Webessays: a new kind of writing?
Web essays or hypertext documents are a series of linked pages which explore a theme or concept through the use of discussion and links to other pages and sites. It allows for the exploration of a topic in a non-linear fashion, with several concepts running alongside each other, and the opportunity to use other resources in the form of links.
The differences between hypertext writing and conventional academic writing are many.
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Webessays require the use of images and text alongside each other, and the physical structure of the essay conveys meaning alongside the writing.
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Hypertext by it's very nature allows for a complex level of connectedness within and beyond the writing itself. Readers therefore have freedom to explore what the author of the webessay is saying, but also to travel outside the essay and explore worlds beyond.
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This brings to life the use of and relevance of references, and ways in which existing knowledge is built upon what is already known. Landow argues that this level of connectivity allow us to see the ways in which collaboration is essential to development of new thought.
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Webessays allow for several concepts to be explored simultaneously, and for the circularity of sets of concepts to be fully demonstrated. By connecting concepts, discussion, definitions and further resources, readers are freed from the constraints of linearity which are inherent in traditional academic writing. This can be seen as an experiment in post-structuralism.
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However, this freedom from traditional structure also presents challenges. Readers are free to explore in whichever way they wish, and although some structure can be built into a webessay, moving beyond linearity requires authors to give up some of their power and control to their readers. In particular contrast with traditional academic writing the opportunities to conclude are limited, as a reader may exit the work in any of a number of ways. This is in stark contrast to traditional approaches which encourage the student to look at several arguments and bring them to a conclusion.
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There are also challenges for assessment. A traditional marking scheme is not equipped to deal with marking on visual criteria or on good linking. There are issues with authorship and ownership as well as potential audiences.
How can we harness these atributes to make
them work for non-traditional students??
