Lecture 10, Third Grading

What Is E-Mail?

E-mail is short for electronic mail. It is digital correspondence.
E-mail gives you the ability to send and receive text messages to/from anyone with an e-mail address. You can attach other files, pictures, or programs to your message.
E-mail is more like a conversation than a formal correspondence. It is a speedy way to get a message to someone. It should be concise and to the point, as well as, well written. Do not forget to check your spelling and grammar and punctuation. E-mail is fast. It is easy. It is inexpensive.

How Does E-Mail Work?

When someone sends you a message, that message is sent to your Internet Service Provider, and stored there. When you log on and check your e-mail, the message is sent from the server to your computer.

What Do I Need To Get Started?

• You need to be able to go online.
• You have to connect your modem to your telephone line.
• You must have an account with an Internet Service Provider.
• You will also need an e-mail software program (usually provided by your ISP or included in the Web browser). • You have to have an e-mail address.

What Is An E-Mail Address?

The Internet Service Provider assigns an e-mail address to you. Usually you can choose your user name.
The first part -of the address (before the @) is a user name. The second part, or domain name, defines the Internet provider where the mail is sent. The two parts are separated by an @ sign (pronounced "at").
The domain name is followed by an extension that indicates the type of organization to which the network belongs.
Here is an example of an address: sirfacun@yahoo.com


How Do I Send E-Mail?

To send mail:
• Start your e-mail program.
• Click the Compose New Message option. Depending on your e-mail program, the name of this button may vary.
• In the To box, type the address of the recipient or click on a name in the address book.
• Type a short description of your e-mail on the Subject line.
• Click the message area and type your message.
• To send the message, click the Send button.

How Can I Be Sure That The Message Was Sent?

If you are not sure if you really sent a message, there is a way to find out.
Look through your icons or menu choices for the Out Box. In some mail programs, when you open that box, you will see some indication that your message has been sent.
In most mail programs the message is marked with a check mark.
There may also be a Sent Message file in your filing cabinet that you can check.
Outlook Express takes messages from the Out Box, sends them, and files a copy in the Sent Message file.

How Do I Receive E-Mail?

To check for new mail:
• Start your e-mail program.
• Check for new messages. When new mail arrives, you will hear a sound, get a message and/or see a little envelope in your system tray.
• Your mail program collects all the messages on your mail server and displays them in your In Box.
• To read a message, double-click it.

How Do I Reply To E-Mail?

To reply to an e-mail message:
• Click on the piece of mail to open it.
• Click on the Reply button. This will automatically copy the original message and address it back to the sender.
• Type your message.
• Click the Send button.

How Do I Forward E-Mail?
To forward e-mail:

• Click the Forward button.
• In the To Box, type the address of that person.
• Click the Send button.

How Do I Attach A File To My E-Mail Message?

To send a file, like a word processing document, spreadsheet, or an image:
• Look in the mail menu for Attach File or Send Attachments.
• You will be prompted for the file name and its location on your hard drive.
• Once you navigate to the file, double-click on it. A copy of it will be sent to your e-mail. When you actually send your e-mail, the attached file will be sent right along with it.

How Do I Receive Attachments?

When someone sends you an e-mail with an attachment, you will generally see it as an icon at the bottom of your e-mail, with a name next to it. In most cases, you can just double-click on the icon.
Do not open an attachment if you do not know who sent it to you. Some attachments can contain viruses that can harm your hard disk.
As an example, my husband recently received an e-mail from an acquaintance. The e-mail included a greeting card titled "Happy99.exe". When he opened it, it was a fireworks animation. Very pretty. It was a virus. This particular virus hid in his computer and sent itself to people on his e-mail list without his knowledge.

Is E-Mail Private?

No. E-mail is never confidential. Without encryption, the possibility exists that e-mail can be accessed and read by others.
Your recipient can forward it to others.
Do not send anything that you would not mind reading about on the front page of your local newspaper.