Hello Sir Magpie here, I've been chatting to FireNLuv and she thinks I should post some basic rules about role-playing.
It's been a while since I've role-playing on the net so I might seen a bit rusty but not to fear, I study Drama and Performance at university so I do know what I'm talking about.

Let's start with the basics.

Text

Normally when role-playing you would write what your character is doing but when you character speaks use speech marks for example; Jake walks up to his exam desk "Ok let's do this"

Another thing I want to touch on is detail, remember you can drag out a simple action as long as you like for example; Jake slowly walks up to his exam desk, he was starting to sweat and with every footstep he toke he could hear a bomb go off inside his head. Gathering himself he silently says "Let's do this"
There's a saying we and it goes "The devil is in the detail"
But to counter that it will be to much to keep posting blocks of text for everyone to read.

Characterization, remember the five P's when creating your character "Proper Planning Prevents Poor Performance"

Politeness

This is pretty much self explained but better to touch on it.
If you you are going to be away for a while it would be nice to inform the manger of the role-play.
God modding, when someone thinks that there character is... well god and can do anything, this for me takes the fun out of a role-play most of the time.

The Manager
Although I could rant on for ages about role-playing and what to do, how to do it etc, but it's really up to the manager of the role-play to decide the boundaries, rules and limits.

I might expand this at a later date but I hope this helps.