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Summary & Resources
Summary & Resources
Module Summary
As we discussed in Module 4, online etiquette plays an important role in good digital citi-
zenship. That is why we devoted two modules to discussing guidelines for communicating
appropriately with your fellow students, instructors, professional contacts, and others online.
Choosing the appropriate form of communication is the first step in demonstrating online eti-
quette. Once you have decided whether to communicate via phone, e-mail, text, social media,
or discussion forum post, your choice of words, formatting, and attitude will play an impor-
tant part in how your message is perceived by others. A casual, off-the-cuff post to a fellow
student may seem harmless to you but may be offensive to someone else.
Online etiquette is an art that requires thoughtful reflection of one’s own choices for self-
expression. Be sure to proofread everything you write and always imagine what it would be
like to be on the receiving end of the message you are about to send.
Critical-Thinking Questions
1. How does your communication style differ when you are chatting with friends
online or via text versus when you are contacting your professor about an
assignment?
2. In the discussion forum, what is your approach when you want to express a view-
point that is different from that of a classmate?
3. Imagine yourself with a year of classes under your belt. A friend has just enrolled in
an Ashford online degree program and wants to know how you usually communi-
cate with your professors and fellow classmates. How would you answer? Describe a
typical week of communications for class and explain the best method for each type
of communication.
Key Terms
APA style Developed by the American Psy- paraphrase The act of writing someone
chological Association, the rules and guide- else’s ideas in one’s own words.
lines for writing used by Ashford University.
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