ENG 21 INTERNET ACTIVITY #3: LISTSERVS Renee Gaskill
Your Name: ____________________________________
Skills practiced: 1) Reading 2) Following written instructions 3) Setting up an E-mail account 4) Using E-mail 5) Using listserv search tools 6) Subscribing to a listserv 7) Reading listserv messages and responding to them 8) Writing a report 9) Giving an oral presentation.
In order to do this assignment you will need to have a functioning e-mail account. Students are eligible to open an e-mail account through the University of Hawaii system.
This account is free and takes only a few minutes to register for. Addresses of other providers of free e-mail service are:
| www.hotmail.com | www.rocketmail.com | |
| www.mailcity.com | www.yahoo.com | www.excite.com |
LISTSERV
There are listservs set up on almost every imaginable subject. Listservs use e-mail protocols to distribute messages to everyone on a list of people who are interested in that subject. When someone sends new information on a topic, everyone on the list receives a copy.
FINDING A LISTSERV OF INTEREST
The following listserv search tools (with their URLs) are excellent:
| TileNet/Lists | http://tile.net/listserv |
| Liszt Directory of Email Discussion Groups | http://www.liszt.com |
When you sit down at the computer and click on the Internet icon, simply type one of these URLs in the address bar at the top of the screen and press ENTER.
Tile Net will allow you to search for lists by Name, Subject, Description, Host Country and by Sponsoring Organization. Searches done by Name and Description will give you the best idea about what you are choosing. In either case, you will need to click first on the letter of the alphabet with which your desired category begins. Then you can scroll through your options.
Liszt Directory offers a massive selection of well-organized and easy-to-find lists. Complete lists of categories pop up on the first screen with extensive lists of subcategories under each. It is easy to find something of interest.
The listserv search tools above will supply you with the e-mail addresses you need to subscribe to specific listservs.
SUBSCRIBING TO A LISTSERV
To join a listserv, you need to send its host computer an e-mail message saying you want to subscribe. Sometimes the listserv will give you specific instructions for subscribing. If they do, then follow these instructions. If not, then click the compose box on your e-mail. Then type as directed:
| TO: | Type in the e-mail address of the listserv you want to contact. |
| SUBJECT: | Type in SUBSCRIBE (space) (name of listserv) |
| BODY: | Type in SUBSCRIBE (space) (name of listserv) |
After subscribing, you will receive a message that your mail has been sent. Return to your In-box to see if it has arrived. Do not expect to receive an instant reply. It may take from two minutes to two days for your new subscription to get processed. Eventually, you will get an e-mail reply from the server saying that you are subscribed. Then you will begin receiving messages in your e-mail in-box from your new listserv group.
ORGANIZING YOUR E-MAIL
Since quite a few messages from the various listservs you have subscribed to will begin appearing in your e-mail in-box, you may want to organize and name some folders to put them in. Listserv messages can be filed by pressing the File button just like any other e-mail message.
RESPONDING TO A LISTSERV MESSAGE
To respond, simply press the Reply button and enter your response just like you would send an ordinary e-mail message.
SENDING A NEW MESSAGE TO A LISTSERV
When you join a listserv, you will see directions on how to address new messages that you want to send to the listserv. It is best to enter this address in your e-mail client’s Address Book so you wont forget it. You will also want to file the listserv address to which you sent your subscribe comand.
HOW TO UNSUBSCRIBE FROM A LISTSERV
You may want to unsubscribe from a listserv when you find it no longer meets your needs. To unsubscribe, follow these steps:
ASSIGNMENT