Shmoop and Sparks: How to Use Online Reading Summaries Effectively

The first time I visited the website Shmoop.com, I was dumbfounded. I come from the era of those striped yellow Cliff’s notes. Back then, when you wanted to half-do your reading assignment, you had to physically go to a bookstore and spend some of your allowance on Cliff’s or Monarch’s Notes. Needless to say, if you had the Cliff’s for the reading assignment, you were suddenly the most popular kid in class.

Sites like Shmoop.com and Sparknotes.com, however, are a sort of academic smorgasbord. And much like an actual buffet, some of the offerings are healthy and some are just bad for you. While much of what they offer (such as homework help, learning guides, and test prep) is wonderful, it can be very tempting to pull up summaries and analyses of English class reading assignments. If you’re using the summary as a supplement to the actual reading, I commend you for wanting to obtain a solid understanding of the plot using multiple resources. But I don’t think I’m exaggerating when I say that a fair amount of students use the summaries in lieu of reading the book. I don’t blame them for turning to these types of sites, particularly when tasked with reading old and unrelatable texts. Why do you think I still have a shelfful of old Cliff’s Notes in my office?

I am not advocating for blocking these sites or punishing students for using them. Rather, teachers and tutors can show students how to utilize these resources in tandem with reading rather than in lieu of it. It’s a familiar question: how do we make technology work for us and not against us? Here are some thoughts on how to best utilize these kinds of online resources so that they work to support rather than to supplant:

1. Use the Helpful Parts – Online book summaries offer some very helpful resources. They always include, for example, character lists. These can be extremely valuable, particularly when working with texts that involve a variety of characters or characters with foreign names. I read a lot of Russian lit, and I know from experience that keeping track of the people in the story is vital for following and appreciating it.

2. Read the Analysis, but Stay Objective – Online summaries typically include chapter-by-chapter analysis. While these can be helpful to further an understanding of the text, remember to stay open-minded and also keep your own reading of it in mind. Don’t forget you’re getting someone else’s analysis of the text and, while he or she may have gone to Harvard, your teacher will probably know it’s not your original thought.

3. Don’t be Tempted – Oh the temptation to read the plot summary instead of the actual assignment! It’s something like being in a bakery when you’re on a diet. Students are busy and it can be difficult to fit nightly reading assignments in with everything else going on. Still, I encourage you to have the restraint to stay with the original work. Without it, you’ll miss so many amazing things, from the author’s tone to the symbolism to the characterization and beyond. A summary will provide only a barebones version of a great work of art.

4. Use for Quiz Prep – Summary sites usually allow you to take a quiz on the plot of the book. This is a valuable resource particularly if your English teacher is the quiz-giving type. Using this can help you stay on top of the plot and keep you ready for any pop quizzes.

5. Jumpstart your Research – These sites offer many ways to help you begin your research on a literary analysis paper. For instance, having access to important quotes can help you to find starting points from which to expand your discussion. It’s almost like having a map of the text which can serve to help you begin outlining your paper.

I’m all for making things easier, however it can be tempting to toss out everything old when something new and efficient comes along. While online reading summaries can be helpful and do offer value, it’s important that we remember they are not meant as and should not be used to replace the actual reading.

Written by Phil Lane