So, you are a student and you want to ask a professor for a recommendation letter? Consider doing the following (not in hierarchical order):

1. Explain who you are (e.g., “My name is Elisa Freschi, I was in your PHL 100 and PHL 401 classes”)
2. Explain what you want their recommendation for (e.g., “I am writing to ask whether you might want to write a recommendation letter for me for my application to an MA in Gender Studies at Western University”)
3. Be specific: Do you need a recommendation letter or just to put down their name as a reference?
4. Give all the details about yourself: Attach your transcripts, letter of intent (for the school(s) you are applying to), writing sample, cv…
5. Give all the details about the position you are applying for (a graduate program? A summer course? A conference?…)
6. ASK before giving the name of a certain professor as reference (it is annoying to know that you have no choice)
7. Explain when the deadline is and REMIND the professor one week in advance (I have never received an automatic reminder, but I know that it looks bad on an application if a professor did not submit their application)
8. Don’t aim too high: It’s better to have an engaged letter by a TA or postdoc than to have a lukewarm letter by a well-known professor who does not really know you and will only say vague things about you.
9. Connected with the above: Be sure that the professor will be happy to write a strong letter for you (not just a letter). Some letters are not really of help.
10. Connected with the above: You have let your professor down as a TA or RA multiple times? They might not be in the best position to help you. Please try to do your best with at least one prof as TA or RA if you want their recommendation letters.
11. Explain what exactly you are asking. In some cases, what is required is just a 1-paragraph letter, in others a longer letter is required. Be specific!
12. Optional: Explain why you are asking exactly this professor (e.g., “I am asking you because you are the one who engaged the most with my writing assignments and could therefore speak about them/because your class is the one during which I have been improving the most and I hope you can attest to that/because of the many 1-1 discussions we had, which makes me confident that you have a clearer opinion about my philosophical ideas than most other professors/…”).
13. INFORM your letter-writers of what happened. It’s nice to hear back from you!

Am I forgetting something?

(Updated, thanks to @neuroyogacara.bsky.social)