In the News: E-mail and Teaching

“To: Professor@University.edu Subject: Why It’s All About Me” from the New York Times has caused a stir on all the teaching listservs that I’m on. It just seems like another one of those articles that really ought to focus on audience and purpose in writing—along with a dose of understanding writing environments and situations (for students AND teachers). Overall, the folks in the article seem to lack any real understanding of the media they choose for their messages. Until they understand that important piece, e-mail is never going to work for them.