I hate HTML

I am looking for a suggestion on the best, and most user-friendly alternative to HTML codes. I have programed a fictional e-mail exchange between participant and "other member" using HTML codes, however, this does not enable me to record what the participant wrote. I would like to be able to keep the data of what the participant writes in their email to analyze for content of message, do you know of a custom item I can use instead of HTML?
More specifically, the "email" is set up like this:
What is your major? _______
What is your hometown? _______
Anything else you would like to tell the other member? _________
Thanks
Claire