1. Email Etiquette for Students
Guidelines for online communication with your teachers..

2. Why is Email Etiquette Important?
is a commonly used form of acceptable communication in today’s society
With limited time and large class sizes, it becomes harder to discuss questions or problems with teachers
Not all questions come to mind during class…not all assignments are completed during class…
Explanation: has become very prevalent in most people’s lives and many use it to cheaply and quickly communicate with friends, family, and co-workers. Although this technology is available to everyone, and most people are accustomed to using , people still are not very savvy when it comes to understanding how functions in a relationship both personally and professionally.
How we interpret While most people are aware that the computer is not a person and that s do not have a character of their own, many people still react to them as though they do. Readers assign meaning to everything that people write and tend to perceive it as concrete because it is in black and white (or whatever color you may choose). This response, coupled with a lack of nonverbal cues, poses a serious challenge for writers. It is easy for s to be misinterpreted because people write as though they are having a conversation; however, the receiver does not read that way.

3. Elements of Email Etiquette
Basics
Tone
Attachments
Complaints
Good topics for
Bad topics for
This slide provides an overview of the entire workshop.

4. The Basics
When mailing a teacher, ALWAYS include your full name, class period or division
Include your class and what the is specifically regarding in the subject
Example
Homer Simpson
English 10P
Period 3
Subject: English 10P: Donut Research Paper

5. The Basics
Think twice…once you hit Send, anyone might be able to read your message…
Try to keep the brief (one screen length)
Because your teachers may not check their after school hours, you may not receive an immediate response. Relax, you have a record of written communication and your teachers will be able to check in with you during class or lunch.
Check for spelling, punctuation and grammar errors before clicking Send
Length: A number of experts have a wide range of opinions on how lengthy an should be. Some say that it does not matter and others say that an should be as long as the text box without scrolling. Both perspectives appear to be correct. In general s should be short and to the point.
Time: It is considered rude not to respond to an as soon as possible. Writers should strive to respond to s as quickly as they would a phone message, which tends to be immediately. If the requires a longer message than the writer is able to provide at that moment, it is considered proper etiquette to let the sender know that the message was received and that the writer is planning to respond as soon as time permits.
Grammar and Punctuation: For the professional work world it is imperative that writers use capitalization, grammar, and other traditional ways of writing to include neutral fonts.

6. Tone Write in a positive tone
“When I complete the assignment…” versus “If I complete the assignment…”
Remain respectful of yourself, the teacher, and the assignment.
Calling the assignment “stupid” or the teacher “stupid” paints a negative portrayal of your attitude toward learning
Use smiles , winks ;-) and other graphical symbols only when appropriate
Explanation: The main point of this slide is to help participates understand the importance of tone. These are ways to create a document that sounds friendly and “nonverbally” open. While it is important to follow rules of punctuation and grammar in , using contractions can create a conversational style that isn’t intimidating.

7. Attachments
When you are sending attachments, include in the the filename, the file format, and the version of the program
Attached: “Project3Proposal.doc” This file is in Microsoft Word 2007.
Always send it to yourself as well (cc’d, or include your address in the recipient list) in case your message does not go through to your teacher’s …
CRITICAL STEP!!! Double-check with your teacher the following day to be sure your message was received and that the attachment could be opened!!
Explanation: Attachments can sometimes cause more headaches than help, and it can be difficult for the recipient(s) to figure out why they are unable to download an attachment. One way to help is to provide all of the important information about the file so that the recipient can trouble shoot to something more serious if there is a problem other than incompatibility.
Also, due to viruses that spread via attachments, it’s important that the recipient know that the sender meant for an attachment to be included with the message, and what kind of attachment it is, since opening unknown attachments could cause serious damage to the recipient’s system and spread viruses further. Always check any attachments you are going to send for viruses, and never open unknown attachments!

8. Concerns…
You should briefly state the history of the problem to provide context for the problem (i.e. “I had to leave early for my baseball game so I was not in class when you discussed the assignment.”)
Explain the attempts you made to resolve the problem (i.e. “I went online to get the assignment, but I still don’t understand exactly what is meant by ‘cite your evidence in MLA format’.”)
Explanation: When writing a complaint via the writer should provide a very clear picture for the recipient mainly because there is a tremendous amount of room for misinterpretation or misunderstanding. It is important that the writer provide a context and state clearly what the problem is and how he or she would like to see the problem resolved.

9. Explain why it is critical for the problem to be resolved (i. e
Explain why it is critical for the problem to be resolved (i.e. “I want to turn in a correct assignment so that I am not marked down.”)
Offer suggestions or ways you think it can be resolved or how you are willing to help in the matter (i.e. “I am attaching the assignment as it is, but I was wondering if I could stay in during lunch to get some help from you and if I could resubmit the assignment correctly.”)

10. Good Topics for Email You should email your teacher if:
You have an easy question that can be answered in a paragraph or less
You have an assignment that you are allowed to submit via
You want to set up a meeting with your teacher
If you have a simple question that is easier to to your teacher than talk directly during his/her office hours, then go right ahead and send the . Keep in mind that asking long questions can be irritating to answer, especially if you were not clear and the reader does not understand exactly what you are asking. If you want to discuss a complicated matter, it’s best to speak to your teacher outside of .

11. Bad Topics for
There are some guidelines that it’s best to follow, such as:
Don’t try to turn in an assignment through if your teacher has specified against it
If you have to get an extension for an assignment, do it in person
Don’t bring up any topic that will require continuous conversation back and forth via
Check your frustration level when composing your …there is a large risk for misunderstanding, so it’s best to talk face-to-face
If you have a simple question that is easier to to your teacher than talk directly during his/her office hours, then go right ahead and send the . Keep in mind that asking long questions can be irritating to answer, especially if you were not clear and the reader does not understand exactly what you are asking. If you want to discuss a complicated matter, it’s best to speak to your teacher outside of .

12. Powerpoint adapted from the original
Original powerpoint location:
Online Writing Lab
Purdue’s Writing Lab offers a variety of professional writing services. Purdue students can schedule one-on-one tutoring sessions to work with specially trained tutors for any of their professional writing concerns. The Lab staff can also be reached via the Grammar Hotline or through to answer brief questions.
It is also a good idea to check out the Writing Lab web site, which offers a variety of online handouts and workshops related to audience, tone, and organization.
Reminder: The tutors at the Writing Lab are not able to help with technical problems students have with their preferences and accounts. They should contact their service provider for further assistance.

13. The End