The best way to get in touch with me quickly is to call my cell phone: (617) 851-3675. If I don't answer, leave voicemail and I will get back to you as soon as I can.
Send me email at thessaly@mit.edu. I generally check my email at least once a day on weekdays, but due to the organized chaos of my schedule, I may not be able to check my email before the late afternoon. If you have a message that you need to get to me before a particular time (ie, asking for an extension on an assignment,) call my cell phone. If the message is too long to relate over the phone, call me and tell me that you have sent me email that I need to look at ASAP.
Very short version: I like hardcopies a lot better.
Short version: The best way to send assignments to me via email is to simply cut and paste the text into the main body of the message as plaintext. I can only promise to be able to read attachments that are Word 8.0, .fm, or .pdf files. I do not promise to be able to preserve any formatting ever at all, including footnotes.
Long version (explanation): I am one of those archaic critters who cut their teeth on UNIX, and I still do not have easy access to a computer running Windows on which I can get my mail. When I get an email with an attachment, I cross my fingers and hope that mh can decipher it (Word 8.0, FrameMaker and PDFs are almost always intelligible. Only FrameMaker and PDF will preserve your formatting.) If mh can spit out something readable, I cut and paste the text into FrameMaker and print it out. This is why your papers with my comments contain bizarre formatting glitches. Most of them are cosmetic, but there's a good chance that if you have used footnotes, they will end up embedded in the main text and I won't know that they're footnotes. If you want to preserve the formatting, send me a pdf or a .fm file. Or hand me a hardcopy.
Rant: I hate Microsoft Word. When I was a technical writer out in the real world, I once had to write an entire book in Word. It was one of the most painful tasks I have ever completed.
I have a mailbox in ESG. To find it, go to the 6th (top) floor of bldg. 24. When you exit the elevator, turn right and walk through a set of double doors. You are now in the ESG lounge. Keep walking straight ahead and go through a second set of double doors. My mailbox is in the bank on the left immediately past the second set of doors.
If you leave something in my mailbox, call or email me to let me know that it is there.
7.013: MWF 3-4
24.202: TR 1-2:30
I am available to meet with students from any of my classes on Thursday evenings from 7-9 PM in ESG (for directions to ESG, see "mailbox" above.) It's not necessary to make an appointment in advance, but students who have told me ahead of time that they will be coming will get priority.
If a different time would be more convenient for you, please call me or send me email and we'll set up a meeting. The only times that I am never available are during the class times listed above and Wednesday evenings after 5.