Friday, July 15, 2011

ICT II - Lecture 5

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 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


Parts of an E-mail


Regardless of which mail program the user uses all electronic mail messages have two main components. The first is the header of the message and the second is the body of the message or its contents.

The header consists of a number of fields that are either completed by the user or automatically by the computer. This may consist of the following

• Addressee (To:) - where the e- mail address of the recipient is typed.
• Carbon Copy (Cc:) – optional field; sender can enter the address of those whom he wants to give a copy of the e-mail.
• Blind Carbon Copy (Bcc:) - optional field; sender can enter the username of those whom he wants to give a copy, but whose addresses will not appear in the recipient’s message.
• Title of the Message (Subject:) - optional field; it is common courtesy to give every e – mail message a relevant or descriptive title.
• Sender (From:) – automatically entered by the system into any mail messages that is sent; it’s purpose is to inform the recipient of the sender’s e-mail address.
The body of the message is usually composed using an editor similar to a word processing.


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.