Can you believe that Ender's Game is in spark notes? Who would actually rather read a bunch of notes on the book instead of reading it? It's not like they're reading Walden or Pilgrim at Tinker Creek.
Posted by Epictetus (Member # 6235) on :
Don't feel too bad, they have Harry Potter in Spark Notes too.
I recently saw a survey that told how many Americans had read a novel, short story or poem in the last year. It was really sad...something like 30% or something.
Does anyone know the survey I'm talking about, or am I just sounding like an idiot again?
Posted by Carrie (Member # 394) on :
I hate SparkNotes, if only because many of the papers on the Iliad I had to grade came from there. Jerks.
Posted by kojabu (Member # 8042) on :
They have Harry Potter in spark notes? That seems weird to me.
Posted by Raia (Member # 4700) on :
o_O
Ender's Game seems weirder. Harry Potter is a worldwide sensation, and everyone talks about it ALL the time. Ender's Game should be a worldwide sensation, but it's not nearly as well known. That's such a random choice for spark notes.
Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
Except EG is required reading in a fair number of lit classes out there.
Posted by Raia (Member # 4700) on :
Is it? I wish it had been that way at MY school...
That makes more sense then. I didn't know that.
Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
Wasn't in my school either, but so I've heard.
Posted by Katarain (Member # 6659) on :
I love spark notes. I'll admit I have used it if I can't finish a book on time, but it's also great for review and commentary. It's a tool. You use it how you use it.
Just because some people cheat doesn't make spark notes a bad thing. At least teachers know about it and can look for cheaters. Posted by kojabu (Member # 8042) on :
quote:Harry Potter is a worldwide sensation, and everyone talks about it ALL the time.
It's because of that that I don't understand why it needs Sparknotes. More often than not a person has read them. Sparknotes, to me - at least from high school knowledge of them, are used for lesser known books that you just don't want to read for class.
[ October 02, 2005, 11:16 AM: Message edited by: kojabu ]
Posted by Raia (Member # 4700) on :
I had a teacher once who recommended we check out the spark notes as well as reading the actual novel. Often I'll do that, just for some insights into analysis and stuff. I agree, Katarain, it definitely can be a useful tool.
As to what you're saying, kojabu: Maybe it's there so people who haven't read it can carry an intelligent conversation with those who have?
Yeah, it doesn't make sense to me either.
Posted by erosomniac (Member # 6834) on :
quote:I had a teacher once who recommended we check out the spark notes as well as reading the actual novel. Often I'll do that, just for some insights into analysis and stuff. I agree, Katarain, it definitely can be a useful tool.
My teachers recommended the same thing: while I think it can be helpful, you also run the risk of absorbing another person's ideas as your own, thereby stifling any critical thinking or creative thought on your part. It happened to me several times: I just adopted the opinion I thought was good, rather than trying to form an opinion of my own first.
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I didn't know that.
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