Prose Analysis in HYPERTEXT

Hypertext and Hypermedia are new ways of presenting and browsing through information. They have been made possible by electronic technology, and need a computer to work. They are revolutionary in that they enable us to absorb information in a more natural way than with paper-based books and pictures.

Hypertext is text which contains links to other texts. Hypermedia is hypertext which also contains other media, such as graphics, sound, and video. Both these terms were coined in 1965 by Ted Nelson, a visionary guru of hypertext.

Drawing by Ted Nelson from Computer Lib/Dream Machines. Courtesy Ted Nelson.

Step 1: Research

Research the items you wish to link in your text.  You might research such things as:

• author biography
  
• criticisms about your author
  
• vocabulary
  
• allusions
  
• instances of intertextuality

NOTE: Be sure to save the URL addresses for your research in case you need to cite the page or link to the page later.

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Step 2:  Create Hypertext Documents

You can link to specific web pages, but some information you may need to synthesize and create on your own.  In which case, you'll create a word document and save it as a PDF file.  Your links (web pages and/or PDFs) might include such things as:

• author information
  
• vocabulary 
  
• allusions
  
• instances of inertextuality
  
• art
  
• video clips
  
• explanations of connotations and denotations
  
• explication of text (explanation of literary devices or rhetorical strategies)
  
• style markers (notices of author's repeated use of theme or favored imagery, etc)
  

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Step 3: Edit Your Hypertext Page

A.  Now you are ready to input your hypertext project.  Cut and paste the literature text from these links.
MAYA ANGELOU
NICHOLSON BAKER
TRUMAN CAPOTE
J.M. COETZEE
NIKO KAZANTAZAKIS
LESLIE MARMON SILKO
JOHN UPDIKE

B. Then, go to the Prose Analysis in HYPERTEXT wikispace.  Once there, you'll find the link for your page; click on it.  When you are on your page, click "Edit" 

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