Communication Studies - Internet Skills - Email

Electronic Mail

One of the most used services on the Internet is electronic mail, more commonly known as e-mail. E-mail may defined as messages sent through a computer network. It consists of two parts: A) the header and B) body or text of the message. The header contains information about who sent the message, where it came from, when it was sent, and what it is about. The body or text of e-mail contains the actual content of the message being sent.

Successfully using e-mail involves the interaction of computers that are able to communicate and software that allows you to create, send, and access e-mail. The e-mail software or client that you use will largely be determined by where and how you access your e-mail. Most universities support several different types of e-mail software. Internet Service Providers (ISPs) also provide e-mail services.

Once you have mastered the mechanics of using e-mail software, the most important part of this communication process is the content of the messages that you send. These two tutorials will get you started on using e-mail effectively:

LifeBoat Lessons: How to Write Effective E-Mail This is a link to another web site, an e-mail training seminar originally designed for the Mercy Medical Center Pathology Department of Canton, OH, will take you through the process of creating right message for the right time.

A Beginner's Guide to Effective E-Mail This is a link to another web site , developed by Kaitlin Duck Sherwood , for tips and guidelines for composing "good" e-mail.

Additional Reading

Albion.com. (1999, November 6). Netiquette Home Page This is a link to another web site. Retrieved September 12, 2003 from the World Wide Web: http://www.albion.com/netiquette/index.html This is a link to another web site
This site offers tips for exercising proper behavior while communicating online.

LaQuey, Tracy. (1996, November 29). Communicating with People This is a link to another web site. Retrieved September 12, 2003 from the World Wide Web: http://www.obs-us.com/obs/english/books/editinc/andr-3.htm#Chapter 3
Chapter 3 of The Internet Companion, by Tracey LaQuey, this resource describes features and using e-mail.