SparkNotes: Difference between revisions
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[[Barnes & Noble]] acquired SparkNotes.com in 2001 for approx. $3,555,000.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://sec.edgar-online.com/2001/06/18/0000950123-01-503532/Section2.asp |title=Barnes & Noble inc - BKS Quarterly Report (10-Q) Item 1: Financial Statements |accessdate=2008-02-05 |date=18 June 2001 |publisher=Edgar Online}}</ref> |
[[Barnes & Noble]] acquired SparkNotes.com in 2001 for approx. $3,555,000.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://sec.edgar-online.com/2001/06/18/0000950123-01-503532/Section2.asp |title=Barnes & Noble inc - BKS Quarterly Report (10-Q) Item 1: Financial Statements |accessdate=2008-02-05 |date=18 June 2001 |publisher=Edgar Online}}</ref> |
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==History== |
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=Bro I am a pure troll know me as PoopMan123456 for I will rule this page in destruction of pure troll >=DBro I am a pure troll know me as PoopMan123456 for I will rule this page in destruction of pure troll >=DBro I am a pure troll know me as PoopMan123456 for I will rule this page in destruction of pure troll >=DBro I am a pure troll know me as PoopMan123456 for I will rule this page in destruction of pure troll >=DBro I am a pure troll know me as PoopMan123456 for I will rule this page in destruction of pure troll >=DBro I am a pure troll know me as PoopMan123456 for I will rule this page in destruction of pure troll >=DBro I am a pure troll know me as PoopMan123456 for I will rule this page in destruction of pure troll >=D |
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TheSpark.com was a literary website launched by four [[Harvard]] students on January 7, 1999. Most of TheSpark's users were high school and college students. To increase the site's popularity, the creators published the first six literature study guides (called "SparkNotes") on April 7, 1999.<ref name="history" /><ref>{{cite news |first=Stacy |last=Martin |title= SITE SPECIFIC-www.sparknotes.com |url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2004/09/05/LVGE88I6RA1.DTL |work=San Francisco Chronicle |publisher=Hearst Communications Inc. |location=San Francisco |date=5 September 2004 |accessdate=2006-03-19}}</ref><ref name="harvard">{{cite news |first=Anais |last=Borja |coauthors=Lester, Amelia |title=The Rise and Success of Sparknotes |url=http://www.thecrimson.com/article.aspx?ref=121750 |work=The Harvard Crimson |publisher=The Harvard Crims0n Inc. |location=Harvard |date=18 October 2001 |accessdate=2008-03-19}}</ref> |
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In 2000, the creators sold the site to [[iTurf Inc]]. The following year, Barnes & Noble<ref name="harvard" /> purchased SparkNotes and selected fifty literature study guides to publish in print format. When Barnes & Noble printed SparkNotes, they stopped selling their chief competitor, [[CliffsNotes]].<ref name="wall">{{cite news |first=James |last=Bowman |title=Murder Most Foul |url=http://www.opinionjournal.com/taste/?id=110003858 |work=The Wall Street Journal |publisher=Dow Jones & Company, Inc. |date=8 August 2003 |accessdate=2008-03-24}}</ref> |
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Bro I am a pure troll know me as PoopMan123456 for I will rule this page in destruction of pure troll >=DBro I am a pure troll know me as PoopMan123456 for I will rule this page in destruction of pure troll >=DBro I am a pure troll know me as PoopMan123456 for I will rule this page in destruction of pure troll >=DBro I am a pure troll know me as PoopMan123456 for I will rule this page in destruction of pure troll >=DBro I am a pure troll know me as PoopMan123456 for I will rule this page in destruction of pure troll >=D |
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In January 2003, SparkNotes developed a practice test service called SparkNotes Test Prep. This project was followed by the release of SparkCharts, reference sheets that summarize a topic; No Fear Shakespeare, transcriptions of Shakespeare's plays into modern language; and No Fear Literature, transcriptions of literary classics like ''[[The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn]]'' and ''[[The Scarlet Letter]]'' into modern language.<ref name="history">{{cite web |url=http://www.sparknotes.com/about/history/|title= A Brief History of SparkNotes |accessdate=2008-02-04 |work=SparkNotes |publisher=SparkNotes LLC}}</ref> |
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Bro I am a pure troll know me as PoopMan123456 for I will rule this page in destruction of pure troll >=DBro I am a pure troll know me as PoopMan123456 for I will rule this page in destruction of pure troll >=DBro I am a pure troll know me as PoopMan123456 for I will rule this page in destruction of pure troll >=D |
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==Other features== |
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SparkNotes Test Prep provides content and services related to the [[ACT (test)|ACT]], and [[Advanced Placement |AP]], [[GRE]] and [[PSAT]]/[[SAT]] I and II standardized tests. Barnes & Noble sells printed versions of the test prep study guides, as well as SparkCharts and other printed study materials, in the United States and at [[Chapters]] in Canada. |
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The SparkNotes.com website also includes a section students can use to search for colleges. |
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SparkNotes has moved into educational publishing with books, such as ''Poetry Classics'' and ''FlashKids'', a series of educational books for K-8 students. They also provide exercises for high school teachers. |
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SparkNotes also has a section called SparkLife, a social section focused on non-educational topics for teens and young adults. This section of the site includes blogs, advice columns (most notably by "Auntie Sparknotes"), contributed posts, and Open Threads, which members can use to chat with one another without commenting on a specific post. Other features include "Blogging Twilight" by Dan Bergstein, movie reviews, articles about current events, and helpful tips and facts. |
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The free SparkNotes mobile app for the [[iPhone]]/[[iPod]] and [[Android OS|Android]]<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.sparknotes.com/mobile-apps/|title=SparkNotes Mobile Apps|accessdate=12 September 2012}}</ref> offers: |
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*50 pre-installed study guides in the app library |
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*Hundreds of study guides available for viewing online |
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*The ability to download any SparkNotes study guide to the mobile device for offline use |
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*The ability to share what one is studying and one's status by checking in with a customized post to [[Facebook]] |
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==Controversy== |
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Because SparkNotes provides study guides for literature that include chapter summaries, many teachers see the website as a cheating tool.<ref>{{cite news |first=Lauren |last=Simnauer |coauthors=Dumler, Christie |title=There's room for sparknotes, too |url=http://www.theviewnewspapers.com/article.asp?article=9154&paper=91&cat=199 |work=The View |publisher=Zip Publishing |date=20 June 2007 |accessdate=2008-03-24}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=Sutherland |last=John |title=US students log on to the Internet for a cheat's charter |url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/Archive/Article/0,4273,4032413,00.html |work=Guardian Unlimited |publisher=Guardian News and Media Limited |date=2 June 2000 |accessdate=2008-03-25}}</ref> Students can use Sparknotes as a replacement for actually completing reading assignments with the original material<ref name="tulsa">{{cite news | first=Andrea | last=Eger | title=Students love study guides | date=22 February 2008 | publisher=World Publishing Co | url =http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?articleID=20080222_1_A1_hTeac07026 | work =Tulsa World| accessdate = 2008-03-02 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Competition for CliffsNotes arrives on the scene. Later, a poplar study supplement called "Kramnotes" were put into circulation. Today they serve as on of Sparknotes top competitors. – in print |url=http://www.csmonitor.com/2002/0625/p12s01-legn.html |work=The Christian Science Monitor |date=25 June 2002 |accessdate=2008-03-24}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=Molly |last=Saltz |title=No, it's a cheap shortcut that does no one any good |url=http://rgweb.registerguard.com/news/2006/01/02/tw.sparkno.0102.p1.php?section=20below |work=The Register-Guard |location=Eugene, Oregon, United States |date=2 January 1006 |accessdate=2008-03-25}}</ref> or to cheat during tests using cell phones with Internet access. |
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SparkNotes says it does not support [[academic dishonesty]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sparknotes.com/about/ |title=About SparkNotes |accessdate=2008-02-06 |work=SparkNotes |publisher=SparkNotes LLC}}</ref> or plagiarism.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sparknotes.com/help/plagiarism.html |title=Help:The Plagiarism Plague |accessdate=2008-02-06 |last=Kestler |first=Justin |work=SparkNotes |publisher=SparkNotes LLC}}</ref> Instead, it suggests that students read the original material, and then check SparkNotes to compare their own interpretation of the text with the SparkNotes analysis.<ref name="tulsa" /><ref>{{cite news |first=Erin |last=Miller |title=Is SparkNotes worthwhile? Yes, used properly it can enhance our education |url=http://rgweb.registerguard.com/news/2006/01/02/tw.sparkyes.0102.p1.php?section=20below |work=The Register-Guard |location=Eugene, Oregon, United States |date=2 January 2006 |accessdate=2008-03-24}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=Kim Ngan |last=Nguyen |title=SparkNotes A Hit With High School Crowd |url=http://www.thedenverchannel.com/education/2526307/detail.html |work=The Denver Channel |publisher=Internet Broadcasting Systems, Inc. |date=2 October 2003 |accessdate=2008-03-24}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=Brynne |last=Formato |title=A quick study: online sites speed up reading |url=http://media.www.fairfieldmirror.com/media/storage/paper148/news/2004/02/05/CampusLife/A.Quick.Study.Online.Sites.Speed.Up.Reading-597299.shtml |work=The Mirror |location=Fairfield, Connecticut, United States |date=5 February 2004 |accessdate=2008-03-25}}</ref> |
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== See also == |
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* [[BookRags]] |
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* [[CliffsNotes]] |
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* [[Coles Notes]] |
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* [[York Notes]] |
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==References== |
==References== |
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Revision as of 03:22, 11 December 2012
| File:Sw sn logo.png | |
Type of site | Internet Study guide |
|---|---|
| Available in | English |
| Owner | Barnes & Noble |
| Created by | Sam Yagan, Max Krohn, Chris Coyne, and Eli Bolotin |
| URL | www |
| Commercial | Yes |
| Registration | Optional |
SparkNotes, originally part of a website called The Spark, is a company started by Harvard students Sam Yagan, Max Krohn, Chris Coyne, and Eli Bolotin in 1999 that originally provided study guides for literature, poetry, history, film, and philosophy. Later, SparkNotes expanded to provide study guides for a number of other subjects, including math, health, physics, biology, chemistry, economics and sociology. SparkNotes does not charge users, but instead uses advertising for revenue. The website contains alternate themes[vague].
Barnes & Noble acquired SparkNotes.com in 2001 for approx. $3,555,000.[3]
History
TheSpark.com was a literary website launched by four Harvard students on January 7, 1999. Most of TheSpark's users were high school and college students. To increase the site's popularity, the creators published the first six literature study guides (called "SparkNotes") on April 7, 1999.[1][4][5]
In 2000, the creators sold the site to iTurf Inc. The following year, Barnes & Noble[5] purchased SparkNotes and selected fifty literature study guides to publish in print format. When Barnes & Noble printed SparkNotes, they stopped selling their chief competitor, CliffsNotes.[6]
In January 2003, SparkNotes developed a practice test service called SparkNotes Test Prep. This project was followed by the release of SparkCharts, reference sheets that summarize a topic; No Fear Shakespeare, transcriptions of Shakespeare's plays into modern language; and No Fear Literature, transcriptions of literary classics like The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn and The Scarlet Letter into modern language.[1]
Other features
SparkNotes Test Prep provides content and services related to the ACT, and AP, GRE and PSAT/SAT I and II standardized tests. Barnes & Noble sells printed versions of the test prep study guides, as well as SparkCharts and other printed study materials, in the United States and at Chapters in Canada.
The SparkNotes.com website also includes a section students can use to search for colleges.
SparkNotes has moved into educational publishing with books, such as Poetry Classics and FlashKids, a series of educational books for K-8 students. They also provide exercises for high school teachers.
SparkNotes also has a section called SparkLife, a social section focused on non-educational topics for teens and young adults. This section of the site includes blogs, advice columns (most notably by "Auntie Sparknotes"), contributed posts, and Open Threads, which members can use to chat with one another without commenting on a specific post. Other features include "Blogging Twilight" by Dan Bergstein, movie reviews, articles about current events, and helpful tips and facts.
The free SparkNotes mobile app for the iPhone/iPod and Android[7] offers:
- 50 pre-installed study guides in the app library
- Hundreds of study guides available for viewing online
- The ability to download any SparkNotes study guide to the mobile device for offline use
- The ability to share what one is studying and one's status by checking in with a customized post to Facebook
Controversy
Because SparkNotes provides study guides for literature that include chapter summaries, many teachers see the website as a cheating tool.[8][9] Students can use Sparknotes as a replacement for actually completing reading assignments with the original material[10][11][12] or to cheat during tests using cell phones with Internet access.
SparkNotes says it does not support academic dishonesty[13] or plagiarism.[14] Instead, it suggests that students read the original material, and then check SparkNotes to compare their own interpretation of the text with the SparkNotes analysis.[10][15][16][17]
See also
References
- ^ a b c "A Brief History of SparkNotes". SparkNotes. SparkNotes LLC. Retrieved 2008-02-04.
- ^ "Sparknotes.com Site Info". Alexa Internet. Retrieved 2012-08-02.
- ^ "Barnes & Noble inc - BKS Quarterly Report (10-Q) Item 1: Financial Statements". Edgar Online. 18 June 2001. Retrieved 2008-02-05.
- ^ Martin, Stacy (5 September 2004). "SITE SPECIFIC-www.sparknotes.com". San Francisco Chronicle. San Francisco: Hearst Communications Inc. Retrieved 2006-03-19.
- ^ a b Borja, Anais (18 October 2001). "The Rise and Success of Sparknotes". The Harvard Crimson. Harvard: The Harvard Crims0n Inc. Retrieved 2008-03-19.
{{cite news}}: Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) (help) - ^ Bowman, James (8 August 2003). "Murder Most Foul". The Wall Street Journal. Dow Jones & Company, Inc. Retrieved 2008-03-24.
- ^ "SparkNotes Mobile Apps". Retrieved 12 September 2012.
- ^ Simnauer, Lauren (20 June 2007). "There's room for sparknotes, too". The View. Zip Publishing. Retrieved 2008-03-24.
{{cite news}}: Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) (help) - ^ John, Sutherland (2 June 2000). "US students log on to the Internet for a cheat's charter". Guardian Unlimited. Guardian News and Media Limited. Retrieved 2008-03-25.
- ^ a b Eger, Andrea (22 February 2008). "Students love study guides". Tulsa World. World Publishing Co. Retrieved 2008-03-02.
- ^ "Competition for CliffsNotes arrives on the scene. Later, a poplar study supplement called "Kramnotes" were put into circulation. Today they serve as on of Sparknotes top competitors. – in print". The Christian Science Monitor. 25 June 2002. Retrieved 2008-03-24.
- ^ Saltz, Molly (2 January 1006). "No, it's a cheap shortcut that does no one any good". The Register-Guard. Eugene, Oregon, United States. Retrieved 2008-03-25.
- ^ "About SparkNotes". SparkNotes. SparkNotes LLC. Retrieved 2008-02-06.
- ^ Kestler, Justin. "Help:The Plagiarism Plague". SparkNotes. SparkNotes LLC. Retrieved 2008-02-06.
- ^ Miller, Erin (2 January 2006). "Is SparkNotes worthwhile? Yes, used properly it can enhance our education". The Register-Guard. Eugene, Oregon, United States. Retrieved 2008-03-24.
- ^ Nguyen, Kim Ngan (2 October 2003). "SparkNotes A Hit With High School Crowd". The Denver Channel. Internet Broadcasting Systems, Inc. Retrieved 2008-03-24.
- ^ Formato, Brynne (5 February 2004). "A quick study: online sites speed up reading". The Mirror. Fairfield, Connecticut, United States. Retrieved 2008-03-25.