Hi I want to do research with a teacher but i don't know if i should e'mail or go to his office. Help me out.

Question

If i write, what should i say in the e-mail. is it a good idea to show up to his office without the e-mail or would it be rude.

Answer 1

Don't show up at someone's office without having your visit ok'd first. It is rude to do otherwise. An unsolicited email is also, sorry, also rude. But if you have no choice.... try to get an intermediary. Or someone who already has some gravitas, like whomever you're researching hopefully with this teacher (hopefully) for. An intermediary? Again, there's always whomever you're doing this for, possibly. I don't know who you know to ask for help. I would not make a move "on" this teacher until  he or she knows you want to speak with them, first. Be classy about it. Show nettiquette (don't cold call email--that's spam by any other name) and ettiquete (see Emily Post).

Answer 2

Professors are usually very busy entities who receive a slew of e-mails from students per day and do not necessarily know every student personally.  If your professor holds office hours (which any teaching faculty should do), then that would not be a rude time to visit his office, with the caveat that other students might be there too.  You can write him a short e-mail asking what would be a good time to meet with him to discuss the possibility of doing research with him.  If he does not respond in a timely manner to such an e-mail, then you can wait for the other students to go away during his office hours to discuss the same thing.

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Edit: In light of new remarks, I need to add, as an academic myself, that it is absolutely *not* bad etiquette *in general* to write a simple e-mail to your professor briefly introducing yourself and asking for a possible meeting time.  A lengthy e-mail without introductions is annoying for sure.  But, a brief one with the purpose of meeting for research opportunities is fine.  If the professor you are wishing to work with turns out to be an egomaniac or has other character issues, then tough luck: No matter how you choose to communicate, it might not work.  It will really help your case with any professor if you have something to show for why the prof should want to work with you (e.g. classwork or other experience relevant to the research you wish to conduct with the prof), which you may *briefly* (that is the key -- be brief in any initial e-mail!) mention.

Answer 3

I would e-mail him with a short explanation of why I am contacting him and ask to see if there is a good time to meet with him.  He'll let you know if he's interested and set up a time with you.

Answer 4

I'd write a personal letter and hand deliver it; if he's there, you can explain briefly what it is, but that you respect his time, so you'd appreciate a call.

More than likely, you'll be met by the departmental secretary, so explain the situation to her.  Be very nice and mannerly -- and clean cut.  Look the part.  What the departmental secretary says about you could get you in the door or get you tossed in the trash.

If you don't hear anything within ten days or so, you might follow up with an e-mail or one more brief visit.  If that doesn't turn out, then don't be a pest; they might think you're a stalker.  You might try to drop a note a couple of times during the semester, just as a reminder.