Additional Resources
Introduction to Hypertext Papers and Web Authoring
This webpage is a very useful page in actively describing new hypertext genre in the contemporary age of technology. In utilizing HTML, the individual can communicate to the web-surfer in a clear and organized fashion. The website itself is very organized and simple to navigate; the site is almost comparable to a Table of Contents in a chemistry textbook or an every day chapter book. However, websites can add additional elements which break barriers that were once limited to pencil and paper. Hypertext documents allow linking, which is used to "link" an idea to another source without having to worry about explaining that idea. This is because it's already been taken care of elsewhere.
In comparing a chemistry textbook with a chemistry text written through hypertext, one can assume that the chemistry hypertext would probably be more useful in clarifying ideas. Textbooks are limited to the traditional text and image principle. HTML however, creates a stronger impression in conveying a particular idea. There are superfluous tools in hypertext that are not defined by the laws of pencil and paper. By placing movies, links, interactive quizzes, and other helpful information, the website may prove to be a lot more useful than the traditional textbook.
A Beginner's Guide to HTML
Most of the websites We've browsed through on hypertext information does not include pictures such as Bolter's article, but those websites still give a feel to the readers that is simple and to the point. Even though the pictures are provided in Bolter's article, it can easily distract the readers. Another important difference in comparison with Bolter and hypertext is that readers can directly click on a link to find out more information, even if it's off topic.
Writing Hypertext Copy
A close review of this site shows that it serves as a well written, brief introduction to writing Hypertext. It begins by explaining that "links and anchors are a new stylistic element" that writers need to learn to work with, but that the emotional element is a much harder element to learn to work with. In other words, writers should strive to humanize their hypertext documents so as not to put off the only audience they have: humans. It explains that authors of hypertext should not get caught up in the experience of "guiding" the reader, but rather to focus just on writing and make the links like turning a page in an actual book. Your text should still be informational, but it should not make the link obvious with a neon sign saying Click Here!
It also explains not to state the obvious, which is the along the same lines as not stating "click here" if it is most obviously a link. It explains that you should not write about your own writing, meaning that if you have a list of interesting things to share with the reader of your hypertext, there is not need to state that "this is a list of things I think would be interesting." The readers can see that there is a list in front of them:
- Cookies
- Peanut Butter
- Grass
- Pink Shoe Laces
- Monster Trucks
The site also points out that you should be personal when writing hypertext, because there are not enough writers on the web that write personally and that too many of them find it irresistible to take on the position of the "service provider".
One more important thing that this site covers is to think intuitively about who your audience is: for most people the World Wide Web is not fast and simple, but rather slow, inconsistent and often confusing.