Linear thinking vs. hypertext thinking

"Critical thinking is the development of cohesive and logical reasoning patterns." Stahl and Stahl, 1991
In linear writing, it is much easier for me to format my thoughts. I found that in hypertext writing, I would often write myself in circles, with no distinct "end" point. However, in website form, it is more acceptable to do this because of internal links.
"Critical thinking skills: understanding the meaning of a statement, judging ambiguity, judging whether an inductive conclusion is warranted, and judging whether statements made by authorities are acceptable."
Smith, 1990. In dealing with linear writing, ambiguity is easier to address without making the reader feel like you just forgot to add a webpage or a link. However, I think it is easier to address the opinions and your own judgements on the opinions of authors in hypertext because you can link out to their opinions and let the reader do some judgement for themselves.
"Critical thinking is "the art of thinking about your thinking while you are thinking in order to make your thinking better: more clear, more accurate, or more defensible."
Paul, Binker, Adamson, and Martin (1989)
In doing the hypertexts, I found that I was able to more easily challenge my own thinking because of the free- flowing format a website offers. It allows you to go off on tangents when needed, or to stay focused. In going off on tangents, I found that often I would contradict myself and this caused me to reevaluate what my point really was. In a linear format, I would have just stuck with a point and gone with it, regardless of if my thinking shifted. In contradicting myself, I found that I could make a more accurate point and get to the heart of what I was really trying to say. And in finding the contradictions myself, I could better prepare myself to combat holes in my writing and thinking.