Read the case below and answer the questions that follow.

Ethan will be graduating college in the spring and is actively looking for jobs. A new job has just posted in Chicago, his ideal location, but it has research responsibilities and Ethan wants to make sure his application fully addresses that job requirement.

When Ethan took a communication class, his team completed a recommendation project on simple ways professors at their university can increase student motivation in online classes. A significant portion of the report$$the section Ethan was primarily responsible for$$required primary and secondary research. Ethan read pedagogical $($the method and practice of teaching$)$ articles on best practices for teaching online, how students learn best, and students$$ assessments of what kind of online activities work for them. Ethan also researched the abilities of the learning management system used by the university to determine what kinds of activities were possible, going so far as to label them on a continuum from easy$-$to$-$implement to difficult$-$to$-$implement. Finally, Ethan interviewed several of his professors about how the concerns they have about teaching effectively online, the time involved in reviewing and commenting on student work, and what kinds of thinking instructors want to see their students do$.$

The course instructor, Professor O$$Connell$,$ was so impressed with his team$$s project that she implemented the suggestions the following fall and emailed the team over winter break to tell them how pleased she was with the results.

Ethan decides to ask Professor O$$Connell if she would be willing to provide him with a recommendation.

The direct$-$request pattern has a general organizational pattern of: $(1)$ Consider asking immediately for the information or service you want, $(2)$ Give your audience all the information they will need to act on your request, $(3)$ Ask for the action you want. Which of the following would be most effective for the second component of Ethan$$s message?

Multiple Choice

Request for a Recommendation

Might You Have Time to Write a Recommendation for Me$?$

Status Report for Former Student, Ethan

A Favor