Before you can either send or receive e-mail, you have to have an e-mail account.  There are two ways to get an e-mail account:

• If you have Internet access at home, your Internet Service Provider (the company that you pay for Internet access) can set up an e-mail account for you.  With this kind of account, all you'll have to do is click on a browser button to access your e-mail.

 
• If you don't have Internet access at home, you'll have to set up an e-mail account through a web site.  There are many web sites that host e-mail accounts.  There will be links to some of them at the end of this lesson.

 

 

Once you've found a web site that hosts e-mail accounts, just fill out the site's e-mail registration form. 

After you sign up for your e-mail account, there are three things that you must remember:
 

1. The URL of the web site that hosts your account.
2. Your e-mail address.
3. Your password.


These three things are very important!  If you forget them, you won't be able to use your e-mail account! 

Write down the URL and your e-mail address somewhere, but keep your password secret.

When you want to use your e-mail account, use the URL to go to the host web site.  When you click on the web site's "Mail" link, you will be asked for your e-mail address and password.  Once you type these in and hit "Enter," you will be given access to your e-mail account.

• browser - A computer program that helps people use the Internet.
• check box - A small box that allows you to select multiple items from a list.
• click - To quickly press and release the left mouse button.
• dialog box - A small box that pops up on screen to give you information.  You must respond to a dialog box by clicking on a button.
• drag - To move an onscreen object by putting the pointer over it, holding the mouse button down, and moving the pointer.
• drop-down menu - A type of menu in which you must click on a small down arrow to display your options.
• e-mail - Messages sent between computers via the Internet.  "E-mail" is short for "electronic mail."
• Google - A popular search engine.  Its URL is www.google.com.
• Google Chrome - A browser.
• graphics - Pictures.
• HTTP - Hypertext Transfer Protocol; the way computers communicate on the World Wide Web.
• highlighted text - Text with a different background color. This sentence is highlighted.
• insertion point - A little blinking line that shows you where the next letter you type will appear. 
• Internet Explorer - A browser.
• Internet Service Provider - A company that provides Internet access.  Often abbreviated "ISP."
• link - A connection to another web page.  Sometimes called a "hyperlink."
• location toolbar - The browser toolbar that contains a text box.
• menu - A list of options.
• navigation toolbar - The browser toolbar that contains the "Back" and "Forward" buttons.
• Mozilla Firefox - A browser.  Firefox is an updated version of Netscape Navigator.
• password - A secret word that lets you access your private information.
• phishing- Attempting to steal private information by sending out realistic-looking but fake e-mails.
• pointer - The little arrow that moves around the computer screen when the mouse is moved.
• radio buttons- Small circles that allow you to choose only one item from a list.
• Safari - A browser.
• scroll - To move a web page up and down on the computer screen.
• scroll bar- A bar that appears at the edge of the computer screen when a web page is too large to fit on the screen.
• search engine - A web site that searches for other web sites.
• selection list - A type of menu.
• slider- Part of a scroll bar; the box that moves up and down as a web page is scrolled. 
• terms of use - A description of the behavior you should exhibit when using a web site.
• text - Letters and numbers.
• text box - A white box that you can type things into.
• toolbar - A group of tools to help you use the Internet.  Toolbars are part of a browser.
• URL - The address of a web page.  Pronounced "earl," URL stands for Uniform Resource Locator.
• user name - The name by which a web site recognizes you.
• web page - A computer file that looks like a printed page when viewed with a browser.
• web site - A group of related web pages.
• World Wide Web - The part of the Internet that can be viewed with a browser.

Yahoo! - A popular search engine.  Its URL is www.yahoo.com.