacher to take a certain action.

  • I would really appreciate it if you could please let me know before Wednesday. 
  • Could you let me know before our next class?
  • Could you please reply that you've received this email?

And the last part of your email’s structure should be a closing line ending on a positive note.

4. Closing Line

You should finish off with a pleasantry, just like in any other mail.

  • Looking forward to hearing back from you.
  • Have a lovely day!
  • Thank you in advance.

And last but not least, regarding closing your email is the signature. Make sure to include your name, student ID number, and a program.

Bonus Tip: It isn't only about the words you write but also your tone. Your message shouldn’t come across as too informal or in any way disrespectful.

If you are unsure if your tone is appropriate, great online AI-powered writing tools like TextCortex can help you.

For example, the Tone feature offers more than 10 tone options to choose from.

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This handy feature will help you change different tones of voice in a few clicks.

4. Proofread Your Email

Before you press the “Send” button, double-check your email regarding grammar and spelling mistakes.

It isn’t about crafting immaculate mail, we are humans, and mistakes happen. It is about showing you put in an effort and were not lazy to review your email.

Sending an email flooded with spelling and grammar mistakes is offputting and your teacher might not read it at all. 

Following the above 5 steps on how to write a persuasive email to a teacher will help you craft emails that get replied to. 

However, let’s move away from theory and show you examples of persuasive emails to get you started.

Write Persuasive Emails to a Teacher Using These 3 Examples

Persuasive emails vary depending on what you are asking your teacher to do for you. Let’s check the most common types of persuasive emails.

Example 1- Dropping the Course

Subject Line: [Your Name] - [Dropping the Course]

Body: 

Dear [Title and Teacher’'s Name],
I am writing to inform you that, unfortunately, I am unable to continue to attend the [Course Name] this semester. I would like to request permission to defer, as I understand that this is only possible with your approval.
The issue is that I am currently [State the Reason] . It started in July and will continue until the end of the semester. The internship takes up 25 hours per week, and I am concerned that it does not leave me with enough time to study. I have already asked if I can reduce my hours there, but this is not possible.
With your approval, I could take [Course Name] next semester instead. I realize that this would mean a heavier workload than usual next semester, but I assure you that I can manage my time and keep up.
Thank you for considering my request, and I would be happy to come in and discuss the matter further.
Regards,
[Your Name] 

What works very nicely for this email is that the reason is stated in the opening paragraph, the tone of voice is appropriate, and there is a call to action.

Example 2 - Rescheduling the Test (Solution A)

Subject Line: [Your Name] - [Rescheduling the Test]

Body: 

Dear [Title and Teacher’'s Name],
I am writing this letter in the context of the weekly test that has been announced in [Course Name] for final-year students. I would like to bring to your notice that on [Date] we are arranging a cultural event in the college as we expecting a very famous personality.
We are planning an event which will include a musical performance by an eminent musician visiting our college, followed by a speech from a spiritual guru. Though attendance for this program is not compulsory, we would appreciate more and more students attending it as it will be a wonderful learning experience.
Therefore, we request you to please consider our request to reschedule the weekly test to any other date. If not, can you please allow students who wish to attend the event and arrange a separate test for them on any other day? As the program is scheduled from [Time] am to [Time] am on [Date] , you can also conduct the task after  [Time].
Please let us know if you find any of the above options suitable so we can plan things accordingly. We hope you will come up with a mutually beneficial solution so that the maximum number of students can benefit from this interesting event.
Thanks for considering our proposal.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]

This email might be a bit longer, but it does state the purpose, and it even suggests possible solutions to the problem.

Furthermore, it provides a valid reason for postponing the test, and the closing lines and the info in the signature contain relevant information. 

Or take a look at this example:

Solution B

Subject Line: [Your Name] - [Rescheduling the Test]

Body: 

Dear [Title and Teacher’'s Name],
I’ve been working on my [Assignment ] for the past week or so now, but due to the amount of research and studying for the rest of my finals, I don’t think I’ll be able to finish it on time.”
Could I take the weekend to keep working and turn it in on [Date/Day] instead?
I know this project makes up a big portion of our final grade and I would really appreciate the extra few days. Thank you so much for your flexibility.”
Best,
[Your Name]

The above mail is my personal favorite. It ticks all the boxes we’ve mentioned. It states the problem, provides a valid reason for the delay, and has a clear call to action.

But what makes it great is the truth. A student is not trying to come up with phony excuses but tells the truth and explains why the delay would be so appreciated.

Moreover, it shows respect for the teacher’s subject and realization of its importance.

Example 3 - Clarification of a Task

Subject Line: [Your Name] - [Clarification of a Task - Task Name]

Body: 

Dear [Title and Teacher’'s Name],
I have a question about the [Assignmenet Task] for tonight’s homework. I wasn’t sure if the sample dialogue we’re supposed to write for the second question is between two characters in the story or two characters we make up.
I read the instructions a couple of times but still couldn’t tell. Could you clarify, please?
Please let me know either in class or by email.
Thanks for the help!
[Your Name]

The above email example is short and to the point, having all the necessary elements to prompt a teacher’s response.

Learn To Write a Persuasive Email to a Teacher Using TextCortex

We hope our tips and examples will get your creative juices flowing the next time you have to write a persuasive email to a teacher.

In the meantime, we have another trick up our sleeve to help you craft emails effortlessly and more quickly – using a TextCortex add-on.

How Can TextCortex Add-on Help You?

TextCortex is a robust AI-powered solution that can help you automate mundane tasks, improve your writing and generate more content faster.

In addition, you can quickly create or repurpose original articles and blog posts, automatically summarize documents or web pages, and even produce natural-sounding responses to customer inquiries.

So how can TextCortex help you?

Not only can you write effective emails from a few bullet points, but you only need to insert your ideas about the email’s goal, and TextCortex will take care of the rest.

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In addition, you can use the TextCortex add-on within more than 2000 online platforms.

Or you can simply create your email using ZenoChat.

ZenoChat functions similarly to ChatGPT, so you can actually communicate with our AI tool in a conversational way by asking questions or giving commands.

For example, you can ask Zeno to draft an email for your teacher and get a fully-formatted sample in a matter of seconds. 

Here's how it looks:

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And then, if it needs further tweaking, TextCortex provides you with more than 60 templates for different types of content. 

On top of everything, there are no hidden costs and fees when you sign up and no need for credit card details within a free plan.

Your only limitation is 10 daily creations.

In addition, our Freemium plans are sufficient to explore all the features at once, and if you decide to upgrade, it comes at an affordable price.

So, all the more reason why you should try Text Cortex out.

Download the Chrome extension now so the next time you have to write a persuasive email to your teacher that gets a reply, it will feel like a breeze.

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