Email Basics


	Email Basics

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Handling your email

	Read your email and attend to it right away.
	Read your email, print it, and reply to it (if you need to).
	Save important messages and delete the rest.
	If you let your email pile up, it can become too overwhelming.

Other Useful Advice

	Keep your messages short and to the point; everyone will appreciate it.
	Don't post anything you wouldn't say to a person's face.
	Don't ridicule any of your classmates' ideas.
	If something that was posted offended you, wait until you "cool off" before you respond. Perhaps you misread the tone. Strive to give intelligent responses rather than emotional ones.

How to email assignments/messages

	Always put your name and the title of the assignment in the body of the message!
	On the subject line, make sure to put an accurate description of the assignment.
	Make sure you type your instructor's (full) email address correctly.
	Reread your message before you send it; you cannot retrieve it again to make corrections.
	"Attach" your assignments to your email message (see Understanding Attachments below).

Setting the mail preferences in Netscape or Internet Explorer

Are you clicking on an email address while on the web, but you cannot send email? Before you can send a message from your browser (not a web-based email program), you must set the preferences under options (in Netscape or Internet Explorer), specifying your internet service provider settings and your email address. Note: This is not necessary when sending mail within your email service/program.

Understanding file attachments

Most email programs do not allow the user to format text (specify font styles or font sizes, bold or underscored text, double-spacing, graphics, etc.); they only allow you to type plain text. Your homework assignments may need to be double-spaced, spell-checked, etc. For that reason, your instructors may ask you to "attach" your word processing files to your email message. To learn how to attach a file from within your email program, please refer to your manual or online help. Most programs use a paper clip icon to indicate attachments. Click on the paper clip and select the file to attach.

Note: You may want to email the file to yourself to make sure that it was sent. To do that, include your email address in the "cc:" field. This way the message with the file will be sent to you as well.

Finally, when sending attachments, please also remember the following:

	Please use caution when naming your files! If your name is Jennifer, and you are sending your first essay, consider labeling your file something like Jen_essay1.doc so that it is easily identifiable.
	Always include your name inside your attachment/document. It helps your instructors to know who you are when opening your files from their attachments directory.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION!

In order for your instructors to be able to "read" your assignments (open your word processing files), you must attach them to your email messages using a standard format. In most cases, saving your file in Microsoft Word, Microsoft Works, Word Perfect, or in RTF format will work.

Check with your instructor to make sure you know what format he/she expects.

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