Modern World History

Ms. Portman

Contacting a Specialist

A specialist on your topic will be able to give you insight into your subject.  A specialist can be:

• An author of an article
• Someone who is experiencing what you are writing about
• A professor who teaches about this subject
• Someone who work specifically with your challenge

Before you start sending out emails, ask yourself:

• What kind of information do I need to get a better understanding of the material I have already researched?  Don’t ask them something that you could find in an encyclopedia.

• Who can help me the most?  Who has information that I need?

• Who is likely to respond to my request for information in time?

Try to contact at least 3 people so you that you can, hopefully, get one reply.  If you want people to help you, be nice to them:

• Introduce who you are and explain what you are doing

• Let them know that you have already begun researching this topic, and you would like to utilize their expertise in the subject

• Say PLEASE when you ask for their time and knowledge

• Follow up with an email to say THANK YOU when they help you out