Email
Goal: to increase the efficiency and accuracy of email correspondence
Time: 30 minutes
Instructions: Using a search
engine, find three netiquette guides on the Internet that focus on using
email. Study these guides and write a list of rules for using email to communicate
with students and faculty members. Be sure to list the sources you consulted.
We will rely on
email for communication that is private, since email is a point to point system
and everything you write can only be read by one person. It is crucial to your
grade that you learn how to navigate your email, including how to post files.
It is also crucial to your grade to follow rules of netiquette.
Account Information
You MUST have an
ASURITE account to log on to campus computers. (If you are not signed up for
an ASURITE account please click
here and follow the instructions to sign up for one.) I require that you
use your ASU
email account for this course because:
- your emails
will not get stuck in ASU spam filters
- you can access
ASU email from anywhere
- you can manage
your documents and AFS space more efficiently
- your email address
will be in the global address system so that anyone at ASU can reach you easily
- web email accounts
(Yahoo, Hotmail, etc.) often have confusing (or embarrasing) addresses
- web email accounts
often become full so that you can no longer send or receive messages
- using your ASU email account creates an instant sense of credibility and persuasiveness.
Email Guidelines
Although emails
you exchange with family and friends may be very casual and sometimes sloppy,
email in an academic or professional setting reflects upon your intellect and
ability. Therefore, follow these guidelines.
- Email is not
simultaneous. Allow at least 48 hours for an answer to your message, or even
more on weekends or holidays. If it is an emergency, use the telephone. Avoid
overloading others with a barrage of messages.
- Email lacks
cues that are available in face to face communication. Therefore, always begin
each email with a greeting and close each email with a signature. In most
email accounts you can create a signature file.
- Be very careful
to phrase your email with a neutral tone so that it does not sound angry or
rude. It is very easy for email to be misinterpreted
- Get to the point
quickly and make individual questions or comments clear. Your emails should
never be longer than a screen page. If you have several questions or comments,
use a list.
- Always include
a descriptive subject line with enough information to indicate what your email
is about. Some people get over 100 emails a day, and they use the subject
lines to determine what they must read immediately.
- Always use spellcheck,
even when you are sending a quick note. Even though email readers are more
relaxed, mistakes will still affect the validity and power of your message.
Don't forget to proofread your subject line.
- Never use all
caps. It means you are shouting.