The write way to communicate

Dai Shiqiang, a 71-year-old professor from Shanghai University complained on his microblog recently that among the 246 e-mails he has received from students since last September, only 32 wrote to him with the correct format of letterhead, self-introduction, the main content of the homework attached, and a signing-off. Most of the students just sent e-mails with the assignments attached, but with nothing in the main body of the e-mail. When the professor tried to check who sent the e-mails, he could only find various "net" names which left him no wiser as to the senders' identities.

Although the professor pointed out the problem to his students and asked them to rectify the situation in future, some still made the same mistakes on subsequent occasions. Finally, the professor was forced to note down the students' net names alongside their real names so that he could correctly mark their work and record their scores.

The professor's frustration at his students' lack of manners and consideration has aroused sympathy among other teachers. One professor commented that he had received requests from students seeking recommendation letters for overseas study. However, most failed to properly identify themselves, leaving the professor with no choice but to reply to their e-mails asking: "Who are you?"

Many people blame this situation on the current education system which fails to emphasize the importance of correct letter writing, and they have called for letter-writing guidance to be reintroduced into Chinese textbooks and into elementary school tests. However, I believe the problem stems from a lack of basic social manners in many present-day students.

Years ago people were required to put great effort into composing a letter: to handwrite it, fold it, put it into an envelope, seal it, affix a postage stamp, and finally throw it into a postbox with the expectation of a reply. Similarly, letters received were often treasured like gifts, especially when they were from close friends or loved ones.

Today, however, with just one click a letter can appear inside the mailbox of a person on the other side of the world. This process has become so quick and easy that people rarely stop to consider what they are actually sending - and what the recipient will actually receive.

Providing detailed contact information shows proper respect to teachers and superiors and demonstrates good basic manners.

And considering the high levels of unemployment among recent Shanghai graduates, they can do themselves a favor by at least ensuring they stay ahead of the job-hunting pack. And it doesn't help when they mass e-mail their resumes to HR specialists or potential employers without providing proper addresses and detailed self-introductions.

Companies receive hundreds of e-mails from prospective candidates every day. And as easily as incomplete resumes were once tossed into the nearest wastepaper basket, similarly sloppy submissions today can be discarded into cyberspace with just one simple click.