Chunk the Text (What style of writing works online?)

Writing Effectively Online: How to Compose Hypertext

Chunk the Text

Chunking means breaking up the text so readers do not see a solid block of text (Smith & Drakeley, 1998). Text that has been chunked effectively should both stand alone and work well with the rest of the hypertext document (Mitternight, 1998).

Chunked text:

Improves screen reading by giving the eyes a rest

Due to the limitations of screen reading, chunking is especially important online.

Helps readers retrieve and process information more quickly and retain it longer

Chunking coincides with the natural way the human mind functions while taking in new information and applying stored information to new situations (Shirk, 1991). For example, in controlled processes such as computer-based training, the mind can process only about three to four chunks of information at a time (Stillings et al, 1987).

One way to take advantage of this feature of human cognition is to organize information into small, manageable pieces so they can be presented on a single screen (Shirk, 1991).

Before & After example: Chunking text

Before: Text that needs to be chunked

Bouldermag.com's guide to restaurants in Boulder, Colorado offers helpful information to readers seeking a new dining experience. However, some of the restaurant descriptions present readers with a solid block of text.

For instance, the guide's description for Antica Roma Ristorante & Bar presents one long paragraph with insufficient white space. This unbroken river of text makes reading difficult.

After: Text that is appropriately chunked and labeled

Antica Roma Ristorante & Bar

1308 Pearl St., on Pearl Street Mall, 303-442-0378. Features an authentic Italian menu created by Mario Zorzetto, voted 1999 Best Chef in Colorado and called "The Chef of the Italian Jet Set," and a Wine Spectator award-winning wine list with more than 300 Italian selections.

Enjoy casual and intimate indoor seating with the ambiance of an old Roman piazza, or dine on the outdoor patio on Pearl Street Mall. Italian cultural events; call for information. Open daily for lunch and dinner. MC, VISA, AMEX, DISCOVER, DC. Local checks accepted.

Italian Selections

Enjoy panzanella, or pizza made fresh and cooked in a wood-burning oven. Authentic Italian entrees include choices such as saltimbocca alla Romana; bistecca al pepe verde, homemade lasagna, ravioli filled with lobster, ricotta and spinach or smoked salmon, and an assortment of seafood pasta dishes.

Daily chef specials and delicious homemade pastas (named "Best of Boulder") such as rotolo di pasta. For dessert, try the delicate tiramisu–also voted "Best of Boulder"–or the panna cotta and crème caramel. Fine selection of grappas, ports, homemade limoncillo and spirits.

Lunchtime Buffet

Try the lunchtime buffet Mon-Fri 11:30am-3pm, featuring a choice of chicken, pork, three pastas, soup, salad and homemade bread for $8.50 per person.

Tips for chunking text

Split your online document into multiple, hyperlinked pages of topics.

Break up your text into short, self-contained topics.

Label chunks to clearly identify their content.

Recognize that chunking requires compromise and judgment.

For William Horton (1994), "Dividing a subject into discrete topics is as much art as science and requires compromise and judgment" (p. 109).

Use either a fixed or variable size strategy (Horton, 1994)

Fixed size

With the fixed size strategy, all topics are the same length, usually the size of a paper page or a computer screen or window.

Variable size

With the variable size strategy, the size of the topic varies to fit the content. (This paper uses the variable size strategy.)

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Last Updated: May 2, 2001

(c)2000 by Alysson Troffer. All rights reserved. Do not reproduce or redistribute any material from this document, in whole or in part, without written permission.


			Writing Effectively Online: How to Compose Hypertext
			Writing Effectively Online: How to Compose Hypertext

	Chunk the Text
	Chunking means breaking up the text so readers do not see a solid block of text (Smith & Drakeley, 1998). Text that has been chunked effectively should both stand alone and work well with the rest of the hypertext document (Mitternight, 1998). Chunked text: Improves screen reading by giving the eyes a rest Due to the limitations of screen reading, chunking is especially important online. Helps readers retrieve and process information more quickly and retain it longer Chunking coincides with the natural way the human mind functions while taking in new information and applying stored information to new situations (Shirk, 1991). For example, in controlled processes such as computer-based training, the mind can process only about three to four chunks of information at a time (Stillings et al, 1987). One way to take advantage of this feature of human cognition is to organize information into small, manageable pieces so they can be presented on a single screen (Shirk, 1991). `Before & After example: Chunking text` `Before: Text that needs to be chunked` `Bouldermag.com's guide to restaurants in Boulder, Colorado offers helpful information to readers seeking a new dining experience. However, some of the restaurant descriptions present readers with a solid block of text.` `For instance, the guide's description for Antica Roma Ristorante & Bar presents one long paragraph with insufficient white space. This unbroken river of text makes reading difficult.` `After: Text that is appropriately chunked and labeled` `Antica Roma Ristorante & Bar` `1308 Pearl St., on Pearl Street Mall, 303-442-0378. Features an authentic Italian menu created by Mario Zorzetto, voted 1999 Best Chef in Colorado and called "The Chef of the Italian Jet Set," and a Wine Spectator award-winning wine list with more than 300 Italian selections.` `Enjoy casual and intimate indoor seating with the ambiance of an old Roman piazza, or dine on the outdoor patio on Pearl Street Mall. Italian cultural events; call for information. Open daily for lunch and dinner. MC, VISA, AMEX, DISCOVER, DC. Local checks accepted.` `Italian Selections` `Enjoy panzanella, or pizza made fresh and cooked in a wood-burning oven. Authentic Italian entrees include choices such as saltimbocca alla Romana; bistecca al pepe verde, homemade lasagna, ravioli filled with lobster, ricotta and spinach or smoked salmon, and an assortment of seafood pasta dishes.` `Daily chef specials and delicious homemade pastas (named "Best of Boulder") such as rotolo di pasta. For dessert, try the delicate tiramisu–also voted "Best of Boulder"–or the panna cotta and crème caramel. Fine selection of grappas, ports, homemade limoncillo and spirits.` `Lunchtime Buffet` `Try the lunchtime buffet Mon-Fri 11:30am-3pm, featuring a choice of chicken, pork, three pastas, soup, salad and homemade bread for $8.50 per person.` Tips for chunking text Split your online document into multiple, hyperlinked pages of topics. Break up your text into short, self-contained topics. Label chunks to clearly identify their content. Recognize that chunking requires compromise and judgment. For William Horton (1994), "Dividing a subject into discrete topics is as much art as science and requires compromise and judgment" (p. 109). Use either a fixed or variable size strategy (Horton, 1994) Fixed size With the fixed size strategy, all topics are the same length, usually the size of a paper page or a computer screen or window. Variable size With the variable size strategy, the size of the topic varies to fit the content. (This paper uses the variable size strategy.)
	[Brief TOC] [Expanded TOC] [Printer-Friendly Version] [Webfolio] [Next]: Keep Paragraphs Short Comments? Please email me! Last Updated: May 2, 2001 (c)2000 by Alysson Troffer. All rights reserved. Do not reproduce or redistribute any material from this document, in whole or in part, without written permission.