Drafting Emails with Claude

Drafting Emails with Claude

Write clear, professional, and confident emails — fast. Claude helps you compose and refine messages using natural prompts and built-in editing tools.

Compose Smarter with Claude

Steps

  1. Ask Claude to draft an email in an artifact (e.g., "Write a professional thank-you email to my professor about career advice. Put it in an artifact.")

    • Important: Add "put it in an artifact" or "create this as an artifact" to your prompt to ensure the email opens in a separate panel. Otherwise, shorter emails may appear inline in the chat.

  2. Your email appears in the Artifact panel — the draft displays in a separate, editable panel on the right side of the screen with easy copy/paste functionality.

  3. Refine your draft with follow-up prompts like:

    • "Make this more formal."

    • "Shorten to 120 words."

    • "Add a line about scheduling a meetin.g"

    • "Make the tone friendlier."

  4. Copy and send — Click the copy icon in the Artifact panel, then paste into your email client.


💬 Example prompts:

Draft a professional thank-you email to [insert recruiter, alumnus, or interviewer's name] after [insert event, e.g., an informational interview or career fair conversation].

Include:

  • A sentence expressing gratitude for their time or advice

  • One specific insight or topic discussed

  • A short closing line about staying in touch or applying what you learned

Keep the tone warm, professional, and under 120 words. Put it in an artifact.

Write a polite and professional email to [insert professor's name] about [insert reason, e.g., requesting an extension on an assignment or clarification on course material].

Include:

  • A clear subject line (e.g., 'Follow-Up on MGT 248 Assignment')

  • A respectful greeting

  • A concise explanation of the situation

  • A closing that expresses appreciation (e.g., 'Thank you for your understanding.')

Keep the message under 150 words and use an academic, courteous tone. Put it in an artifact.

Compose an email to [insert group member names or 'my project team'] summarizing our [insert project name or presentation topic] next steps.

Include:

  • A summary of what was completed

  • Assigned tasks or roles for each member

  • Our next meeting time or deadline

  • A short, positive closing

Keep the tone collaborative and friendly, around 100–150 words. Put it in an artifact.

Write a concise follow-up email to [insert recruiter's name or company] after submitting my application for the [insert internship title] position.

Include:

  • A thank-you for reviewing my application

  • 1–2 sentences connecting my coursework or skills to the role

  • A polite closing showing continued interest

Keep the tone professional, brief, and confident (around 120 words). Put it in an artifact.

Screenshot of Claude AI interface showing a user requesting a professional thank you email to Dr Edward after a career fair. The left panel displays the prompt and Claude's response summary while the right panel shows the completed email draft in an artifact with subject line and formatted message content expressing gratitude and mentioning their shared interest in the Yankees.
Ask Claude to compose polished, professional emails — then review and refine the content in Artifacts before sending.

Pro Tips

✅ Be specific about audience and purpose ("professor," "recruiter," "teammate") for better results.

✏️ Personalize the draft — Claude provides strong structure, but add your own details and voice.

💡 Use iterative prompts — After Claude drafts, say "make it more concise" or "add enthusiasm" to refine.

🔒 Always review before sending — Claude doesn't know your specific schedule, attachments, or recipient details.

📋 Save frequently used emails — Keep Claude's drafts in a document for templates you use often.

Keep These in Mind

  • 📝 Claude drafts, you decide: Claude creates the structure and language, but you're responsible for reviewing accuracy, tone, and context before sending.

  • 🚫 Avoid sensitive data: Never include confidential information, FERPA-protected student details, or personal identifiers when using Claude.

  • 💬 Stay authentic: Claude helps with structure and clarity — but always personalize your message so it reflects your own voice.

  • 📧 No direct email integration: Unlike some AI tools, Claude doesn't integrate directly with Gmail or Outlook. You'll copy and paste the final draft into your email platform.


Support

Need help? ITS Help Desk: 315-443-2677 • help@syr.edu