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• Print-Based Conventions
• Web-Based Conventions
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Assessment Tool for Scholarly Webtexts

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Assessment Category A: Print-based Conventions

1.  Content

a)  Clear goals

• The webtext includes an explicit thesis or argumentative claim within the first main section (e.g., abstract, introduction, overview, or other prominently placed opening node) of the text.
• The webtext may include a more implicit thesis or argumentative claim, often within a sub-node or concluding node of the text.
• Other

b)  Adequate preparation

• The webtext exhibits adequate preparation by incorporating relevant scholarly research in the field through an explicit and conventionally organized review of literature.
• The webtext exhibits adequate preparation by incorporating relevant scholarly research in the field through an implicit and unconventionally organized review of literature.
• Other

c)  Appropriate methods

• The webtext employs and explicitly describes a research method.
• The webtext employs but does not explicitly describe a research method.
• Other

2.  Arrangement

• Content of the webtext is mainly divided into parts of a traditional argument (introduction, narration, partition, concession, refutation, and conclusion) or common segments of a scholarly research article (introduction/summary of the problem, literature review, methodology, findings, and conclusion).
• The webtext may include an introductory node or overview, but the content is mainly divided thematically/topographically with each node representing a contributing issue toward the main argument.
• Other

3.  Documentation

a) Inclusion of quotation and paraphrase

• The webtext incorporates others’ words and ideas directly and/or indirectly by embedding quoted and/or paraphrased material conventionally (e.g., either as part of the paragraph or indented/set apart depending on length).
• The webtext incorporates others’ words and ideas directly and/or indirectly through both conventional and non-conventional presentations of quoted and/or paraphrased material.
• Other

b) Style: in-text citation

• The webtext follows a professional association style (e.g., APA or MLA) consistently for in-text documentation for reference to others’ words and ideas.
• The webtext may or may not follow a professional association style (e.g., APA or MLA) consistently for in-text documentation; it may employ some web-based strategies of citation (e.g., direct links to references node; unique typographic design) to signal references to others’ words and ideas.
• Other

c) Inclusion of references node

• The webtext includes a references node located at the “end” of the text through (1) a visually-suggestive placement as a final link choice on a matrix, menu or other hierarchical overview device; and/or (2) through a link from a final or conclusion node. (It may also be activated through navigational links from the main text to single citation nodes.)
• The webtext includes a references node that does not have a specific placement but is activated through navigational links from the main text to single citation nodes.
• Other

d) Style: references

• The webtext includes a references node that follows a professional association style (e.g., APA or MLA) consistently.
• The webtext includes a references node that may follow a professional association style (e.g., APA or MLA) consistently, but that also incorporates a web-based allowance of links to full online sources.
• Other

4.  Tone

• The tone of the webtext is formal (use of field-specific terminology, formal grammar, and other conventions of formal writing).
• The tone of the webtext is formal but may include some nodes (e.g., links that connect to digressions from the main argument) or segments of nodes containing less formal writing.
• Other

Assessment Category B: Web-based Conventions

5.  Structural design 

a) Structural options

• The webtext includes one prominent structural design/navigation option.
• The webtext incorporates multiple structural design/navigation options.
• Other

b) Type of structural design (select all that apply)

• The structural design of the webtext is linear with few to no navigational choices (print-based).
• The structural design of the webtext is guided (print-like).
• The structural design of the webtext is minimally multilinear based on a visually suggestive sequence (minimally multilinear/web-based).
• The structural design of the webtext is multilinear with multiple non-guided navigational choices (fully multilinear/web-based).
• Other

6.  Form/content relationship

a) Form/content fit

• The form of the webtext enacts the content.
• The form of the webtext presents the content.
• Other

b) Rationale for the formal design

• The webtext includes an explicit statement regarding the formal design of the text.
• The webtext does not include an explicit statement regarding the formal design of the text.
• Other

7.  Navigation design

a) Overview

• The webtext includes an overview or starting node that contextualizes the main argument.
• The webtext does not include an overview or starting node.
• Other

b) Textual or graphical webviews

• The webtext includes textual or graphical webviews that provide direct link access to main nodes as well as show a fair extent of the web.
• The webtext does not include textual or graphical webviews.
• Other

c) Navigation directions

• The webtext includes directions for navigating the text.
• The webtext does not include directions for navigating the text.
• Other

8.  Link strategy

a) Type of link contextualization  (select all that apply)

• The webtext includes one or more links to external content (including links to online references from the references node). [ECL – external context links]
• The webtext includes one or more links from content nodes to the references node. [IRL – internal references links]
• The webtext includes one or more navigational links from an overview or main menu to separate nodes. [IONL – internal overview navigation links]
• The webtext includes one or more navigational embedded links between nodes. [IENL – internal embedded navigation links]
• Other

b) Rhetoric of arrivals and departures

• A majority of link text follows a rhetoric of arrivals and departures.
• The webtext includes some blind links that may affect reader navigation.
• Other

c) Link stability

• The webtext does not appear to have any broken or dead links.
• The webtext includes some broken or dead links.
• Other

d) Link reference

• The webtext includes an external links page.
• The webtext does not include an external links page.
• Other

9.  Node strategy

a) Chunked content

• The text within the webtext is divided into discrete chunks of information within separate nodes.
• The text within the webtext is divided into larger sections of information in which readers are required to scroll through a majority of the nodes.
• Other

b) Self-contained content

• Content within a majority of the nodes is self-contained and contextualized; nodes can be read individually and in almost any order.
• Content within a majority of the nodes relies on necessary information and transitions from previous nodes.
• Other

10.  Visual design

a) Typographic style   

• The webtext incorporates typographic screen-reading strategies through a majority of nodes (e.g., bulleted points, pull-outs, bold/highlighted text, or other graphic presentations of text).
• The webtext does not incorporate typographic screen-reading strategies; it mainly follows familiar, print-based typographical conventions (e.g., indented paragraphs, plain text, etc.).
• Other

b) Background and font color

• The webtext is designed with a dark font (e.g., black text) on a light background (e.g., white background).
• The webtext is designed with non-conventional font and background colors that may or may not change within each node.
• Other

c) Link feedback

• The link color shows feedback by changing consistently with link activation.
• The link color does not show feedback.
• Other

11.  Multimedia incorporation

a) Webtext composition

• The webtext is comprised mainly of text.
• The webtext is comprised of text and graphical elements (images, tables, graphs, icons, etc.).
• The webtext is comprised of text and/or graphical elements with multimedia elements such as video, audio, and animation.
• Other

b) Semiotic nature

• The primary means of making meaning within the webtext is textual with or without some graphics that enhance the meaning.
• The primary means of making meaning within the webtext is textual with multimedia (audio, video, animation) that enhance the meaning.
• The primary means of making meaning within the webtext is a combination of textual and multimedia (audio, video, animation).
• Other

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