Email 202(c): A Critical Last Step

“Whatever you appreciate and give thanks for will increase in your life” –Sanaya Roman

In my previous post, Email 202(b): A Critical Last Step, I described the components of an effective thank-you note and provided several examples for each component. Here, I put all the components together to provide full-length examples of thank-you notes. Because the language and wording in any written piece depend heavily on context, I preface each example with a brief description of the situation or context that surrounds it.

Situation #1

Suzy Shakespeare has taken the Praxis I Writing Exam three times. Each time, she has failed by at least seven points. Suzy has already taken practice exams and purchased three different study guides. However, she has seen little or no improvement in her score. At a loss, Suzy emails the English Education liaison, Dr. Proust, for advice.

Dr. Proust provides links to several resources, including the official exam guide–available for free on the Praxis website. She also recommends that Suzy analyze her incorrect answers on practice exams to identify “gaps” in her knowledge, so she can focus her studying on the areas that need the most improvement.

In a short thank-you email to Dr. Proust, Suzy writes…

Dear Dr. Proust,

Thank you so much for the Praxis I resources and suggestions. I just analyzed my incorrect answers on the practice exam, and realized I have a lot to learn about punctuation. Once I brush up on punctuation, I’ll take a closer look at the official exam guide. Thanks again for the suggestions and resources. I am starting to feel much more optimistic about my re-taking the Praxis I Writing exam.

Sincerely,

Suzanne Shakespeare

English Education Major

Piedmont Regional College

(012) 345-6789

Situation #2

Dave Diaz, a third-year sociology major, has suffered a string of unfortunate events: the death of a relative, a car accident caused by a reckless driver, and a severe case of the flu. As a result, Dave has missed four classes, is unprepared for the upcoming midterm, and has fallen behind on his research paper. Dave emails his Sociology 400 professor, Dr. Marx, to inform him of these events–with appropriate documentation attached–and to request an extension on both the midterm and the research paper.

As usual, Dr. Marx responds to Dave’s email in a prompt fashion. Dr. Marx explains that he cannot give Dave an extension on the midterm because it is scheduled for a face-to-face class meeting. However, he is willing to allow Dave to take a make-up midterm–slightly different from the regular midterm–during office hours the following Monday. He also explains that he will allow Dave to submit the research paper up to three days late without penalty.

To thank Dr. Marx for his understanding and assistance, Dave writes…

Dear Dr. Marx,

Thank you for understanding my situation and for letting me take a make-up midterm and hand in my research paper a few days late. I know that having extra time to study for the midterm and write the paper will allow me to do my best work. I will talk to you after class on Thursday to confirm the time for the make-up midterm.

Thanks again for your understanding and assistance!

Sincerely,

David Carlos Diaz

Sociology Major

Tall Pines University

Cell: (987) 654-3210

 

Situation #3

Paula Piaget is a third-year Elementary Education major. After completing her very first two-week teaching block at a local elementary school, Paula has begun to have serious doubts about becoming a teacher. Paula did not enjoy interacting with the children as much as she had expected, and was overwhelmed by the constant frenzy. Hoping to find some clarity, Paula emails Dr. Kagan, Director of the Teacher Support Program.

Dr. Kagan suggests that Paula take a few online tests to gain insights into her personality and career preferences, and provides links to free online versions of the RIASEC test and the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI). Dr. Kagan also recommends that Paula go to career services to take the full-length version of each test and to meet with a licensed career counselor who can help her make sense of the results.

Thankful for Dr. Kagan’s advice, Paula writes…

Dear Dr. Kagan,

Thank you for the links and advice on exploring my career path. I just took the two free online tests that you recommended. Based on the results, education seems to be a pretty bad fit for me–maybe I like the idea of teaching more than I actually like teaching. I am going to call career services to make an appointment with a career counselor. I will let you know what I decide to do.

Thanks again for pointing me in the right direction!

Regards,

Ms. Paula Piaget

Elementary Education

Central Atlantic University

Website: fakepaulapiaget.com

 

Situation #4

Last week, Joy Jones graduated from Oak Alley University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting. When she checked the mailbox earlier today, she found a graduation card with a $100 Target gift card from her favorite aunt, Marianne. With a new job set to begin in just 9 days, Joy decided to use the gift card to buy some things for her cubicle.

To thank Aunt Marianne, Joy hand wrote and mailed the following thank-you note:

Dear Aunt Marianne,

Thank you so much for the beautiful graduation card and the $100 Target gift card. I will use the gift card to buy some furnishings for my cubicle. I am certain that a plant, some picture frames, and a few other decorative items will make my cubicle a much nicer place to spend my days. I’ll be sure to take some before-and-after pictures so you can see the results. Thanks again for your generous gift!

With Love,

Joy

In summary, it’s important to let others know how much you appreciate what they give you or do for you. Sending a thank-you note via email, or even the old-fashioned way, is an excellent way to convey a sense of appreciation. Hopefully, the examples provided above will help you type or write your next thank-you note with ease. For additional  details, please see my two previous posts on writing thank-you notes: Email 202(b): A Critical Last Step and Email 202(a): A Critical Last Step

P.S. No need to write me a thank you note for this post 🙂