Response to Comprehension, Coherence and Strategies in Hypertext and Linear Text by Foltz, Peter W.

Foltz compares linear text and hypertext in terms of reading strategies and comprehension in his article. When the form of information is converted from linear text to hypertext, the writer needs to be aware of the coherence between each piece of information to create effective hyperlinks for reading comprehension. Hypertext is superior to linear text because it can insert various links to the background knowledge or supplementary information related to the article. In the author’s experiment, the more elaborate coherent nodes and mapping in the modified version of hypertext are very helpful for readers’ comprehension and easier for them to find the information they want. It also helps the readers to synthesize the information efficiently. However, the task of making coherent hypertext is not easy and I doubt the possibility of making one that suits every reader’s need. Sometimes it is hard to anticipate what specific background knowledge the readers need. Also, some links might lead to the information that is independent from the context in the article. Therefore, choosing which information to be included is crucial in creating hypertext.