What are you doing right now?

[EndOfTheEarth]

Besides posting on here and replying to this thread. Original credit for this goes back to Fate and Nathan on MX.

[Hannah]

I need some opinions from public schoolers.

Ok, I'm reading The Iliad as part of my summer reading list. A good percentage of the book is made up of all of these chapters that are all "and dhjeoiv thrust a spear into effrefvhfohn halfway between his privates and his navel and his bowels came spilling out and then he thrust a spear into oehvreuhf who was the son of erhveruhner who had married oehrofuhri who was very beautiful and learned. . ." Not only are these chapters boring as hell, they're also hard to read because I'm thinking "omg, names. I must memorize so I will understand plot. o.o"

So here's my dilemma: before Nathan_p had mentioned it on here, I had no idea what SparkNotes were. I found them, and they're glorious. I immediately began reading them after every chapter to make sure I hadn't missed anything. Yesterday, I decided to read it beforehand so that I could see if it was a boring chapter. Sure enough, the second half was just a big battle scene, so I read the first half and then read the entire SparkNotes on that entry. And skipped the second half.

Is this cheating? I mean, I really need to finish this book fast, but I wasn't sure if this was allowed. I'm only skipping the parts that seem boring and I read the summery to make sure I know all the major parts.

[Dual]

I'd say you should read the sparknotes first, read the actual chapter, maybe skimming over the less important parts, and then read the sparknotes again.

On a side note, SnarkNotes would be an awesome name for an abridged parody. Seriously.

[Hannah]

Ok, thanks.

@Side note: Seriously, yeah.

[EndOfTheEarth]

It's not cheating, but it's not preferred either, since Sparknotes tends to miss those odd sentences that teachers or other students like to nit-pick about in class discussions. Personally I've only used them once (Because Emma by Austen is the antithesis of everything I enjoy reading) but if they work for you, and you get no pleasure from reading classics (personally I liked the Odyssey by the same author, never read the Illiad) then by all means, use the Sparknotes.

[Hannah]

No, I actually like about 70% of The Iliad. But at my reading level, it's kinda like expecting an average eigth grader to read The Iliad, The Odyssey, War and Peace, Crime and Punishment, Aneid, and Confessions all in one summer vacation. Basically, any time-saving device is needed. And I'm only skipping the parts that make me want to claw my eyes out. Seriously, my parody wasn't really that exxagerated. Almost a direct quote.

Of course, I would think that if I succeed I would have a reading level at least above the average eigth grader.

[RantingSidekick]

A lot of teachers have become familiar with SparkNotes and similar sites, and may design exams/curriculum around things that you will not learn from SparkNotes.

You're still reading the book, so SparkNotes are just helping you understand your text better.

I personally consider it "cheating" when you only use SparkNotes, and refuse to read the book at all. Especially for essays. That's a pet peeve of mine.

But you're fine. You're just using your resources. :D

[Hannah]

'Mkay...

My God, people actually do that?

[RantingSidekick]

>.< A'course. That's how people get hundreds on those sort of essays.
*annoyed*

[Contradiction]

I'm leaving tomorrow for three days at seven thirty in the morning. I haven't started packing, and I still need to take a shower. D:

On the bright side, I got a cool new jacket/shirt thing from Sports Authority. :D

[Xuut]

Shit.

Did I just sleep the last five hours?

I can't remember... Which might be bad....

[Mudkip]

...Wth?

[Mudkip]

Double wth?

EDIT: Caz is really, really annoying.