1. Gaggle.net Becky Beck Blalack Middle School

2. Writing an E-Mail Key Ideas and Rules

3. Key Ideas ► Electronic mail (e-mail) can be used to send business letters or social letters. ► E-mail messages are typically direct and shorter than regular letters.

4. E-Mail Rules ► Your message should be short and to the point. ► Never use all capital letters – this is considered shouting online. ► Always spell check your e-mail and proofread for errors. ► Use basic letter-writing format: date, greeting, body of message, closing, and signature. ► Always capitalize the beginning of your sentences, and use appropriate punctuation.

5. Blogging Key Ideas and Rules

6. Blog Synonyms ► Journal ► Diary ► Personal Log ► Web + Log = Blog

7. Key Ideas ► Blogging is a way of recording your private thoughts and ideas. ► Blogging can be private (limited only to viewing by yourself) or shared with others. ► The best blogs are rich in detail and record what the writer saw, heard, thought, felt, did, and so on. ► Blogs are based on personal experiences and opinions.

8. Blogging Rules ► Use a blog to fully express yourself. ► Because blogs can be viewed by others, be careful of the opinions you share on your blog. ► Each blog should cover only one topic, opinion, or experience.

9. Message Boards and Chat Rooms Key Ideas and Etiquette

10. Key Ideas ► Internet chat rooms are ways to stimulate ongoing conversations with a group of friends or like-minded people. ► Message boards do not depend on people being online at the time a message is posted and are available 24 hours a day.

11. Message Board and Chat Room Etiquette ► Share only what you want to. Because it’s easier to share things when not face-to- face, e-boarders sometimes share more than they should! ► Remember where you are; sometimes people develop real relationships and forget they are in cyberspace and not in a real room! Be careful.

12. Etiquette, continued ► Count to ten… there will be negative, pessimistic people in chat rooms just as there are in real life. Try not to jump to conclusions. Maybe the person is just having a bad day. ► Get the most out of it. If you need help, ask. Everyone was new to chat rooms and e-boards at one time. ► Use emoticons – those little pictures made with type characters – to show how you feel.