Prompt 1

Ask for a Clear Deadline

I need to email Michael, the marketing director at my part-time nonprofit job, because I am still waiting for the $350 printing budget he promised to approve last Tuesday. Our community flyer must be sent to the printer by Friday, October 30, or we will miss the November 7 food drive. Write a short, polite email that explains the deadline, asks him to approve the budget today, and makes me sound organized rather than pushy. Sign it Carol Mendez.

Prompt 2

Explain a Mistake Without Making Excuses

I made an embarrassing mistake in an email to Sandra at the accounting office. I accidentally attached an old Costco receipt showing $47 instead of the correct Home Depot receipt for $164. I noticed it ten minutes later, and Sandra has not replied yet. Write a brief, professional correction email that apologizes once, clearly says the first attachment should be ignored, and explains that the correct receipt is attached. Do not make me sound panicked or overly apologetic. Sign it Carol Mendez.

Prompt 3

Say No to Extra Work Politely

My supervisor David asked me to take on another weekly report, but I already spend about six hours preparing the Tuesday volunteer schedule and the Thursday donor update. I am worried that adding this third report will cause mistakes, especially because I am helping train Patricia until November 13. Write a respectful email to David that says I cannot take on the full report right now, but I could prepare the first draft for the next three weeks if he can move one of my current deadlines. Make me sound cooperative and dependable, not unwilling. Sign it Carol Mendez.

Prompt 4

Follow Up When Someone Has Not Replied

I emailed Tom at the city permit office last Wednesday about the $1,200 permit fee for our neighborhood cleanup, but I have not heard back. We need to know whether the fee includes the Friday trash pickup before I submit the payment. Write a friendly follow-up email that refers to my earlier message, asks for an answer by Thursday afternoon, and makes clear that I am trying to avoid paying the wrong amount. Keep it under 120 words and sign it Carol Mendez.

Prompt 5

Respond to a Difficult Coworker

Patricia has sent me three increasingly sharp emails because the volunteer schedule was not updated until 4:30 p.m. yesterday. I understand that the delay was frustrating, but I was waiting for David to confirm whether two people could switch shifts. Write a calm response to Patricia that acknowledges the delay, explains the reason without sounding defensive, and says I will send a confirmation by noon every Tuesday going forward. Do not mention that I am upset, even though I feel embarrassed and frustrated. Sign it Carol Mendez.

Prompt 6

Request a Schedule Change

I need to ask my manager Sandra if I can change my work schedule from Wednesday and Friday afternoons to Tuesday and Thursday mornings starting November 3. My daughter’s physical therapy appointments moved to Wednesday afternoons, and I can still work the same 12 hours each week. I feel nervous asking because I have only been in this position for four months. Write a confident but appreciative email that explains the change, confirms that my total hours will stay the same, and asks whether we can discuss it this week. Sign it Carol Mendez.

Prompt 7

Turn Meeting Notes Into an Action Email

I took messy notes during today’s 10 a.m. meeting about the November 7 community food drive. Michael will confirm the grocery delivery by October 29, Patricia will recruit eight volunteers by October 30, David will print 250 flyers for $164, and I will send the final schedule on November 2. Write a professional follow-up email to the group that thanks them, lists each person’s responsibility and deadline in a clean format, and asks everyone to reply if anything is incorrect. Sign it Carol Mendez.

Prompt 8

Ask for Feedback on Your Work

I finished the first draft of the employee newsletter for my supervisor David, and I am proud of how much clearer it is than last month’s version. Before I send it to the whole staff, I want him to review the tone and the $600 training announcement. Write a short email asking him to send feedback by 3 p.m. Thursday, October 29. Sound confident, but make it clear that I welcome specific suggestions. Sign it Carol Mendez.

Prompt 9

Thank Someone for Helping You

Write a warm but professional email to Sandra at Walgreens thanking her for helping me correct a $47 reimbursement error last week. I was worried the mistake would delay my paycheck, and she stayed fifteen minutes after our meeting to walk me through the corrected form. Tell her that her patience made a stressful situation much easier, and keep the message under 100 words. Sign it Carol Mendez.

Prompt 10

Correct an Unfair Impression

My supervisor Michael thinks I missed the Tuesday deadline for the Target partnership report, but I actually emailed it at 2:18 p.m. Tuesday and the deadline was 5 p.m. I am worried that my message may have gone to his spam folder. Write a calm email that includes the original send time, says I am attaching the report again, and asks him to let me know if anything else is needed. Do not accuse him of missing the email, and do not sound defensive. Sign it Carol Mendez.