Logistics of letters of recommendation?

<p>I'm a current college sophomore. I want to graduate next year as a junior, and apply to grad school for the year after (what would be my fourth year of college). </p>

<p>How do letters of rec work? For undergrad, I gave my high school teachers stamped envelopes and they sent them straight to the office of admissions. Is this how it works for grad school as well?</p>

<p>Here's part of my issue- I want to ask a professor I have this semester, but I know it's about a year too early. I guess I could try to keep in contact with her for the next year, but I'd rather have her write a letter while I'm fresh in her mind and just get it out of the way. Is this incompatible with how rec letters work for grad school? In other words, I can't have her write a letter and give it to me and then I'll hold on to it for a year? </p>

<p>My concern is that I need letters from English professors and I'm only going to be taking about three more English classes since I'm almost done with the major. That doesn't give me too many options. I'm confused.</p>

<p>Thanks so much for any help, please tell me if you need clarification on anything!</p>

<p>Whenever I would request a rec from a prof from a couple of years back, I would always give them copies of my papers (with their comments) and tests from their course. They appreciated this and I think that they made it easier to write a targeted rec.</p>