1. Avoid language that may come across as strong or offensive. Language can be easily misinterpreted in written communication. If a point must be stressed, review the statement to make sure that an outsider reading it would not be offended, then post the statement. Humor and sarcasm may easily be misinterpreted as well, so try to be as matter-of-fact and professional as possible.2. Keep writing to a point and stay on topic. Online courses require a lot of reading. When writing, keep sentences poignant and brief so that readers do not get lost in wordy paragraphs and miss the point of the statement. Also, do not introduce new topics; it may just confuse the readers.3. Read first, write later. It is important to read all posts or comments of students and instructors within the course discussion before personally commenting to prevent repeating commentary or asking questions that have already been answered.4. Review, review, then send. There’s no taking back a comment that has already been sent, so it is important to double-check all writing to make sure that it clearly conveys the exact intended message.5. An online classroom is still a classroom. Though the courses may be online, appropriate classroom behavior is still mandatory. Respect for fellow classmates and the instructors is as important as ever.6. The language of the Internet. Though still a fairly young type of communication, certain aspects of this form of communication are becoming conventional. For example, do not write using all capital letters, because it will appear as shouting. Also, the use of emoticons can be helpful when used to convey nonverbal feelings (example: :-) or :-( ), but avoid overusing them.7. Consider the privacy of others'. Ask permission prior to giving out a classmate's email address or other information.8. If possible, keep attachments small. If it is necessary to send pictures, change the size to an acceptable 100k.9. No inappropriate material. Do not forward virus warnings, chain letters, jokes, etc. to classmates or instructors. The sharing of pornographic material is forbidden.
Emoticons are used to make the point more clear if you are joking or being serious. "Avoiding Misunderstandings Emoticons can also be utilized to avoid misunderstandings. A joke sent over the internet may be construed as a serious statement by the receiver, which can lead to negative consequences in interpersonal relationships. A serious statement may be interpreted sarcastically, hindering accurate communication between individuals. Including an emoticon with the message helps indicate the sender's original intent and avoid a misunderstanding. For example, sending a :) emoticon with your joke helps the receiver understand that you were joking, not being serious."
