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Post by bookaddict on Oct 22, 2006 19:37:53 GMT -5
If you are having a hard time getting through a school book, do you get the study guide?
Sometimes I've had to, in order to keep up with the class. I only use the notes when I really need to because I don't like the book, or if the book is complicated. I read the notes then read the book. Character lists are good too.
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Isa
Administrator
Posts: 6,995
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Post by Isa on Oct 22, 2006 20:15:23 GMT -5
I did it once, when we were studying Thomas Pynchon's "Gravity's Rainbow". I couldn't understand what I was reading! Our prof told us he finally understood the book after the third or fourth time he read it, and I really didn't have time to read an 800 page novel three times during the semester, on top of all the other books I had to read. So I made it through the first chapter and got a study guide online for the rest of the book ;p That book actually sparked a whole new debate in class on whether or not a novel can be deemed successful if only a handful of readers can understand the message it's trying to convey...
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Post by bookaddict on Oct 22, 2006 20:37:24 GMT -5
I have to read "invisible man" by Ellison for class. The book is ok, but it is way to descriptive. He goes on and on for pages... I looked at the study guide and it's very detailed. So I'll use both...and try to skip some details when it gets really boring.
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phishhead42
First piece published in the school’s newspaper
Posts: 91
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Post by phishhead42 on Oct 23, 2006 11:05:07 GMT -5
I have definately used sparknotes for a class before. I like to use them as a sort of outline of the book. The small summary of every chapter and character for a book is very useful when reading for tests. I'll admit that when I've been pressed for time I've relied on reading the spark notes alone and been perfectly prepared for classes, ala Mark Twain's Huck Finn. It wasn't that Mark Twain is a hard read I just wanted to be quick about the reading.
I will usually go out and buy the sparknotes for a book or look it up online when I can't understand the book. Or when I want more information about a reading I've liked. I find that I usually buy them for classic books. I've had to buy two so far this year, King Henry IV by Shakespear and Chaucer's Canterburry Tales.
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Bina
First novel published
Posts: 2,472
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Post by Bina on Oct 23, 2006 11:59:03 GMT -5
For school I´ve quite often read study guides, but after I had finished the book. Some offer a whole new perspective on the story and before tests I wanted to make sure I was on the right track. Never used them for normal reading, though.
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jen4219
First poem written for Mother’s Day
Posts: 31
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Post by jen4219 on Oct 23, 2006 19:28:36 GMT -5
Same here. I usually buy the cliffs notes guides from a used book store.. I used them for seven of Shakespeare's "comedy" plays for a class in college and it really helped to suppliment the reading. You definately can't rely on them 100% but they can offer a different perspective, which I find helpful.
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czarval
Collection of short stories published by an independent editor
Posts: 607
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Post by czarval on Oct 24, 2006 12:29:12 GMT -5
I use sparknotes. It is a little confusing though. I use it mostly to help me think of essay topics for books.
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Kristie
Novel turned into BBC miniseries
"If a book is well written, I always find it too short."
Posts: 7,214
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Post by Kristie on Oct 24, 2006 12:48:48 GMT -5
I use sparknotes. It is a little confusing though. I use it mostly to help me think of essay topics for books. as i mentioned in my post, i use www.pinkmonkey.com instead of sparknotes because it's less confusing
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czarval
Collection of short stories published by an independent editor
Posts: 607
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Post by czarval on Oct 24, 2006 12:54:46 GMT -5
I think I'm going to have to take a look at that one.
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Post by bookaddict on Oct 24, 2006 13:12:35 GMT -5
What do you find confusing about sparknotes? I find sparknotes are good. i've used gradesaver too. I think that's what it was called.
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czarval
Collection of short stories published by an independent editor
Posts: 607
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Post by czarval on Oct 24, 2006 13:30:52 GMT -5
I found sparksnotes hard to move around in.
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jen4219
First poem written for Mother’s Day
Posts: 31
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Post by jen4219 on Oct 24, 2006 13:33:37 GMT -5
So did I. Do they charge you to use Sparknotes now? I remember trying to use it for a Dickens novel and about 1/2 way through Sparknotes, they said I had to pay a fee.
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czarval
Collection of short stories published by an independent editor
Posts: 607
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Post by czarval on Oct 24, 2006 13:38:37 GMT -5
I don't know. I've never had to pay, but then, I don't go in very deeply.
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Post by bookaddict on Oct 24, 2006 15:49:55 GMT -5
I usually copy, and paste the text then print it. No, only if you want to download them.
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