Rhetorics of the Web: Index

Index to the Index (Jump to Major Sections)

Introduction
Cluster 1: Some background explorations of hypertext writing on the web.
Cluster 2: Explorations of hypertext rhetoric: A polylog of optimistic, cynical and just plain questioning voice.: 2.1: Hypertext, rhetoric, philosophy--Why all of this matters.; 2.2: Genres, Forms and Functions.
Cluster 3: Effects of hypertext on its readers and writers.: 3.1: Readers.; 3.2: Writers.
Cluster 4: What this means to teachers.
Extras (References, Comments, Annotations)
And now the details:

A Way In Introduction to this Web.: Further Discussion of the Rhetorical Form of This Text Some of the choices I found myself making.

My Sunny Predictions about Electronic Text An optimistic voice--a summary of my 1991 article predicting that electronic text would change outdated notions of intellectual property. Mainly background.
Few Native Hypertexts Some speculations about why there are so few argumentative hypertexts in scholarly discourse. A bit digressive but sets up the context for the argument.
Is hypertext really different from print text? Print is intertextual too. Does it matter?: Landow on the Uniqueness of Hypertext Quotation expanding on the above.
What's Special about Hypertext on the WWWeb? A brief argument that hypertext is qualitatively different on the Web--more background. Nelson's Xanadu Page A link out to Ted Nelson's conception of the "docuverse" of webbed material.
"Brent's Law" on the Effects of Media A major theoretical lens.: The Theory of Transformative Technology Background on this theory, useful for those not already steeped in McLuhan, Ong, Bolter, et al.; Nancy Kaplan' on Technological Determinism A caveat on transformation theory.
Postmodern Critical Theory A background note.

Is Hypertext Friendly to Argumentative Rhetoric? The crux of my argument about the rhetoric of hypertext.: Philosophy and Rhetoric, Argument and Exploration Distinctions among these terms to explore my argument.
Exploratory Rhetoric Backing up on myself: maybe "argument" is too narrow a definition of rhetoric. Is Hypertext Formless? An elaboration of the importance of form plus some self-criticism of my suggestion that hypertext lacks form because it lacks linearity.: Ess' "Modernity and Postmodernism" A link out to Charles Ess's article suggesting that some modernist ideas of determinant form may linger in hypertext.

Hypertext Genres An overview of the idea of "genre" as a meaning-making set of forms (a la Miller and Bazerman); poses the question of whether hypertext has enough "form" to sustain rhetoric.: Bazerman on Rhetorical Analyses of Genres An extended quotation from Bazerman.
Hypertext Rhetorical Forms Some preliminary speculations on what specific principles might guide hypertext form.: Kolb's List of Hypertext Forms A list from Kolb's "Socrates in the Labyrynth."; December on HT Characteristics and Qualities A list from December's "Living in Hypertext."
Hypertext Rhetorical Functions A discussion of how hypertext forms grow out of different hypertext functions.: Bolter on Form in Hypertext Fiction A quotation that suggests the link between form and function in the genre of hypertext fiction.; Barager on Form in Information Retrieval A link to a lit review that suggests the link between form and function in the most "classic" hypertext genre.; "Hypertext Theory as if the WWWeb Matters" A digression to a site that gives some of Jorn Barger's personal speculations on hypertext forms.

Reading Hypertext An opening move in my darker ponderings, based on some disturbing analogies between hypertext and television.: Surfing Web Pages Why many personal and academic web pages have no more coherences than television.; Myron Tuman on Zapping A depressing but interesting quotation from Tuman that extends the analogy between hypertext, television and Cliff's Notes.; "Now . . . This": Neil Postman on Television A quotation that captures Postman's view of television as an assault on relevant connection.; McLuhan Hot and Cool A less depressing account of television using McLuhan's framework of analysis.; Michael Heim on Reflection Heim's concerns about electric speed, without the television analogy.; Michael Heim on Discipline Heim's suggestion for a remedy.
Cognitive Growth Speculations on why a diet of hypertext could stunt cognitive growth.: Perry on Cognitive Development An extended background discussion of William Perry's work by Joanne Kurfiss.

Writing Hypertext Possible negative effects of hypertext on those who write it.: Tuman's Comments on Kaplan Tuman's response to Kaplan's "E-literacies" article, in which Tuman elaborates on his concerns about hypertext and literacy.
E-literacies A link to the Kaplan hypertext article that Tuman is responding to (how recursive!).
Papyrocentric Attitudes In which I question my own doom and gloom, and segue into some teacherly concerns.: Plato on Writing Plato's famous denunciation of writing, by way of suggesting that we don't always know much about the media we use.; Kaplan on participating in the electronic world A link out to Kaplan's plea for teachers to find out more about these new media.

Our Role as Teachers A fundamental question: do we resist or embrace the new world of hyperliteracy?: The Clickable Classroom What we're resisting or embracing.
Teaching Hypertext Genres An introduction to the idea of teaching hypertext as a genre.
Flexible Tools for Hypertext Literacy How to, sort of, maybe.
Comments and Annotations Additional material from readers and afterthoughts from me.