Guide on How to Write an Email to Professor About Late Assignment

When the problem of late submissions occurs, how can you properly handle it? Do you send a late assignment email to professor? Or do you simply just submit it on your own time? The best possible decision is to carry on writing email to professor.

Unfortunately, most students have a problem with accurately doing this. They struggle with not knowing the proper way to email a professor and how to email a professor about a late assignment. 

This article will act as a guide to teach students how to write to a professor, how to start an email to a professor, and how to email professor about late assignment.

Reasons for writing email to professor

Before writing a late submission electronic mail, you must come up with the reason for your email.

There are a couple of reasons why students write late assignment emails. Some of these reasons include:   

1. To notify: notifying the professor beforehand shows that you are interested in the assignment and that you intend to finish it up. 
2. To explain: sometimes unforeseen events may hinder you from finishing the project on time. Rather than assuming that your professor knows your situation, it is always best to explain.
3. To ask for an extension: When asking for an extension, you should focus on adding how much progress you have achieved, the reason for the request, and the amount of time you need.
4. To apologize: this is for students who have already skipped the submission date. If you have not already asked for an extension or sent a notification, then you must immediately send an apology letter as soon as you miss the submission date.

It is necessary to note that in all late assignment emails, students are expected to attach a photo of their student ID for identification.

Steps to take when writing the email

Having understood why you should write a late submission email, the next step is learning how to write it. 

Writing this type of mail comprises two major things: learning how to start and learning the best way to end an email to a professor. 

The step-by-step guide below will help you draft this type of electronic mail:

1. Address the mail

To begin, start by inputting your professor’s email address in the “to” section of your compose box. Sometimes, some institutions require students to send a duplicate of the mail to their departmental heads. Find out what works in your institution and adjust accordingly.

2. Add a subject

The subject of your mail should be precise and short. It should give a detailed explanation of the reason for the mail. You may want to refer back to the list above, which gives reasons why students write late submission emails. 

You could either write “Request for extension”, “Notification on late assignment submission”, or “Apology email for late submission”.

3. Begin by writing the body

Start the body by briefly introducing yourself. You should do this by adding your name and department. After a brief introduction, you can then structure the body based on your subject. 

When writing the body, honesty and choice of words are highly important. It helps to be apologetic and sincere in your tone. This will increase your chances of receiving an extension.

4. Attach specific documents

To convince your professor, you should consider attaching documents that validate your reasons. These documents might include photos, prescriptions, and reports.

5. Finish your mail

The best way to conclude is by being sorry and proactive. You should conclude by explaining that the assignment means so much to you and that you will put in so much effort to complete it. You can then finally close with your full name.

Conclusion

Trying to keep up with schoolwork can be very challenging. From having deadlines to struggling with balancing social life, the pressure can very often lead to submitting late assignments. The above steps will assist you in writing the perfect late assignment mail.