There are hundreds of Internet sites that offer free accounts. Some of the most popular are: Yahoo! Hotmail Excite Juno We’ll use Yahoo! for this lesson

Click Here to create an account

Click on where it says “Sign me up”

Fill out available info needed. Then submit form.

Make sure to really pay attention to the password you choose--you’ll need it later. Mr. Martin can’t help you if you forget this one. Pay attention to the case you use in your password--it matters.

You now have your own personal address.

One of the big advantages of having and Internet account is that your can access your mail from any computer with Internet access.

Enter your Yahoo! Id Enter your password

In case you didn’t know… this is your e- mail address This is the advertising that allows this service to be “free”.

Check mail is used if you think you have any new mail since you signed in. Compose is used if you want to send a message. Folders is used to sort out your mail into different categories. Addresses is your address book-- very handy if you’re not good at remembering people’s addresses.

You’ll notice that the subject of your is a hyperlink. Click to read the message.

When you read a message you get some new buttons.

Reply: Send a message back to the person who wrote you--their address will already be filled in. Reply all: If this message was sent to several people--Reply all will send a message to everyone. Forward: If you think this message will interest someone else you can forward it to them---you’ll need to know their address. Delete: Delete this message.

Here’s where you type your message. Yahoo! Mail has recently added the formatting features you see above: Font, Font size, Bold, Italics, Underline, Background color, Font Color, Alignment, Bullets and Numbering. You can make your e- mail look quite nice if you care to.

When composing a new message, you’ll get a screen that looks like this: To: type in the e- mail address of where this mail is going to. Subject: type a short description of the content of this message. CC: and BCC: type the addresses of other people who will get this message too.

Save Draft: If you can’t finish the now--save draft and you can finish and send it later. Spell Check: It’s always a good idea to have your spelling cheked before you send your mail. Send: Click this button and your mail will be sent immediately. The letter will appear in the recipient’s mailbox in just a few seconds--although they may not check their mail for a while.

BTW: If you want to bring back a draft and finish it later---click folders---and go to your draft folder.