Using hypertext to organize resources and present information

Hypertext can be a very good tool for organizing instructional materials and for students' presentation of their work. Below are some example of how hypertext can be used to present historical information.

History of the Anti-Saloon League 1893-1933 is an example of a linear narrative that has been enhanced with links to information that is not essential to the central narrative. Instead the information found in the links fills in the context or background of the word or phrase linked. The links at the top of this document are anchors to text within the linear narrative. In other words these links just drop you to a point on the page you are viewing. The other links take the reader to information on the same web site. For example the first link in the narrative is on Rev. Howard Hyde Russell. This link will take you a different page on the same web site with information about Rev. Howard. A few of the links are to images of primary source documents. Navigation is not built into this site.

A Tale of Two Countries is a comparative historical essay on England and France during revolution of 1848. The site is a good example of how to deconstruct a linear narrative with navigational controls. Along the left side are links 4 content areas (introduction, background, 1848, and conclusion) and 3 separate informational layers (literature, sources, author). The conclusion section also contain non-content information. Within the sections on background and 1848 are links to sub-components of the narrative. Note, that the narrative nodes have very few linked words or phrases.

The Electronic Labyrinth is a hypertext presentation on the implications of hypertext for writers. Although this is not a historical project it is an elegant demonstration of hypertext. Within the pages of this site are texts of various lengths. All of the pages have links, but very few are external. Each users experience will be very unique because the authors do not promote any one link (or direction) over another. The authors have constructed an image with navigation that is always on the top of the page. The navigation scheme offers the information on the site to users in a variety of ways (through a table of contents, a bibliography, a timeline, and an index.

Examples of hypertext papers on George Washington's views on government's role from Georgia State university education students

Examples of student work using the Valley of the Shadow

• Cornell university professor Fritz Umbach’s course – “Mucking around with the past: US history with primary sources 1789-1914”
• HIUS 403: Digital History and the American Civil War taught by Edward L. Ayers and William G. Thomas, III

Other resources

• What is good hypertext writing?
• Hypertext and writing: An overview of the hypertext medium
• Explorations in hypertext April 27, 2000 The Guardian
• Short History of Hypertext
• Techniques for writing good online documents
• Studies in Hypertext from the English Department at the University of Central Florida
• Hypertext Gardens: Delightful Vistas

ONLINE ACTIVITY - Browse the hypertext examples listed above

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Web address http://msit.gsu.edu/socialstudies/culver/teaching_hypertext.htm
Maintained and operated by John K. Lee jklee@gsu.edu
Last Modified: 06/06/02