abstract

background

theory

praxis

models

course

multilinearity
visual rhetoric
theory in practice

references

For those interested in persuasive hypertext, the problem of nonlinearity is an important concern. How can an author develop the elements of an argument in a clear fashion if the individual nodes are not read in a particular order? As David Kolb (1994) notes, "Philosophy's line cannot be dissolved in the way some have dreamed of dissolving the narrative line. On this view hypertext would have to respect the line by making arguments the units of presentation and by maintaining some overall linear argumentative structure" (pp. 326-327). As anyone who has read a disorganized print essay understands, a linear organizational structure can be an important element in an effective essay.

Kolb's (1994) point about the dangers of nonlinearity is important for authors of academic hypertexts, in part because poorly conceived links in an academic hypertext do little to empower the reader. Instead, they create confusion. Joseph Janangelo (1998), reflecting on hypertexts submitted to him in response to print essay assignments, notes that his students "seemed to think that their texts could thrive on a juxtaposition, rather than an integration, of readymade texts. [...] While I had no trouble physically invoking my students' links, I experienced great difficulty discerning what those links meant" (p. 25).

In effect, Janangelo's students signaled connection by inserting links from one element of the hypertext to others. But the significance of those connections remained unarticulated, or implicit at best. For Janangelo, his students' hypertexts were "much like poor print-based term papers" (p. 25).

Hypertext makes it possible to link from anywhere to anywhere. This feature of hypertext can create opportunities for a layering of ideas and can bring to the surface the reader's role in the construction of a text's meaning. But superficial, seemingly random links between nodes significantly reduce an author's ability to develop a position (or positions) in a hypertext.

multilinearity | constructing multilinearity

abstract | background | theory | praxis | models | course