High school students are entering a world where everything is digital. Their college applications, job applications, even their social lives are based online. As they’ve gone through school, it’s likely they’ve developed many bad email habits. While emails to friends can be littered with abbreviations, contain no formal email structure, and be sent at two in the morning, this is not how students should format a follow-up for a job interview. As students get older, it is important to teach them the do's and don'ts of email, as well as other online etiquette, to prevent these avoidable faux pas.
Here is an example of a Do’s and Don’ts storyboard for student, formal, and business email etiquette. In half of the cells, we see a "don’t" illustrated clearly and in the other half, we see the proper way to send the same email. This storyboard covers skills like conciseness, using proper English, and sending personalized (rather than chain) emails to friends and family.
Storyboards are an excellent way to learn and discuss proper email etiquette. By utilizing characters and scenes, as well as text, students will grasp how their emails affect the people who receive them. Email formatting often seems like a chore for no reason, but, give students the ability to show how poorly written emails are perceived, and they will grasp the importance of eloquent emails.
In addition to helping students imagine the impact of their emails, these storyboards give teachers a way to instantly assess and redirect students in real time. The easy-to-understand nature of storyboards means you will be able to see immediately if a student has mastered the concept. You can correct him or her right away, and they won’t need to wait days to receive feedback on graded homework.
If you want to give students a template to help guide them through the format of a formal email and help them pre-draft important emails (without worrying about accidentally sending an unfinished version), you can customize email worksheets! Students can complete them digitally or fill them out by hand, and this is perfect for helping them see structure and take their time practicing without staring at a blinking cursor.
Email etiquette refers to the set of guidelines and norms that dictate the proper way to communicate through email. It includes proper formatting, tone, and language to use when writing emails, as well as rules for sending and replying to emails. Good email etiquette helps to ensure clear communication and avoid misunderstandings or offense.
High school students are entering a world where everything is digital, and their college and job applications are based online. It's important for them to know how to write professional emails that convey their message clearly and politely.
Storyboards can be used to illustrate the impact of poorly written emails and to help students understand proper email formatting and language. They can also be used to assess and redirect students in real-time.
Dos and Don'ts storyboard, storyboard for safe email practices, storyboard for when to BCC or CC, and when to reply versus reply all, and storyboard for non-ideal emails such as those sent in the middle of the night, when angry or with inappropriate content.