SparkNotes
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
SparkNotes, originally part of a website called The Spark, is a company started by Sam Yagan, Max Krohn, and Chris Coyne in 1999 that provides free in-depth commentary, analysis and study guides for literature, poetry, history, film and philosophy. SparkNotes also offers content and services related to the SAT, ACT, and AP tests, paraphrases of Shakespeare into modern English, exercises for high school teachers, and a message board. Its current owner, Barnes & Noble, sells printed versions of the study guides in the United States in a format similar to that of CliffsNotes.
SparkNotes has moved into educational publishing with books like Poetry Classics and FlashKids, a series of educational books for K-8 students.
[edit] Controversy
Teachers often accuse students using SparkNotes of cheating. They feel that the website indirectly encourages students not to read the class material, making essential information easily accessible.[citation needed] Though SparkNotes itself does not condone using its guides without reading the material, it makes no move to stop this. The guides are comprehensive enough that students can write essays or take tests without having read the books. This website and others like it, such as CliffsNotes, have been banned in many schools where they are considered a form of cheating.
[edit] See also
- CliffsNotes
- BookRags
