Email Basics

Class Outline

• Part 1 - Introduction Part 3 – Managing Your

– Explaining email Messages
– Parts of an email address – Deleting messages
– Types of email services – The “Trash” folder
– Acquiring an email account – Email security
– Signing out

• Part 2 – Sending and

Receiving Email
– Signing in
– Composing and sending
– Checking mail
– Replying and Forwarding

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 Part 1: Introduction

What is Email and Why is it Popular?

• An electronic message sent from one computer to

another.

• Email saves money and time compared to regular

mail.

• An email message takes seconds to reach

destination.

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 Part 1: Introduction

How does Email Work?

 Email travels via the Internet from

one computer to another.
 Computers known as mail
servers direct outgoing mail and
store incoming the mail.
 Once email reaches your mail
server, it waits in an electronic
mail box, the "Inbox” for you to
collect it.

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Part 1: Introduction

Things You Can Do with Email

• Compose and Send: write an email and send it to others.

• Reply: reply to an email that you received.

• Forward: pass on an email that you received to others.

• Attachment: You can send files with your email such as:
pictures, music, software and documents

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Part 1: Introduction

An email address consists of 3 parts:

[email protected]

Unique User Name Domain Name

chosen by the email “At” company/organization
account owner sign providing the email service

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 Part 1: Introduction

Two Ways to Get Email

1. Provided by your Internet Service Provider

Monthly fee for internet connection often includes email service.
• Aliant - [email protected]
• Eastlink - …@eastlink.ca

2. Free Web-Based Service Providers

Advertising on the site pays for the service.
• Gmail - …@gmail.com
• Hotmail - …@hotmail.com

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Part 1: Introduction

Two Ways People Check Email

1. Web-Based Email
• Login to a web site
• Messages stay on the mail server
• Can be accessed from any computer with internet connection

2. Using Email Software

• Open and login to your email software application (e.g. Outlook)
• The application retrieves your messages from the mail server and
saves them to your computer’s hard drive

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Part 1: Introduction

How to Sign Up for a Gmail Email Account

1. Go to www.gmail.com

2. Click on “Sign Up for Gmail”

3. Fill in the
Registration Form

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Part 1: Introduction

Should I provide accurate

person information or is it OK
to lie?

Unique login name

Password registration
boxes and password
strength

Description of Google’s Web

History

Security question

Answer to the
security question

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Part 1: Introduction

Email address for

authenticating account

Location of person
creating an account

Word verification

Terms of Service policy and

links to other user policies

Button for creating

Gmail account

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Part 1: Introduction

Getting Registration Help

1. Gmail provides a registration help section. Click

on “Help” at the bottom of the registration page.
2. Book a computer at the library and ask the
Information Desk staff for assistance.

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Part 2: Sending and Receiving Email

Three Exercises

1. Signing in (“Logging In”) to Gmail

2. Sending a message to your class partner

3. Reading new messages in your “Inbox”

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Part 2: Sending and Receiving Email

Exercise 1: Signing In

1. Go to www.gmail.com
2. Type in your username
and password
3. Click on the ‘sign in’
button

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Part 2: Sending and Receiving Email

MAIN
MENU
INBOX

CONTACT
LIST

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Part 2: Sending and Receiving Email

Exercise 2: Sending an Email

To: Type full email
address of your class
partner

Subject: Type a
title for your message

Message: Type
your message in this
box

Send: Used
to send emails

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Part 2: Sending and Receiving Email

Confirmation message:
Confirmation message and
link to sent message

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Part 2: Sending and Receiving Email

Checking for New Email Messages

The number of new

messages in your
account appears beside
Main Menu the Inbox link.

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Part 2: Sending and Receiving Email

The Inbox

Messages Un-read message

already opened in bold font

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Part 2: Sending and Receiving Email

Your Messages

Sender Title Date

Double click on a
subject to read a
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message
Part 2: Sending and Receiving Email

Reading a Message (Without header information)

Show
details link

Sender’s
name and
email
address

Message

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Part 2: Sending and Receiving Email

Reading a Message (With header information)

Sender’s
name and
email
address

Receiver’s
email
address

Date sent

Message

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Part 3: Managing your Messages

Replying to a Message

“Replying” to a message sends it back to the person who

sent it to you.

Exercise:
• View the message from your partner
• Click on the “Reply Button”
• Type in a Reply
• Click on Send

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Part 3: Managing your Messages

Forwarding a Message

By “forwarding” you can pass a message on to other friends.

Exercise:
• View the message from your partner
• Click on the “Forward” button
• Type an address into the “To” box
• Click on “Send”

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Part 3: Managing your Messages

Three Ways to Delete Messages

1. Click on the delete button while viewing a message

OR
2. Click on the small arrow next to ‘Reply’ and select ‘Delete Message’
OR
3. From the “Inbox”
1. Click on the check box beside a message you want to delete
2. Click on the delete button

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Part 3: Managing your Messages

The Trash Folder

• Deleted messages go to the “Trash” folder.
• If you delete something by accident, you can retrieve it from
“Trash”.
• If you delete a message in “Trash”, it is gone for good.
• You can delete everything in the “Trash” folder by clicking on
“Empty”

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Conclusion

Email Security
• Always sign out, especially if you are using a public computer!

• Never send your SIN or bank account number by email.

• Beware of messages that:

– Ask for your bank account information, even if they say they want to put money
into your account (e.g. The Nigerian Scam)
– Ask you to click on a link, login and verify personal information (e.g. Phishing
bank scams)
– inform you that you have won a prize/money and ask for personal information in
order to give you your prize

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Conclusion

Always Remember to Sign Out!

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Conclusion

• Handouts
• Upcoming training programs
• Library resources
• Program evaluation forms

Any questions?

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