OverviewThe purpose of this exercise is to give you insight into the details of how electronic mail works. It's best done in small groups, but it can also be done by individuals.The exercise consists of getting information to answer questions about certain technical aspects of email, and presenting that both to the class and to the instructor.
Research Topics and QuestionsThese are the topics to investigate. Each group or individual will be assigned one topic consisting of a number of questions.
- Email Protocols
- SMTP:
- What does it mean?
- What is used for?
- What is its place in the OSI model?
- How does it work?
- POP:
- What does it mean?
- What is used for?
- What is its place in the OSI model?
- How does it work?
- IMAP:
- What does it mean?
- What is used for?
- What is its place in the OSI model?
- How does it work?
- Client and Server Roles in Email
- What is the central role of an email server?
- What is the central role of an email client?
- What are the roles that can be played either by an email server or client?
- What are examples of server-centered email systems?
- What are examples of client-centered email systems?
- MIME protocol
- What does MIME mean?
- What several examples of how the MIME protocol is used?
- How is MIME used in email?
- Email Attachments
- What is an email attachment?
- What are the advantages and disadvantages of using attachments
- How are attachments displayed by email clients of different types (server-based vs. client-based, text vs. GUI interface).
Getting CreditYou will get credit for this exercise based on a presentation to the class and to the instructor. The presentation will involve both Web pages and an in-class (live!) explanation.Decorative aspects of the Web pages will not be part of the grade for this assignment (this is not an assignment for a Web page design class), so focus on clarity and simplicity. Likewise, oratorical skill will not be graded (this is not intended for a speech communication class), so concentrate on explaining clearly and succinctly. The major factor in your grade will be the quality of information you bring to the class, and the clarity with which you present it aloud and on the Web.
- Each individual will do research to answer at least one of the questions listed above.
- Based on rough answers to the questions, each individual will create a Web page displaying the answer and linking to information sources on the Web. The page may be created using any tool the individual wishes to use,including (but not limited to) direct HTML, Netscape Composer, MS Word save-as-HTML, or Dreamweaver.
- Each individual will FTP his or her Web page to his or her individual WCC Web site.
- One individual from each group will prepare a Web page introducing and defining the topic, and linking all the pages for that group together.
- On the assigned day, each group will explain the topic to the class, presenting the answers by using the Web pages while explaining aloud.
Audience: This is for people who need to learn more
about email clients and servers, protocols, and attachments..
Objectives: When you successfully complete this lesson,
you will be able to...
About this document...
Module NA19r: This document is part
of a modular instruction series in computer technology. For more information,
see the overview or the list of modules in this series,
NA:Network Applications. This document has been used
in the following classes:INP 160.