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Hypertext is like a link, only better.  Hypertext is text that connects you to other links.  The key thing here is that the link is in the text that is in a blog post or something of that sort.  Hypertext will take you directly to the website or source of additional information with just one click.  Ted Nelson is the person responsible for the word, or term hypertext.  His interest in this topic became the Xanadu project.  Back in the 1960’s when this term was coined, hypertext wasn’t used the same way that it is today. 

 In this present time, I read hypertext quite often.  For some of my other classes, I read hypertext and I have found it very helpful.  But it isn’t always just words.  Sometimes, hypertext will be pictures or graphics that will be the link to those other sites.  Not only can hypertext be pictures or graphics but the link could also be a picture.  For example, if I were writing about rottweilers and I had a picture of one in my post, then I could use that to link to additional information.   There are many options like those listed above that authors use depending on what they are writing about. 

 Although they are both usually just words, I think that hypertext is very different than paper text.  For one thing, hypertext doesn’t have to be linear like paper text is.  Paper text is the same words over and over no matter how many times that you read it.  On the other hand, hypertext can change from time to time.  A link might be changed or the author might add more information.  Sometimes, authors try to make it so that you can not have the same experience twice.  It would be hard to have the same experience as another person anyways, so different people will get different things out of an author’s writing. 

 Although hypertext seems fairly easy, I definitely believe that it presents some challenges for both the reader and the writer.  One of the challenges that I think hypertext will present for the writer is he fact that it can sometimes be hard to find useful and reliable sources for their writing.  Also, it could be hard to incorporate a link in their writing because they might have a hard time trying to find just the right word to put the link on.  Another challenge could be that author might not get their point across with the hypertext.  Some of the challenges that there would be for the reader would be the possibility of a reader getting distracted bored or confused while reading additional resources.  Another challenge that hypertext could present to the reader would be that they might not fully get the point of the author’s hypertext.  These are some of the challenges that hypertext might present for the writer and the reader.

 I believe that there are a few things that you need to consider while writing with hypertext.  For one thing, you, as the author, have to keep the links relevant.  Another thing is that you need to find good, reliable sources for your reader.  Finally, you have to accept the idea that the hypertext might not work the way that you want it too at first. 

 As a reader of hypertext, there are many things that I can learn about hypertext by reading it.  For example, I know when there are too many links because I will get tired of them.  For another thing, you would know what could be considered relevant sources and use that as a guide.  Also, you can use hypertext writings as examples to help you. 

 In conclusion, I believe that I have learned a ton about hypertext.  As well as history and a general definition, I have also learned how to write using it.  Since I am a reader of hypertext, I have a better idea on how I should use hypertext in my writing.  Hopefully, everything that I have learned about hypertext will help me with my hypertext writing. 

Clicking, By Simply. “What Is Hypertext?” Mason Academic Research System (mason.gmu.edu). Web. 23 Nov. 2010. <http://mason.gmu.edu/~montecin/hypertext.htm>.

“Hypertext Essay.” Ms Hogue’s Online English Resources. Web. 16 Nov. 2010. <http://www.mshogue.com/ce9/hypertext/htx_essay.htm>.

“Hypertext.” Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Web. 16 Nov. 2010. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypertext>.

“What Is Hypertext?” World Wide Web Consortium (W3C). Web. 16 Nov. 2010. <http://www.w3.org/WhatIs.html>.