The whole issue of Sparknotes is very interesting to me. Never really having used Sparknotes, I am in some way ‘out of the loop.’ I do agree with your point that when a teacher introduces a novel by saying, “here - read this, test next Thursday,” it is more than a little disheartening to the student (especially one who, from the get go, wasn’t excited about English class). If students want to use Sparknotes as a companion to the reading, I have no problem with that; I actually think it is a very good idea. However, if it a substitute for the work then that is wrong.
I think one way of discouraging kids to substitute Sparknotes for the novel would be to introduce the novel and say, “We are going to be reading MacBeth and you are more than welcome to use Sparknotes to help you get through it if need be; however, don’t count on Sparknotes to get you through, or even an A on the test. The test will consist of more than what Sparknotes can offer you.” Then, back that up by making a test with several open-ended yet pointed questions. I really think you could make a test that would separate those who actually did the work from those who just used Sparknotes. I wouldn’t call Sparknotes cheating, because the students aren’t plagiarizing nor are they copying another student’s work; however, I would call it laziness. I really think, as you mention, it is about the student’s drive to do the work, but I also think it has a lot to do with the teacher and how they present the piece of literature. Perhaps it is a 60/40 relationship.
- Written by an English teacher on a blog about Sparknotes
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Well I think this covers the proffesor angle for the use of sparknotes and books. In relating to the topic at hand, the future of books, I think it shows a mature attitude which should be emulated by all of us: which would be getting of our asses and relying on more than sparknotes and other literary information sites to get the job done when it comes to readings and stuff. We need to stop using technology as a supplement for what weve been able to do all along, like you know, pick up a book and imagine it in our heads. Im good with technological advancement, but no at the expense of human skills. My thesis would probably somewhere along the Road of books advancing technologically while we use them only as a complement to our education.
ReplyDeleteby Andres Novoa
This would help support the fact that technological advancements are not bad, but shouldnt be used instead of books. This new methods that help comprehension should do only that, the book should be the primary source students and adults should look for. The other htings is for people who have trouble with the written material. However lazy people use this sources as the only way of obtaining information because they are much shorter. They are only hurting themselves since the shorther version can't contain all those important details that are really needed.
ReplyDeleteAgain, this has to do with technological advancements. I find interesting this person's opinion because for most teachers Sparknotes is plain bad and wrong. I would use this source to display the idea of laziness and how also technological advances can affect literature, and make people become lazy with something that backs them up. Yes, it would be ideal that students used Sparknotes as a support besides the reading, but the majority won't.
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