Netiquette
By Mark Crane

The following suggestions are derived from my experience with e-mail discussion lists and distillations of other resources such as  Crump and Carbone’s English Online:

Adhere to the same standards of behavior online that you follow in real life (Virginia Shea, Netiquette).

Respond to antagonistic messages with concrete evidence and calmness, rather than personal attacks.

Don’t forward chain letters or other inappropriate materials to the class list.

Take the time to make your writing visually appealing.

Inform students not to write in ALL CAPITAL LETTERS. This is the on-line equivalent of shouting, and tends to annoy your audience.

Some experts advise letting the class determine the rules of participation collectively, on the list itself.