Web Writing:  Theory and Practice
of Digital Rhetoric

 

Assignment--

Hypertext Repurposing


Topic:  Choose a 3-4 page assignment you have recently written for another class at Villanova and  turn it into a "hypertext" following these guidelines:
  • The Homepage:  Create a well-designed homepage for the repurposed text which follows CRAPP principles, has a strong visual focal point and several graphic elements which you create using Photoshop.  Many of these elements will be repeated on other pages linked to this homepage.  The homepage should contain a a very short textual introduction to the repurposing assignment.  The homepage should be no bigger/longer than one screen = 800 X 600 pixels.
     

  • Create at least 6 links from this homepage, 1 to your repurposed text illustrated with graphics, 3 to original web pages and 2 links to outside sources.

    Instructions for repurposed hypertext page:
     

    • Cut your original text in half--the more visual medium of hypertext does not lend itself well to long passages of type.  Limit is 500 words.

    • Chunk the remaining text
    • Break it up with visuals, pictures, graphics, white space, subheads, bullets
      Be sure your text still reads well--even with all the cuts to the original. It should have an introduction, thesis (if conventional academic paper), and a conclusion.
    • Follow this advice about designing text-based web pages.
       
    Instructions for the three original web pages

    These pages will repeat many of the elements you established in the homepage for this assignment.  The pages can be quite basic, but each should illustrate a different hypertextual purpose.
     

    • One page must be a 200 word analysis in two paragraphs: one paragraph which describes what in the original text is lost in hypertext repurposing; the other should describe what is gained.  Remember to avoid large chunks of non-illustrated text.

    Here are some ideas for your pages (yours) or links (outside this assignment) just in case you need them:
     

    • Informative links about some aspect of your paper--your own and/or others' words (50 words, if they are yours, are enough)
    • A purely visual/graphic expression of an idea/statement in the original text--probably best with a caption of some kind.
    • A page which relates your personal life to the original text in some way
    • Your own poem or short prose fiction (one paragraph--50 words) related to the text
    • Someone else's poem or short prose fiction or flash art related to the text

More Suggestions:

Caution:  It's generally not a good idea to mix photos and cartoonish drawings.