sending an e-mail query yourself. You'll invite negative responses if you ask a question that is redundant or inappropriate. Since some mailing lists are really scholarly conferences by e-mail, check carefully before attempting to participate.

As you scroll through a list of messages in a newsgroup, you'll notice the importance of accurate wording for the subject line. A well-phrased subject line assures that the message will be read by people who are interested in that topic. Many people ignore messages with vague or emotional subject lines (such as "I need help!"). Give a concise indication of your message: "Request anecdotes on distance learning."

You will also notice that some people repeat the entire message they're responding to, since some e-mail programs make it easy to do so. It's preferable to quote briefly from the message you're responding to, using angle brackets on each line to indicate the quote (>) . Some e-mail programs do this automatically.
In addition, avoid sending non-substantial messages such as "I agree." Reply only when you can contribute to the conversation.

Knowing When to Stop Your Search

The problem most researchers encounter is in gauging how much time to allow for the search and for the report. One thing you can count on is that writing the report almost always will take much longer than you expect. Since with computers you can write and research intermittently, add your thoughts as you assemble the notes from your electronic sources. Allow time for reflection--and for additional research time if you discover gaps in your information.