E-mail Technical
Requirements
As students of MIT 500, you must be proficient users
of electronic mail and be responsible for adhering to all the following
criteria. If you are unable to fulfill these requirements, you perhaps need to take a
basic technology course. See me so that we can discuss your situation.
Access | Subject Lines | Signatures | Messages | Attachments |List | Netiquette
Access
and Experiences
- You must be able to check the class Web site and your
e-mail at least every other day, preferably daily, for updated information, including
additions and changes.
- You must have sufficient e-mail and Web access to do
all the class assignments and discussions. You must find alternative resources when
necessary. You also can use the open computer labs on campus, including the computer lab
in Randall Library and Watson School of Education.
- Free Web-based e-mail is helpful as a back up
account. You can access these accounts anyplace you can access the Web, including a
friend's computer, or a library computer. The following are a few of the choices available
on the Web.
- You must be able to perform the following e-mail
functions:
- Check mail
- Save copies of incoming mail for your records
- Send mail
- Save a copy of outgoing mail for your record
- Set an automatic signature (or remember to include a
signature at the end of each message)
- Follow subject line setting requirements and
signature requirements that the instructor assigned
- Send file attachments in the required format
- Receive, read, and save attachments (usually word,
wordperfect, and html)
- Print e-mail messages
- Note for AOL users: Some students have had difficulty
using AOL's e-mail for some class activities. You can use free web-based e-mail or e-mail
within Netscape Communicator (free) as an alternative.
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Subject
Lines
- All mail to the instructor or to the class must
include the following items:
- An appropriate descriptive short topic
- Your last name followed by the initial cap of your
first name (for example, MoallemM)
- Course number no space (for example mit500)
- Additional information should come last (for example,
resubmission)
- For example, Mahnaz Moallem's welcome message for
MIT500 would have the following subject line:
Welcome
MoallemM mit500
- Notice the spacing of the subject line, necessary for
e-mail filters to file your submissions correctly so that I can receive the messages, and
so that you can receive credit.
- Most of the assignments or class activities will have
designated subject headings to use. Adhere to these subject headings exactly to
ensure credit.
- For other e-mail, you determine the topic part of the
subject heading, but still include the last name, initial cap, and course info
format at the end.
- When you determine your own subject line, be sure it
is short but accurately indicates the topics. For example, when you are sending an email
to the instructor for help on a project, instead of writing "help", write
"project help" in your subject heading.
Signature
Requirement
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- In the body of e-mail messages, do not attempt to
double space. Single space all messages, and add an extra space between lines to
distinguish paragraphs.
- Keep paragraphs short to improve readability.
- If you are copying from a word processor, you
will lose some or all of your formatting such as automatic page numbers and centering.
Therefore, review the e-mail message body and make appropriate adjustments before you send
it.
- Proofread the message before you send it to be sure
it is readable.
- Some e-mail is informal and requires no special
features in the message body. However, sometimes an e-mail message is substituting for a
"formal" paper, in which case use the attachment feature.
- Unless otherwise specified, do not use
any fancy format features such as bold or italic or colors in your e-mail messages.
If your e-mail is capable of formatting, turn such features off because not all your
readers will be able to read them.
- Instead, to designate italics or underlining
when necessary in "formal" writing, use the _underscore_ mark or *asterisks*
before and after.
- Some people use asterisks or quotation marks to
add emphasis and substitute for *bold* type.
- For additional information, see Submission
Formats.
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- Send file attachments only when you have
arranged with me (the instructor) to do so or when you are required to do so.
- Your e-mail system must
permit the sending and receiving of attached files saved in Word or Rich Text Format and
also html files.
- All files that you submit as
attachments must be saved in Word or Rich Text Format; and unless otherwise
indicated, they must use lowercase (not all caps) 8+period+3 DOS naming conventions
(for example, file4ps.doc).
- All Web pages and html submissions
must use lowercase (not all caps) 8+period+3 DOS naming conventions and htm extensions
(for example, file4ps.htm).
- For additional information, see Submission Formats.
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- Read about E-mail Discussion Lists with
special attention to guidelines for participating and netiquette conventions.
- Join the class listserv as soon as I announce
the list name.
- For additional information, see Submission Formats.
- Review the Netiquette tips
at Resources for Online
Students at TCC.
- As responsible members of an educational community,
students must conduct themselves at all times courteously and in accordance with college
policy and the laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia and the United States both face to
face and on line.
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