Web sites that allow users to click a tab or a link to access the information they want make finding information online easier than finding it in a printed book. But not all Web sites are created equal. Some may organize information illogically or force viewers to link from screen to screen to access the information they need.
ANALYZE & WRITE
Write a paragraph or two analyzing the effectiveness of the organizational strategies used in Mapping Memory:
- In terms of helping readers understand the workings of human memory, do you think Making Memories, Storing Memories, and Forgetting are the best categories to focus on? In what other way(s) could National Geographic have categorized the information presented on the Mapping Memory site? What advantages would this alternative categorization have for readers?
- Take another look at the pages for Making Memories, Storing Memories, and Forgetting. Do you think there are enough cues and road signs to help readers understand what the page links and features will cover? Conversely, does anything seem distracting, redundant, or unclear?