1. Three Steps to Planning a Meeting with Your Professor
Presented by / Dr. Anna Plemons
WSU Critical Literacies Achievement and Success Program
Washington State University

2. Welcome to WSU!

3. Developing a question or topic for your meeting
Today we are going to talk about:
Setting up the Meeting
Developing a question or topic for your meeting

4. Why would you and/or why would you not want to attend office hours?

5. Did you know faculty are required to have office hours?
They are, and most faculty really appreciate it when students use that time to ask questions about the course or their research.

6. How do you know when/where office hours are held?

7. What are the components of a “winning” email?

8. A winning email includes:
My name
Your name
The name and section of the class you are in (faculty typically teach between two to four classes)
An acknowledgment of when I have office hours
A specific request

9. hey professor did we do anything important in class
This is the you DO NOT want to send:
hey professor did we do anything important in class

10. no i put on my pants and came to campus for nothing
I have never sent this response but I ALWAYS want to:
no i put on my pants and came to campus for nothing

11. I missed class today because I was sick. Can you help me? Thanks.
This one is a little better, but not awesome:
Ms. Lemons,
I missed class today because I was sick. Can you help me? Thanks.
--Student

12. this email sent from cartmanrulez99@yahoo.com
Hey,
i am in your class this semester but have missed the first 4 days do to some unexpected problems with work and family. ;) I would like 2 make up the work if u can send me the syllabus and all the handouts thank you. and also if i missed any important info. Will we b needing the book this semester because I am on a budget. LOL!
thx!
this sent from

13. This one is just right: Professor Plemons,
I missed class today because I am sick.  Can I set a time to come meet with you to go over what I missed?  I am not available during your office hours because I work on Mondays and Wednesday.  Do you have any available times this Thursday?
Thank you,
Kira Jones
ENGL 101, section 15

14. Developing a Question for Your Meeting
There are lots of things you can ask questions about.
Asking questions does not suggest that you are unprepared or need help.
We ask questions to:
Get clarification
Deepen our knowledge
Build relationships

15. Developing a Question for Your Meeting
Possible Questions/Topics:
The syllabus
Upcoming assignments
The course topic
Academic advice
WSU in general
Internship opportunities
Their research interests
Pullman
You get the idea ;)

16. Ask a question that demonstrates critical thinking:
Connect course material to your own experiences
Connect course material to other courses/scholars/ideas
Identify underlying assumptions
Evaluate the quality of evidence
Consider context
Anticipate conclusions, implications, consequences
adapted from the WSU Critical Thinking Rubric

17. Come up with 2-3 questions you might want to ask your professor.
Let’s Practice
Come up with 2-3 questions you might want to ask your professor.

18. Meeting Do’s Do show up Do be on time Do introduce yourself
Do bring something to write on and take notes
Do come prepared with a question or topic