Asking for LORs via e-mail/etiquette question

[frthrow]

Hello, I realize this is probably a bit specific, but I was hoping someone might have some advice...I'm considering asking for letters of recommendation from two professors whose courses I took while on an exchange in France. However, I didn't think to ask them in person while I was there in the spring (I hesistated because both courses involved minimal student interaction and I wasn't sure they'd be able to write me a positive LOR only based on exams and papers submitted)   - would it be considered impolite to ask for a LOR via e-mail given the circumstances? Is there a difference in etiquette between this sort of thing in the United States as opposed to in Europe?

 

Thanks in advance.

[Monochrome Spring]

Before you decide you want them to write your LoR's, if you hesitated before, because the courses involved minimal student interaction, what makes you sure they can write a good LoR now, when it's been even less interaction since the course? Do you have any other professors that can write stronger LoR's for you? LoR's are one of the most important parts of your application.

[fuzzylogician]

Generally speaking, since you're far away and can't ask in person, there is nothing impolite about asking in an email. You'll want to make initial contact to ask for the letter and say that you will provide your writers with any materials they need to help them write you a stronger letter (e.g., copy of your transcripts, cv, a draft of your SOP). I'd only send those along after you've received a general 'yes' and assuming the professors ask for these materials. 

 

But before you do that, Monochrome Spring makes a very good point -- are you sure that you'll get good letters from these professors, given that you say they don't know you well? 2/3 letters from profs that don't know you well sounds like a risk. Moreover, you might have difficulty distinguish between 'yes' (I can write a letter) and 'yes!' (I can write a strong letter) since this will be done over email and you don't have a strong relationship with these profs to help you tell these apart. None of these are insurmountable problems, just things that it's worth to keep in mind. 

[frthrow]

But before you do that, Monochrome Spring makes a very good point -- are you sure that you'll get good letters from these professors, given that you say they don't know you well? 2/3 letters from profs that don't know you well sounds like a risk. Moreover, you might have difficulty distinguish between 'yes' (I can write a letter) and 'yes!' (I can write a strong letter) since this will be done over email and you don't have a strong relationship with these profs to help you tell these apart. None of these are insurmountable problems, just things that it's worth to keep in mind. 

 

@fuzzylogician and Monochrome Spring - thanks for the replies. Normally I would ask professors at my home institution...really my main concern was that I'm applying to MA programs in French literature, and I'd only taken one upper-level, non-survey course in literature before studying abroad (where I only took upper-level courses in lit). So, really, I wasn't sure that I would want a professor who only taught a 'survey of French lit.' course or a French civilization course to write me a recommendation, even if it would be a bit more personal, since the material studied wasn't as in-depth as a more focused course (e.g., modern French lit., or whatever). I can only think of one professor who would be able to write me a more personalized LoR, but she teaches Russian lit...!

 

Anyway, I'll keep all this in mind - so, again, thanks a ton!