Email Writing Activity

Teaching students how important it is to stop and check before sending an email sometimes seems like banging my head against the wall. But I try. Here's an activity I did with my low-intermediate writing class on email writing. They were given a set of 4-5 sample emails to evaluate using the following checklist. Then, with a partner, they chose one to re-write and send to me.
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Email #1

Subject	(no subject)
Message	Dear Heather,   How are you today? I am Johnny, and sorry about today that I no come to class.   When I can come talk to you about this? If so, let know that I can come today.    Thank you & have nice day,   Best Regards Johnny.

Email #2

Subject	Hello
Message	Der. Torrie I am Davy. I can not open my blackboard to do homework. Also, I  sake  ask my friend, and he has same my problem,so would you pleas give some instruction to open my blackboard. Pleas let me know if you have idea about it. thank you  Davy

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Email Checklist

Subject	Yes	No
There is a subject
The subject tells the topic
The subject tells which class this is for (especially important emails at the beginning of the semester)
Greeting	Yes	No
Dear / Hi / Hello is spelled correctly and capitalized
The first letter of the name is capitalized (Heather, not heather)
The name is spelled correctly
Comma AFTER the name
The student’s name is ONLY at the bottom of the email (not in the middle, “I am Wang.”)
Message Body	Yes	No
No unnecessary sentences
Quickly and clearly tells the problem
Takes responsibility for the problem (offers to DO something—turn in the homework, take the test early, etc)
No inappropriate information (eg, details about sickness if it is gross)
Grammar/Mechanics	Yes	No
Good grammar with no mistakes *If there are mistakes, fix them in the emails
Capital letters – first letter of each sentence; I (not i )
Space after the greeting, and after the message.
Font is professional looking