In Doug Brent's Rhetorics of the Web: Implications for Teachers of Literacy,he investigates hypertext as a new medium for argument and looks into the differences between traditional linear writing styles and the method of "exploration" in literature. Because hypertext by nature is nonlinear, issues of design play an instrumental role determining the potential value that this relatively new medium could have in regard to persuasive argument. The use of links as external information sources, which often present an alternative view point raises important questions in regard to closure and point of view. The "exploration" that the hypertext allows for, works positively for the reader who is permitted to gain a broader sense of the topic and thus reach a more informed conclusion. The flip side however, is that the author's intended thesis may be lost, or never reached as a result of the reader doing research on the subject matter instead of considering the author's view point. In using hypertext for scholarly works, it is fundamental that the format is presented at a conservative level. It is important to avoid images, color and links that are redundant or lead the viewer away from the topic- all of which could serve as distractions which obstruct the reader from reaching a conclusion about the represented topic.
Just as hypertext is by nature nonlinear, Brent states that "ultimate messages are for print, which by it's physical nature must have a last page and therefore a last thought to print on it." The primary problem with using hypertext as a means for scholarly publication is the contradiction between the reader's positive gain of information and the author's negative loss in presenting a unified thesis. The author and the reader both have a sense of uncertainty that all of the information has not been read when utilizing hypertext, leading to a general feeling of chaos and disorganization. If the "ultimate message" is not reached, there is no closure and the author's effort toward point of view has been in vain. The reader reaches a conclusion when she decides to stop reading. If she fails to read through all of the nodes, she has not obtained all of the information, thus her research is incomplete.
In addition to the possibility that the hypertext could counteract itself and serve no purpose, the reader may find the text redundant. The links to other text have the potential of repeating information already states in an earlier node, making the reading time consuming and boring for the reader. In this case it seems that the linear text medium is much more productive allowing the reader to form some opinion and then go to another document to achieve a full understanding of the topic. If we are going to use hypertext as a new venue for literature, the usage of links should be carefully chosen and used sparingly. Brent's use of links at the end of the document is an effective method of including additional information without distracting the reader. Including a link instead of using a quote from the text could lose the reader who may opt to go on another tangent. By placing the links at the end, the author can be assured that the reader has read through all of the given information on the node, and his links to his own writing (instead of another source) allows him to organize his thoughts and direct the reader a logical continuation of thought.
Brent's layout is simple and mirrors that of a typical print essay. Unlike Daniel Anderson's "Not Maimed but Malted," Brent has opted to stay away from use of graphics and color which draw the attention of the reader away and give the piece a more frivolous essence. However, the capability of color and pictures should not be over looked and the extent in which it is used should depend upon the genre of the writing. In the case of Greg Ulmer's "Tableaux," colors and graphics are used in the correct forum and they add to the reading experience. Graphics and interactive text take away from the traditional reading process and create an experience closer to that of watching television. When Brent says, "The fact the term `web surfing' was coined from it predecessor `channel surfing' is not a happy thought" he is making reference to the high level of convenience that Americans demand and the effortless procedure in obtaining information. Perhaps the "unhappy thought" to which Brent refers is the notion that if something is not convenient, Americans will not do it.
Standard written text has been progressing to the primitive medium ever since the PC and the word processor. Literary works on the web offer several advantages over linear text. The unique relationship between the author and reader in printed text is changed when the author gains a potentially unbounded interactive readership through the web. The two players are now able to communicate with one another and exchange thoughts. The reader no longer wonders what the author was thinking at a particular moment and the author no longer wonders what the reader's thoughts were while reading the text. As an educational devise learning hypertext is crucial as written text is becoming obsolete. The authors are now "producers" instead of merely "passive consumers in the classroom"and become familiar with the web.
Hypertext is a necessary medium of the times and its usage should vary according to the genre of the literature. The ability to publish infinite "virtual copies" inexpensively and to be able to send them all over the world at rapid speed far surpasses the traditional printed text, making it close to useless in this era. Because the medium offers so many advancements a new semi-nonlinear format must be created, but we should not lose sight of the achievements gained with printed text. The linear format of text offers the organization necessary to produce a logical persuasive essay and the hypertext as of now does not concur with closure. It is important to maintain the benefits realized in reading and not to transform into a convenient television society. Through the "exploration" offered in hypertext we can gather large amounts of information and reach much more solid conclusions in our pursuit towards truth.