How to Approach a Professor for Help

Everyone needs a little help now and then. Maybe you don't understand the work or are having a hard time researching a paper. Or maybe you or someone close to you is suffering health problems that are making it hard for you to concentrate on your work. Some students silently plod on and only disclose their difficulties at the end of the semester when they scramble to raise their grades. Unfortunately a last minute effort doesn't always pay off. Letting professors know of your plight often is a good idea as sometimes they can offer assistance. Few students make it through college and graduate school without having to seek some assistance from a professor. How do you ask for help?