Initiative, in the form of a simple email, can sometimes make all the difference. For example:




-----Original Message-----
From: Cary.WaterhouseSent: Mon 6/11/12 2:50 PM
To: Tabetha J Adkins; Donna Dunbar-Odom
Cc: rich.rice(a)ttu.edu
Subject: Composition Theory Assistance Inquiry

Hello Drs. Adkins and Dunbar-Odom,

My name is Cary Waterhouse and I am a Publications Task Lead and
Principal Technical Editor/Writer at (a regional company). I am also a graduate student enrolled in the MATC program <http://www.english.ttu.edu/tcr/>  at Texas Tech University. For the summer semester, I have enrolled in History and Theories of College Composition <http://www.richrice.com/5060>  and am looking forward to my studies. Feel free to view my WaterhouseBlog
<http://www.aerospacetechwriter.blogspot.com/>  to read about my
progress throughout the course.

In reviewing the TAMU-C English Writing Program
<http://web.tamu-commerce.edu/academics/colleges/humanitiesSocialScience
sArts/departments/literatureLanguages/firstYearWriting/default.aspx>
and Faculty pages
<http://web.tamu-commerce.edu/academics/colleges/humanitiesSocialScience
sArts/departments/literatureLanguages/facultyAndStaff/default.aspx> , I
noticed your backgrounds in composition and am contacting you both to
ask if I might be able to direct questions to either of you regarding
TAMU-C's composition program as specified in the following optional
assignment from my class work:

* Thoroughly investigate a composition program and develop a
"philosophy of writing" that could be used to get a job at that
institution. (1000-word essay and class presentation).

In exchange for your guidance and mentorship, I would be glad to repay
your assistance by visiting classes as a guest speaker, lecturing during
an upcoming career event, or trying to arrange a visit to our facility
for a small group of students.

Please let me know if you might be able to assist me in my work and
thank you in advance for your time and consideration. I have copied my
professor on this message, so please feel free to ask any questions of
Dr. Rice also.

Respectfully,

Cary L. Waterhouse

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
From: Tabetha J Adkins [mailto:Tabetha.Adkins(a)tamuc.edu]
Sent: Monday, June 11, 2012 9:24 PM
To: Waterhouse, Cary L;  Donna Dunbar-Odom
Cc: rich.rice(a)ttu.edu
Subject: RE: Composition Theory Assistance Inquiry

Hi, Cary.

I can direct you toward some documents I've posted online that might help you with this assignment.  The first document is an article that clarifies our stance on what composition courses should do:
http://www.scribd.com/doc/61698987/Downs-Wardle

The next important document is the handbook I created for instructors who teach in the program:
http://www.scribd.com/doc/62441563/Writing-Program-Handbook-Fall-2011
(This is last fall's handbook, so some information may be outdated.)

And the final source you may find useful is the website.  There are links for instructors and students:
http://web.tamu-commerce.edu/academics/colleges/humanitiesSocialSciencesArts/departments/literatureLanguages/firstYearWriting/default.aspx

Best wishes on your assignment!

Tabetha Adkins, PhD
Assistant Professor
Director of First-Year Writing
Department of Literature and Languages
(903) 886-5269
Tabetha.Adkins(a)tamuc.edu