What’s your opinion of the cognitive burdens on the following sites? Please include generous samples and URLs in your position statement.

Examine the prose at http://www.mysimon.com, a buyer’s guide. Remember, if you have to think, that counts as a cognitive burden. Well, at least if you feel confused or in doubt, and have to try to figure something out, then the writer has failed to be clear enough. Please look at three different pages on the site, and report on your overall impression.

Basically, you are on the prowl to see whether or not the pages are following our guidelines, and if not, to show them how they ought to revise their text, to be in full compliance. Send your compliments or suggestions to the site.

Look at one of these areas:

• Advice on security and practical money skills at http://www.visa.com
• Education at http://www.mastercard.com/education
• Travel tips at http://travel.americanexpress.com/travel/
  personal/resources/tips/

Clear enough? Does the text make you scratch your head? Does the text follow our guidelines, and reduce cognitive burdens?

If you see ways that the text could be improved, please quote an example and show your rewrite. Arrange these rewrites under the guidelines in this chapter. Send your suggestions to the site.