Article: Your teacher may receive many emails each day, so it's important to be clear about who you are and why you're sending the message. Include your name, the name of the class, the class period if applicable, andif you are emailing about a specific assignmentthe title of that assignment. An example subject line might be "Jane Doe 6th Period Russian - Research Paper" or "John Smith 3rd Period Calculus Question". If you're simply emailing about a question or letting the teacher know that you won't be in class for some reason, write something like "[Name] [Class] [Date] Quick Note" in the subject line. It's important to establish a respectful tone in your email, so start with "Dear Mr./Ms./Mrs. [Last Name]" on its own line before creating the rest of the email. For example, you might start your email by typing "Dear Mrs. Johnson," and then pressing Enter twice before starting your email's body. Avoid substituting other words for "Dear"; do not use "Hey", "Hello", or similar. Never call your teacher by his or her first name unless they have asked you and every other student in your class to do so. This formality still applies if you are a parent emailing a teacher on the behalf of your child. As an adult, the teacher may be your peer; however, in a school context, you should still treat the teacher with the respect that they are used to. When sending in an assignment, for example, it's tempting to attach the assignment and click Send without adding any body text; unfortunately, this is both unprofessional and ambiguous (and, at times, rude). To ensure that your teachers have the proper context for your email, always include a message in the email. Teachers have a limited amount of time per day to answer your questions, so make your email quick and to-the-point: Begin by explaining why you're sending the email in one sentence. Ask any questions that you need to ask. Try to keep your message to five sentences or fewer, unless you have a very detailed question. For example, your email's body might read: "I'm emailing to ask you about this Monday's homework. I'm not sure what the last sentence of question number 3 means - could you please explain it to me?" If you are emailing on the behalf of your child, the first line might be "I am Billy's mother, and I'd like to talk about his grade in your English class for this past semester." If you are asking for a letter of recommendation or for a chaperone, explain briefly the circumstances and ask in one sentence if it's something they'd be able to do. It's also important to end requests with "Thank you" or "I appreciate your consideration" rather than saying "Sincerely" at the end. For a letter of recommendation, for example, you might write "I wanted to ask you for a letter of recommendation if you have time." You shouldn't try to convince your teacher to do something, especially if it's a favorjust asking will be sufficient. Your message should be well-written, properly spelled and capitalized, and grammatically correct, even if your message is only a sentence long. Do not use emojis or chat acronyms in your messagealways err on the side of formality, even if your teacher is laid-back and casual. For example, even if you're just turning in an assignment, writing "Here is my assignment for Friday." is better than writing "assignment for friday" in the body section. Before you upload an assignment to the email (if applicable), make sure that the assignment's file name includes your name, the name of the class, the name of the assignment itself, and the period number if possible. The file name is the name of the attachment itself, not what you see when you open the file and look at what's written at the top. You might also want to put the date in the file name. There are many ways to end most emails, but you should always end emails to teachers with some variation of "Thank you," on its own line and then your name on a separate line. Possible substitutions for "Thank you" include "Sincerely", "Regards", and "Best". Avoid "Thanks", "Cheers", or any other casual language. For example, you might write "Thank you," on one line, press Enter, and then enter your full name on the bottom line.
Question: What is a summary of what this article is about?
Write a clear subject line. Address your teacher formally. Always include some form of body text. Be straightforward. Understand how to ask for favors. Use proper grammar and spelling. Label properly any attached assignments. End the email.
Article: Support farmers who avoid chemical pesticides and can deliver produce to market without significant fuel consumption (and pollution). Every bit of pollution prevention helps endangered species, and you will help make organic farming the socially and financially sensible choice for growers. If your municipality has a recycling program, make full use of it. If there isn't a program, work to create one. Keep as much of your waste out of landfills as possible. Landfills take up valuable space and some waste (like plastic bags and bottles) inevitably seems to make its way into wild habitats or the huge swirls of trash found out at sea, with negative consequences to animal life. Buy products and food without packaging whenever possible. Take your own bags to the store. This will reduce the amount of garbage and waste you produce, not to mention the pollution resulting from the creation and distribution of this packaging. Whales and tigers will thank you. Start an initiative to share specialty tools and seldom-used household items among neighbors. There are good examples of people working with their local libraries to have a tool lending section. Donate used toys, books, games, clothing, etc., to hospitals, shelters, daycares, or charities. Before throwing something out, consider creative ways of reusing it. A toilet bowl flower pot may not be your style, but that old, beat-up kitchen table might make a nice little workbench. Walk or ride a bicycle to work or the market. It's good for your body and produces zero emissions that negatively impact earth's delicate climate balance. Take public transportation when available. When you do use the car, drive more slowly. Animal-vehicle collisions are on the rise as human and animal habitats increasingly overlap, and this is a particular threat to certain endangered species. Unplug televisions, computers, and other items that still draw electricity even when turned off. This will stop the "vampire" energy drain of these devices. You will cut pollution that damages the habitats of endangered species while also saving money. Not a bad deal. Make it a habit in your own life and share it with others. Tell them you can save them a buck and help the polar bears. Turn off the tap while you brush your teeth and use water-saving devices on your toilet, taps and shower head. Fix leaky pipes and faucets promptly. Even a small drip can waste large amounts of water over time. Use drip irrigation or other water saving devices in the garden. If legal in your area, consider installing a "grey water" system that uses water from showers and sinks in the garden. If you are hardcore, install a composting toilet. Growing human demand for water leads to changes in freshwater ecosystems, beyond just reducing water levels. For instance, the building of dams to make reservoirs can prevent salmon from reaching their spawning grounds.
Question: What is a summary of what this article is about?
Shop for locally-grown organic produce. Reduce, reuse, and recycle. Consider alternatives to driving. Save energy by turning off lights and electrical appliances when not in use. Don't waste water.