This is a beginners' guide which
deals with the full spectrum of using electronic mail, the World Wide Web, and Usenet newsgroups. It's one in a series from Allyn and Bacon who specialise in these brief primers for students and the average user.
Heidi Schultz explains in very simple terms the whys and wherefores of email. Why we should be careful what we write, even in personal messages; and why the conventions of choosing a clear subject line and making emphasis clear have arisen. She also deals with privacy, legal, and ethical issues. It's all done in a clear, hand-holding manner designed to reassure those tackling these issues for the first time.
On the Web she takes the interesting line of constructing text which will communicate effectively with an audience.
There's no HTML coding here: she's offering guidance on word choice, grammar, and even spelling to reach an audience. This is followed by advice on the design and structure of a site.
USENET newsgroups seem something of a rapid comedown after that, but most people using email and the Web will probably want to add this vibrant part of electronic communication to their repertoire.
It is now quite obvious that the market for books on IT communication has fragmented and spread into many different specialisms. Readers need to be aware of the breadth of choices before them. This is a cheap and cheerful beginners' guide, suitable for the schoolroom or the desk of a first time emailer. It's as simple as that.
