Email Etiquette for Middle and High School Students

Summary

Sydney Dunn's video emphasizes the importance of proper email etiquette for students, especially when communicating with teachers. She highlights the differences between casual texting and formal emails, advising against the use of slang, emojis, and demands. Dunn provides a step-by-step guide on crafting emails, including writing descriptive subject lines, using polite openings and closings, and asking clear, context-rich questions. She also offers a free PDF email etiquette guide for students at sdetiquette.com to help them navigate professional email communication effectively.

Takeaways

• 📝 Email skills are distinct from texting skills; emails should be formal and well-structured.
• 🔑 Capitalize the first letter of every sentence and always capitalize 'I' in emails.
• 🚫 Avoid using casual language and slang from text messages in emails.
• 😀 Use emojis sparingly and only after establishing a friendly relationship with the teacher.
• ⏱ Emails are not as instantaneous as text messages; allow teachers one full school day to respond.
• 📜 The subject line should be a short, descriptive summary of the email's content.
• 🌟 Start the email with a pleasant greeting using the teacher's title and last name.
• 🔍 Make your question clear by providing context such as page numbers, URLs, or screenshots.
• 🙏 Use polite requests instead of demands when asking for something from your teacher.
• 📩 End the email with a courteous closing and sign off with your full name, class subject, and period number.

Q & A

What is the main topic of Sydney Dunn's talk?

Sydney Dunn's talk is about email etiquette, specifically how to communicate effectively with teachers via email.

Why is it important to distinguish between email and text messaging skills?

Email and text messaging skills are different because emails are more formal and require proper grammar, punctuation, and a professional tone, unlike the casual nature of text messages.

What are some examples of casual words and phrases that should not be used in emails?

Examples of casual words and phrases to avoid in emails include 'i know right', 'yep', 'hey', 'ok', 'lol', 'you're', 'yeah', 'please', 'sorry', and 'bruh'.

What is Sydney's stance on the use of emojis in emails?

Sydney advises that emojis, while helpful in conveying tone and personality, are considered unprofessional in emails and should only be used after getting to know the teacher well, and even then, sparingly.

How should students approach the subject line when writing an email to their teachers?

Students should write a short, descriptive summary in the subject line that reflects the content of the email body, which helps in organization and searching for old emails.

What is the recommended way to start an email to a teacher?

The email should start with a pleasant greeting such as 'Hello', 'Good afternoon', or 'Good morning', followed by the teacher's title and last name, and a comma.

Why is it crucial to be clear and specific in the body of the email?

Being clear and specific helps the teacher understand the context and the issue at hand, enabling them to provide accurate and helpful responses.

What is the difference between a polite request and a demand in an email?

A polite request is courteous and includes phrases like 'can you please', while a demand can come across as forceful and may use imperative sentences without a question mark.

How should students end an email to their teacher?

Students should end an email with a closing such as 'thanks' or 'thank you', and always sign off with their full name, class subject, and period number for clarity.

What resource does Sydney Dunn provide to help students remember email etiquette?

Sydney Dunn provides a one-page email etiquette guide for students, available as a free PDF download from her website sdetiquette.com.

How long should students wait before sending a follow-up email to their teacher?

Students should wait one full school day before sending a follow-up email to their teacher, as emails are not as instantaneous as text messages.