Email Research Exercise

Research Technique

• Find a person near you with whom you can work.
• Each pair of people will be assigned a topic to explain, using your own words.
• Research the topic, using the instructional module on email (NA10c), your email program's Help system, and experimenting directly with the email program. Make rough notes about what you find.
• During the last part of the lab session, each pair will briefly explain what they have found using their own words. If they could not find explanations to something required, the instructor will  explain.
• During the coming week, each individual will write a short explanation (half-page up to one page) of the topic. You may communicate with your partner about any questions you have, (in person or by email) and share what you have written with each other. Be sure to note areas you feel need further explanation, so these can be covered by the instructor.
• Each individual email your explanation to the instructor by the due date in your class schedule. (They are not to be turned in on paper!) The instructor will post the responses to each question at a Web site linked from this one. Instructor email address(es) and linked sites:
• Larry Krieg: krieg@wccnet.edu

Reports are linked here.

Research Topics

1. Using your own words, explain the advantages of email over phone, fax, and post.
2. Using your own words, explain the disadvantages and limitations of email.
3. Using your own words, explain the lack of privacy in email, and what to do about it.
4. Using your own words, explain the problem of verifying identity, and what to do about it.
5. Using your own words, explain the problem of unwanted email, and what to do about it.
6. Using your own words, explain methods for accessing email, including programs on the server and on the desktop; on-line and off-line.
7. Using your own words, explain the usual process of sending an email message.
8. Using your own words, explain the parts of an email address.
9. Using your own words, explain the commonly available fields: To, CC, BC, and Subject.
10. Using your own words, explain popular methods for adding expressiveness: emoticons and common abbreviations.
11. Using your own words, explain the purpose of "signature" files automatically or optionally appended to email, and how to prepare them.
12. Using your own words, explain the options commonly available on receiving email: selecting, reading, saving in categories, replying, deleting.
13. Using your own words, explain options available on replying to mail: re-sending the original message (and the convention of "quoting" the original with > signs); to whom should one reply, and the need for care.