Within a week, I received two school-project-prompted requests for information about me and my books. This is not unusual. English teachers are always assigning book reports, and I am pleased to know that mine are some of the books students are reading and reporting on. After all, I write for young people, so it's good to know I'm reaching my audience.

As a former teacher -- who also assigned students book reports -- I am more than happy to help out with students' research. And there, dear readers, is what brings me to write this blog -- RESEARCH. I have no quibble with being a research resource, but I do take offense at students who expect me to write their reports for them.

That was the situation with the last two requests for information.

The first one wasn't even signed, but I knew it was from a student, because the return address was a Catholic school in Missouri. There was no salutation either. No easing into the request with "I really enjoyed your book" or "I couldn't put the book down" or "I can hardly wait to read other books you've written". There were none of the niceties that one expects before being hit up for help. All the email said was -- "I need you to give me the full plot outline for the book, Cheat." (The student used another term for plot outline, but I can't recall what it was.)

And that was it.

For the longest time I was merely flabbergasted. Not only was this email wanting in format, it was sorely lacking in common courtesy. Did the student's teacher not prep the class on proper research techniques, how to approach someone for information, and the types of questions that are appropriate? And when did please and thank you go out the window?

Then I got angry. The email was rude and disrespectful. The request was tantamount to plugging in a search chain on Google. Furthermore, the student wasn't asking me for information, she was basically asking me to do her project for her. What she was asking of me, she could do herself.

I was tempted to write back and give her a piece of my mind (not the part that she'd asked for either!), but I didn't. Instead, I heard my mother's voice in my head, saying, "Don't dignify the insult with a response," and I deleted the email without replying. I thought about contacting the school, but I didn't do that either. Often, things that I perceive as obvious breaches of conduct aren't seen that way by others, so I decided to give my blood pressure a rest and move on.

The second email request came from a mother on behalf of her son. So the warning flashers in my brain went on immediately. Why wasn't the boy emailing me himself? Was his mother doing his entire report for him? Again, there was no salutation. Whatever happened to "Dear Kristin Butcher,"? The body of the email was short. I can't recall the exact wording, but it went like this -- "My son is doing a report on The Trouble with Liberty. Could you explain where the idea came from for this book?" Once again, there was no please or thank you and no signature. If parents don't have manners, it's no wonder their kids don't.

This time I replied -- sort of. I knew a very detailed response to that question existed on the Internet, so instead of seaching online for the information first, the woman had obviously come directly to me. Having pity on her son -- because he may not have known what his mother was doing -- I emailed back a link with a brief reply informing the woman that she could find the information on the linked site. She didn't sign her email, so neither did I.

In fairness, I must say that the majority of requests I get for information are cordial, respectful, and courteous. If I am asked for information that is available on the Net I provide the link, but because I don't put a lot of personal information out there (eg. -- family and personal data), I do give out relevant information to students who ask politely. Often I get thank-you's too.

So, what's the point of this rant? In this Age of Technology, personal interaction is becoming less common, and social skills are taking a kicking. Parents and teachers, if you are not already doing so, please give kids the proper tools to help them move forward successfully. They will actually have to deal with real people from time to  time.  Teach them how to problem solve, to show initiative, to act respectfully, to consider the rights and feelings of others, and above all, to employ good manners. These things will take them a long way.