Sparknotes - Yea, or nay?

[Mutatis-Mutandis]

In my latest lit class, my professor (a favorite of mine whom I trust immensely) is pretty anti-Sparknotes, but she never elucidated on why she feels this way (I could ask, just never have). She advocates for the use of a site called Literature Online.

Now, I love Sparknotes. Here's what I use it for: I use it for its chapter summaries for more difficult texts, just so I can keep up with what's going on. I also use it for its character lists, again so I can keep things straight. I also sometimes read the section analysis WITH the full realization that it's just one interpretation and not universally agreed upon, though I do find it interesting and I think it does help better understand a work.

What I don't use it for: serious research, inspiration for class discussion points (cheating, in my book), and anything else that what I listed above.

So, what are your thoughts on Sparknotes? For what I described above, yea or nay? For more than what I described above, yea or nay?

[Venerable Bede]

I don't like Sparknotes. I have known many fellow students who love it and advocate it, but I've never used it. I suppose it's useful for chapter summaries and character lists as you say. My main problem is that the site seems to be run by mostly 14 year old girls; therefore, their expertise in literature isn't really useful to me. It could be useful to struggling high school students I suppose, but university level students should never use it for research or formulating opinions.

[Mutatis-Mutandis]

I don't like Sparknotes. I have known many fellow students who love it and advocate it, but I've never used it.
I don't advocate it for high school student use at all, unless the students use it for help like I do, but 99% of students don't use it for that. They use it to get the summaries and analysis in lue of doing the actual reading. Very frustrating for a teacher.

I suppose it's useful for chapter summaries and character lists as you say. My main problem is that the site seems to be run by mostly 14 year old girls; therefore, their expertise in literature isn't really useful to me.
The site seems to be run by 14-year-old girls with all the stupid prom and "does that cute boy like me" articles. But, having read a couple of those, it seems clear to me that they are probably written by dudes in their 30s.

The chapter summaries and analysis aren't written in the same way, though.

but university level students should never use it for research or formulating opinions.
Agreed.

[MystyrMystyry]

I think that for every person who does the right thing there are 99 others who don't

I think for every person who doesn't throw a spanner in the works there are 99.9 million disgruntled who will

Further, I know someone who got their B.A. in lit using only notes and never read a single course book (because she wasn't a reader - go figure on the choice of subject)

They might have their uses as a way to help get through college and even open your eyes to something you'd otherwise miss, but you'd leapfrog the surprise, the new discovery that you make when re-reading years later for your own pleasure - but then again the course books get discussed again and again, and every jetty's got a green light

[Mutatis-Mutandis]

Further, I know someone who got their B.A. in lit using only notes and never read a single course book (because she wasn't a reader - go figure on the choice of subject)
Well, that's just very sad and unfortunate. Did you admonish her? I would've found it hard not to.

[Buh4Bee]

I think Sparknotes are basic. If you are using them for a basic purpose, they can be helpful. For serious literature majors, I would assume that they can work with the primary material without a need for Sparknotes. I agree though, I really like Sparknotes myself. Every once in a while, I google a book I am reading and end up reading the Sparknotes just for curiosity's sake.

[virgo27]

I bet most people on here hate Sparknotes.

[Lokasenna]

Further, I know someone who got their B.A. in lit using only notes and never read a single course book (because she wasn't a reader - go figure on the choice of subject)


Just out of interest, do you know what her degree classification was? I'm assuming it wasn't high. Frankly, I'm surprised Sparknotes was enough to get a degree at all - it must have been by the skin of her teeth, surely?

[Mutatis-Mutandis]

I bet most people on here hate Sparknotes.
Why, though?

[The Comedian]

MM- your use of Sparknotes sounds totally legit to me. Hell, you're really only using it for ease of reference and for basic plot points with reading the original text also.

As a teacher, the simple reasons for why I dislike it are these:


students will use it just to "pass the quiz"
students will use it INSTEAD of reading the text and to then "write the paper"
students will use it to show that "you don't really need to read the book at all"
and so on. . .


What do all these have in common? It's that the great amount of students (as Mystry pointed out) is that will use Sparknotes to replace the reading experience. Which is dishonest, and that (literally and metaphorically) is a crime.

[MystyrMystyry]

Actually I only responded to the original post without realising Sparknotes was a website - what I was referring to was a series of publications called Monarch Notes and Jewel Notes etc. They were comprehensive, with each title devoted to just one work of literature, I imagine it was very feasible to pass high with them.

I didn't actually see her much during the course of her study, only discovered this nugget much later - but now she works in local government, so there may be something in what goes around comes around

[lieasleep]

Why, though?

Honestly, I know this is not answering the question in the way you want it answered but I don't like it or the whole 13 year old girls thing, again. Those articles on there really piss me off.

[virgo27]

MM-Because some people are literary snobs and are above something like Sparknotes. (That's a joke!)

Seriously though, I think many readers prefer to read without the influence of an alternative analysis. They enjoy reading for the pleasure of their own thought process.

[lieasleep]

MM-Because some people are literary snobs and are above something like Sparknotes. (That's a joke!)

Seriously though, I think many readers prefer to read without the influence of an alternative analysis. They enjoy reading for the pleasure of their own thought process.

I think that that is why readers SHOULD enjoy reading I know a lot of readers who do not read for that reason. I think the truly critical readers (making up most of this forum's population) dislike sparknotes because it does not foster any critical reasoning with any value (and/or better explicated interpretation) because of its inherently limited nature.

[virgo27]

I agree, but I thought that was clear. Guess not.

[Mutatis-Mutandis]

Honestly, I know this is not answering the question in the way you want it answered but I don't like it or the whole 13 year old girls thing, again. Those articles on there really piss me off.
Well, that's just marketing, and yes, it is annoying. However, if there is a site with a more comprehensive database of "the classics" that offer chapter summaries (which is what I use it for mostly), I haven't found it. If it does exist, I'd love to know what it is.

Seriously though, I think many readers prefer to read without the influence of an alternative analysis. They enjoy reading for the pleasure of their own thought process.


I think that that is why readers SHOULD enjoy reading I know a lot of readers who do not read for that reason. I think the truly critical readers (making up most of this forum's population) dislike sparknotes because it does not foster any critical reasoning with any value (and/or better explicated interpretation) because of its inherently limited nature.
Sparknotes only does what you describe if you let it. Looking up plot points after reading doesn't really interfere with critical thinking.

[Motherof8]

I thought Spark Notes was created by college students, not by 14 year old girls. They have a sample SAT test on that site.

[kelby_lake]

I use it to clarify certain things in the novel that I found unclear, and also to keep up with characters if there is a large cast. Also helps you to identify key chapters.

[TurquoiseSunset]

Here's what I use it for: I use it for its chapter summaries for more difficult texts, just so I can keep up with what's going on. I also use it for its character lists, again so I can keep things straight. I also sometimes read the section analysis WITH the full realization that it's just one interpretation and not universally agreed upon, though I do find it interesting and I think it does help better understand a work.

Yay, for the reasons quoted above. I used Sparknotes last year (or the one before) when I read Inferno.