"Chunk" Your Content
"Chunking" is the process of dividing information
into small, clear pieces. It is the most difficult part of the
Web writing process because it requires deciding which information
is important, what information to present, and how to organize
it.
Organize Material by Category or Concept
Crawford Killian, author of Writing for the Web, recommends
that authors complete a "clustering" exercise to
organize information before writing.4 He tells authors to—
- Write their ideas about everything that should be covered.
- Cluster similar ideas around specific concepts or themes.
For example, some information will be clearly introductory, or
related to background, findings, or implications.
- Use the clusters as the basis for the document's organization.
Avoid Linear or Narrative Organization
Linear and narrative formats—in which information must be presented in a specific order—generally don't work well online. Of course, some exceptions apply, such as online learning tools and sequentially based instruction.
Use Links Appropriately
Incorporating links to background material is an excellent
way to chunk information. However, never use an embedded link
at the bottom of one page simply to link to the top of the next
page (e.g., "Continued on Next Page"). Instead, divide
the information into smaller chunks on more pages.
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