Personal Courtesy

• Be polite.

• Do not write anything you would be embarrassed to have printed in the newspaper. Computer messages are not private.

• Keep in mind that any message you write can and may be forwarded to others. Again, be careful what you write.

• Do not forward personal notes or messages to others or a group unless you are certain the content is appropriate and you have asked the author.

• Respond to the whole group, through the conference, only when appropriate. Use email to send a private message to your instructor.

• Be aware how your words may affect others. Since you do not have body language cues, you must be more careful.

• When using quoted material or someone else's idea, include the citation just as you would in a hard-copy version.

• Keep messages within a reasonable length. Unless otherwise specified, it is best to limit messages to one screen of text. Reading longer text online can be awkward.

• Reread your message before sending it; edit if necessary.

Computer Courtesy