If you want an A !
It does not matter if you are at a small university, or one of the largest universities in Canada, all professors have office hours. Take advantage of the opportunity to sit down with your Prof one-on-one. If you can’t make their office hours, send an e-mail, speak to them at the end of class, or call them, and make an appointment to meet with them. There is no one who can tell you what your professor is looking for better than your own professor, and often, different professors have slightly different expectations.
Prepare for your meeting. You don’t need to have your whole essay written before you go and talk to your professor, in fact, you should go see them long before you’re at that point. However, before the meeting, choose a topic, do some preliminary research, prepare a potential thesis, and some questions.
For example:
- Is this topic too broad?
- Is this a strong thesis?
- I’ve looked at these sources, are there any others you would recommend?
- How much emphasis should I place on my primary sources vs. secondary sources?
- How do you feel about quotes? (Some professors will tell you to avoid using direct quotes whenever possible. When you paraphrase this does not mean you don’t site the source! See Chicago Style Tip)
- How many sources do you expect us to have?
Talking to your professor may be intimidating at first, but it is almost always results in a positive experience from which you will gain significant knowledge about what your professor is looking for, and what you need to do to get an A. Usually, professors appreciate you meeting with them early on, because it shows you care about your studies and are open to their advice. Most professors will not look over a first draft for a student, because they simply don’t have the time. But, by meeting with your professor and going over parts of your essay a few times before it is due, I guarantee your final grade will be better than if you never went to speak with them. Despite nerves and the short time it takes, meeting with your professor and asking for advice is worth it!