From this English 138 class, I have learned to successfully compose a hypertext. At first, I was very unconfident with how to approach the first hypertext (the personal hypertext). I was not familiar with Dream Weaver or any aspect of web design. I had no idea where to start. I have learned that composing a hypertext is different from a regular linear essay. Linear essays are direct and easy to compose whereas hypertexts can lead to different pages and ideas. I always like to plan out everything I have to type, so I know exactly what I want to say. I was able to use this method with my personal hypertext and the analytical hypertext. However, I was unable to use this method with my final hypertext. It seems that in my final project, I was composing one page at a time instead of figuring out how I was going to structure the entire site from the beginning. I was overwhelmed with the complexity of web design. I had to link all the pages and it got confusing as to what page links to what. I feel my knowledge of web making has increased and improved and I am happy with the result.

Also, writing the review of the literature and the annotated bibliography had helped me to choose what content to place on the sites. They also helped me with composing the linear version. Composing these hypertexts was more difficult than other writing projects because they contained more dimensions instead of typing a regular essay in Microsoft Word. I had to learn how to use the program and also how to structure my linear essay based on the web text. The linear essay did not help me to revise my web pages because I looked to the web text to compose my linear essay instead of vice versa.

The definitions of critical thinking that I agree with the most are the ones by Victor P. Maiorana, Daniel J. Kurland, and the MCC General Education Initiatives. I agree with Maiorana that you evaluate different points of views in critical thinking to achieve understanding of the subject matter. With Kurland, I agree that one should be open-minded and not biased while critical thinking. Also with the MCC General Education Initiatives’s definition, I believe that critical thinking involves the distinguishing between facts and personal opinions. One cannot be biased. I believe that one should analyze all the facts and data before summoning up an opinion on the matter. That is how I approached the material for my analytical and civic engagement hypertexts.

I have learned to critically analyze reading material and to understand the messages enough to participate in the class discussion forums. I have also learned to compose hypertexts. My analysis of readings and to differentiate fact from opinion will enable me to fairly form my own opinions about certain matters.

I hope that my civic-engagement website will be recommended to someone by someone who has been affected by the issue. I feel that media’s involvement in stereotyping women and young girls in society is a major issue. I hope my website has presented enough facts to help the reader understand the importance of the issue. My site should reach all women, parents, children, even men---and society as a whole. Stereotyping is common and all people can relate to these restrictions.

My ideas regarding hypertextual composing and research writing has changed over the course of the term. I have become aware that I cannot form opinions on the subject matter without seeing all the facts, all the aspects, and all the points of view. Without all the information, I cannot truly make a complete decision on the matter. Composing and writing about something cannot involve biasness and one’s own opinion without seeing all the facts.

The informal writing on the forum did affect my learning. It has helped me to see other people’s views on the materials we have read. Also, it helped me to better understand the reading because it forced me to closely analyze the reading, understand it, and participate in critical thinking.

For document design, I wanted to design my web pages so they were neat and organized. I did not want the reader to be overwhelmed with too much clutter. I wanted to make it simple to get my message across. I want the reader to be immersed in the text rather than the pictures. I feel the message is more important than making the site beautiful. However, I did try to make the site appealing. Hence, the pictures I chose and the lack background with pink font.

If I were to continue working on my site, I would try to fix the design of the site. I feel my web design options are a little amateur because I have never participated in web design. I am technologically deficient. I would like my next website to look a little more professional and to make it seem like I have somewhat of an experience in the web design field.

A website composing final project may be a good idea in my Ethics & Gender class. It is from this class that I have gained inspiration to compose my civic-engagement project. The relations between ethics & gender and the stereotypes involved in media and society has sparked an interest in me. I like to discover the underlying tones in society and how these views are sparked and influenced. I am interested in how gender ties into all aspects of society because society is comprised of various stereotypes. In my Ethics & Gender class, there should be a final project on any aspect of ethics and gender that interests the student. I feel that would be an interesting and fun project to research and compose.

Here are the components of my website:
1 main splash page
A personal hypertext that consists of 14 pages, around 3 internal links per page, and 3916 words.
An analytical hypertext that consists of 19 pages, around 3 internal links per page, 5318 words, and a linear essay with 4902 words.
A civic-engagement hypertext that consists of 23 pages, around 2 internal links per page, 8907 words, and a linear essay with 8770 words.
1 learning essay page
(* note = The number of words excludes the words on my splash page, the review of the literature in both my analytical and civic-engagement hypertexts, and on this learning essay page.)