Linear & Non Linear Text

By: Amos , Athirah, Samihah, Hamirah

Linear Text

 Linear text is the material we are used to reading in

books, magazines, newspapers.
 The content is displayed in a straight line of
paragraphs and pages from beginning to end.
 Readers are expected to read the material in the order
in which it appears on the page.
Disadvantages of Linear Text

 can be monotonous reading and lack appeal to second

language readers.
 The absence of audio-visual inputs only adds to the
dreariness of reading linear texts like long articles,
journals and textbooks.
 linear texts is that they can also be difficult to
comprehend.
Non Linear Text

 Not in a fixed sequence.

 Differ from reading to reading because of the shape,
structure, or mechanisms of the text.
 Graphic organizers
 Disadvantages of Non Linear Text
 The main problem of using non-linear texts is the issue of
consistency in reading.
 Finding consistency in reading non-linear texts is more
difficult especially for second language readers.
 Results in difficulties to assimilate old information and new
knowledge.
 Readers who are ambiguity intolerant might be used to the
traditional text that requires readers to read from front to
back (Church, 2001) and therefore, when this linearity is
taken away, they face difficulty to even start reading.
By using linear or non linear text, is it
a good way for students to learn or
would it be a challenge for them?
Advantages in using Linear & Non
Linear Text
 While the linearity of linear texts makes it rigid, linear
texts provide beneficial structural cues that help
students with comprehension
 As for non-linear texts, these structural cues are
absent but by processing non-linear texts, students
also develop skills to construct meaning through
information transfer and scanning for specific
information.