Diagrams are a vital tool to explaining and describing a known element. They are a useful visual display that can greatly help in simplifying a complex system or theory. Diagrams function by illustrating their element and trying to make each key point visibly known. Within the two-dimensional system of writing, diagrams can only explain visually and through labeling. Their points can be adequately explained and their purpose is fulfilled. But, a diagram can do much more within virtual writing and digital text. On the web is where diagrams can really live up to their full potential as learning aids. Digital diagrams can be far from stationary like paper diagrams. They can be interactive and move about on the monitor. Digital diagrams can consist of many hyperlinks that can jettison the viewer across cyberspace. The possibilities seem endless. They could include sound, that acoustically illustrates a fact or even videos embedded within the diagram. The only ramifications to using diagrams online is that it loses some credibility if it is not from a reliable source.
The diagram that I selected functions as a learning device by visually explaining the human digestive system. The original context of the diagram has been construed in a way because it has been extracted from its original text. The diagram still fulfills its purpose of explaining the human digestive system but it could explain it better if it were accompanied by its original text. The reason being, the original text would have had more information than what the diagram is supplying. The text would have detailed descriptions of all the displayed body parts like the stomach or liver. The responsibilities of a writer when extracting a diagram from its original text is to explain to the audience that the extraction has taken place. Therefore allowing the audience the knowledge that the diagram is more fully explained in another place (its original text). This particular diagram shown above has many important details. The organs are clearly illustrated and drawn in a manner that is visually pleasing. All of the organs illustrated are labeled with clear lines and text. If it were up to me I would add a few things to this diagram. I would add a title to the diagram stating, "Human Digestive System" and I would also label the mouth because that is were digestion truly begins.
-Jeremy B
