Shows how microethnography can be an effective tool for analyzing the possibilities and constraints of electronic discourse by overviewing two electronic mail ethnography projects. Suggests that such approaches can help students better understand electronic rhetoric as well as electronic ideology (the power relationships and cultural values that…

Looks at how a class newsgroup impacted on class participation in a graduate seminar that included students who initially appeared at a possible disadvantage--linguistically, educationally, and experientially. Discusses these culturally diverse students' contributions to the asynchronous class discussion. Raises concerns about limitations of the…