Personally, I think adding too many details harms your case --it makes you sound like someone who habitually searches for excuses rather than someone who experienced a valid, one-time emergency. Therefore, I would initially go with the simplest reasoning:
This is XXXX from your Tue/Thu mornings Speech class. I came down with the flu last week and was too sick to attend class the day of the midterm. While I understand that you do not generally allow makeups, I hope you will make an exception due to the medical nature of my absence.
If the request was denied, I would follow up with:
Is there any possibility I can do additional make up work to compensate for missing the exam? I desperately need to get an A in all my classes this semester. I am hoping to transfer to XXXX University to study Mathematics, and they have a very strict GPA requirement in their acceptance process.
You want to stick as closely as possible to your strongest reasons.
manpreet
Best Answer
2 years ago
I am writing an email to my professor in hopes that I can make up an exam that I missed.
I missed the exam under fairly extreme circumstances, catching the flu and not being aware it was on that day, so I feel like I have a case to make. But the syllabus states that no make up exams are allowed, which makes me feel like adding personal pleas is my only hope. But I am also afraid that it might hurt my case more than help it.
This is my draft, as a starting point: