What is the process for getting a letter of recommendation from one of my literature professors?
There is no formal process, but we will recommend a few guidelines. You need to think about who could recommend you and why; you need to be polite and you need to provide a reasonable timeframe for your request.We are happy to write recommendations; we regard it as both a pleasure and a duty. Don’t be afraid to ask for a recommendation because you don’t want to bother us.At the same time, there are bad reasons for asking for recommendations. If you’ve done lackluster work in a class, but figure you’ll ask your professor for a recommendation because you’ve done worse in other classes, rethink that request. If you’re frequently absent from a class or missing work, don’t ask for a recommendation from your professor in that class. Most of us will try to make you look as good as we can in letters of recommendation, but if you’ve shown us that you don’t take our classes seriously, we’re not going to be eager to write for you or to make you look good.
