Choosing the Best Organizational Strategy (How can hypertext be organized?)

Writing Effectively Online: How to Compose Hypertext

Choosing the Best Organizational Strategy

Ultimately, your goal is to make your document structure simple and easy to navigate. The following guidelines can help you achieve this goal by choosing the best organizational strategy for your document.

Organize your document according to a simple and meaningful pattern.

Even if the organization of your document must be relatively complex, it should still appear simple to readers.

Follow the three-click rule whenever possible.

If readers must follow more than three links to find needed information, they might become confused or annoyed, and even abandon their search.

Define your audience's skill level and interests as an important first step when deciding which structure to use.

For William Horton (1994), selecting the right structure for your reader involves "trading expressive power for predictability" (p. 175) as follows:

To expert readers and creative writers, a simple and predictable structure can seem too restrictive. For instance, a Web-based structure might be more appropriate than a sequential one for these readers.

To novices or occasional users, an expressive or more complicated structure can seem too confusing. In this case, a sequential structure or a cross-referenced hierarchy would work best.

Match the document's organization to its intended purpose.

Horton (1994) recommends the following guidelines:

For learning, give readers a sequential path with possible side trips.

For browsing, organize using a hierarchy with cross references.

For fact-finding, organization does not matter. Just make it quick. (p. 176)

Choose well-worded links that anticipate readers' needs.

When readers must follow a certain sequence through your content (for example, when they must perform tasks in sequential order), you will want to limit their choices or at least guide them with additional explanatory text.

Except for such cases, your goal is to provide readers with opportunities, not to order them around. However, you must still set priorities in your document and point your readers in relevant directions.

Well-worded links provide sufficient context so readers can remain properly oriented in your document.

Note: Kathleen McCabe (1997) states that the rhetorical elements of both audience and purpose ultimately determine how much control to give readers. Content obviously plays an important role as well.

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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

	Choosing the Best Organizational Strategy
	Ultimately, your goal is to make your document structure simple and easy to navigate. The following guidelines can help you achieve this goal by choosing the best organizational strategy for your document. Organize your document according to a simple and meaningful pattern. Even if the organization of your document must be relatively complex, it should still appear simple to readers. Follow the three-click rule whenever possible. If readers must follow more than three links to find needed information, they might become confused or annoyed, and even abandon their search. Define your audience's skill level and interests as an important first step when deciding which structure to use. For William Horton (1994), selecting the right structure for your reader involves "trading expressive power for predictability" (p. 175) as follows: To expert readers and creative writers, a simple and predictable structure can seem too restrictive. For instance, a Web-based structure might be more appropriate than a sequential one for these readers. To novices or occasional users, an expressive or more complicated structure can seem too confusing. In this case, a sequential structure or a cross-referenced hierarchy would work best. Match the document's organization to its intended purpose. Horton (1994) recommends the following guidelines: For learning, give readers a sequential path with possible side trips. For browsing, organize using a hierarchy with cross references. For fact-finding, organization does not matter. Just make it quick. (p. 176) Choose well-worded links that anticipate readers' needs. When readers must follow a certain sequence through your content (for example, when they must perform tasks in sequential order), you will want to limit their choices or at least guide them with additional explanatory text. Except for such cases, your goal is to provide readers with opportunities, not to order them around. However, you must still set priorities in your document and point your readers in relevant directions. Well-worded links provide sufficient context so readers can remain properly oriented in your document. Note: Kathleen McCabe (1997) states that the rhetorical elements of both audience and purpose ultimately determine how much control to give readers. Content obviously plays an important role as well.
	[Brief TOC] [Expanded TOC] [Printer-Friendly Version] [Webfolio] [Next]: Creating Meaningful Metaphors 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.