SherbyNet - /page/wikibook/entry.mu

Micron Document

<!DOCTYPE html>

<title>SparkNotes</title>

</head>

SparkNotes

</h1>

</header>

/* start https://en.wikipedia.org/ */

.mw-parser-output .ambox{border:1px solid #a2a9b1;border-left:10px solid #36c;background-color:#fbfbfb;box-sizing:border-box}.mw-parser-output .ambox+link+.ambox,.mw-parser-output .ambox+link+style+.ambox,.mw-parser-output .ambox+link+link+.ambox,.mw-parser-output .ambox+.mw-empty-elt+link+.ambox,.mw-parser-output .ambox+.mw-empty-elt+link+style+.ambox,.mw-parser-output .ambox+.mw-empty-elt+link+link+.ambox{margin-top:-1px}html body.mediawiki .mw-parser-output .ambox.mbox-small-left{margin:4px 1em 4px 0;overflow:hidden;width:238px;border-collapse:collapse;font-size:88%;line-height:1.25em}.mw-parser-output .ambox-speedy{border-left:10px solid #b32424;background-color:#fee7e6}.mw-parser-output .ambox-delete{border-left:10px solid #b32424}.mw-parser-output .ambox-content{border-left:10px solid #f28500}.mw-parser-output .ambox-style{border-left:10px solid #fc3}.mw-parser-output .ambox-move{border-left:10px solid #9932cc}.mw-parser-output .ambox-protection{border-left:10px solid #a2a9b1}.mw-parser-output .ambox .mbox-text{border:none;padding:0.25em 0.5em;width:100%}.mw-parser-output .ambox .mbox-image{border:none;padding:2px 0 2px 0.5em;text-align:center}.mw-parser-output .ambox .mbox-imageright{border:none;padding:2px 0.5em 2px 0;text-align:center}.mw-parser-output .ambox .mbox-empty-cell{border:none;padding:0;width:1px}.mw-parser-output .ambox .mbox-image-div{width:52px}@media(min-width:720px){.mw-parser-output .ambox{margin:0 10%}}@media print{body.ns-0 .mw-parser-output .ambox{display:none!important}}

/* end https://en.wikipedia.org/ */

</style>

/* start https://en.wikipedia.org/ */

.mw-parser-output .infobox-subbox{padding:0;border:none;margin:-3px;width:auto;min-width:100%;font-size:100%;clear:none;float:none;background-color:transparent}.mw-parser-output .infobox-3cols-child{margin:auto}.mw-parser-output .infobox .navbar{font-size:100%}@media screen{html.skin-theme-clientpref-night .mw-parser-output .infobox-full-data:not(.notheme)>div:not(.notheme)[style]{background:#1f1f23!important;color:#f8f9fa}}@media screen and (prefers-color-scheme:dark){html.skin-theme-clientpref-os .mw-parser-output .infobox-full-data:not(.notheme)>div:not(.notheme)[style]{background:#1f1f23!important;color:#f8f9fa}}@media(min-width:640px){body.skin--responsive .mw-parser-output .infobox-table{display:table!important}body.skin--responsive .mw-parser-output .infobox-table>caption{display:table-caption!important}body.skin--responsive .mw-parser-output .infobox-table>tbody{display:table-row-group}body.skin--responsive .mw-parser-output .infobox-table th,body.skin--responsive .mw-parser-output .infobox-table td{padding-left:inherit;padding-right:inherit}}

/* end https://en.wikipedia.org/ */

</style><table class="infobox vcard"><caption class="infobox-title fn org">SparkNotes</caption><tbody><tr><td colspan="2" class="infobox-image"></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label"><div style="display: inline-block; line-height: 1.2em; padding: .1em 0;">Type of site</div></th><td class="infobox-data"><a href="Study_guide" title="Study guide">Study guide</a></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label">Available in</th><td class="infobox-data">English</td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label">Owner</th><td class="infobox-data"><a href="Barnes_%26_Noble" title="Barnes & Noble">Barnes & Noble</a></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label">Created by</th><td class="infobox-data"><a href="Sam_Yagan" title="Sam Yagan">Sam Yagan</a>, Max Krohn, Chris Coyne, and Eli Bolotin</td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label">URL</th><td class="infobox-data url"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.sparknotes.com">www.sparknotes.com</a></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label">Commercial</th><td class="infobox-data">Yes</td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label">Registration</th><td class="infobox-data">Optional</td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label">Launched</th><td class="infobox-data">September 1, 1999<a href="#cite_note-history-1">[1]</a></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label">Current status</th><td class="infobox-data category">Active</td></tr></tbody></table>

SparkNotes, originally part of a website called The Spark, is a company started by <a href="Harvard" class="mw-redirect" title="Harvard">Harvard</a> students <a href="Sam_Yagan" title="Sam Yagan">Sam Yagan</a>, Max Krohn, Chris Coyne, and Eli Bolotin in 1999 that originally provided <a href="Study_guide" title="Study guide">study guides</a> for <a href="Literature" title="Literature">literature</a>, <a href="Poetry" title="Poetry">poetry</a>, <a href="History" title="History">history</a>, <a href="Film" title="Film">film</a>, and <a href="Philosophy" title="Philosophy">philosophy</a>. Later on, SparkNotes expanded to provide study guides for a number of other subjects, including <a href="Biology" title="Biology">biology</a>, <a href="Chemistry" title="Chemistry">chemistry</a>, <a href="Economics" title="Economics">economics</a>, <a href="Health" title="Health">health</a>, <a href="Math" class="mw-redirect" title="Math">math</a>, <a href="Physics" title="Physics">physics</a>, and <a href="Sociology" title="Sociology">sociology</a>. Until 2022, when SparkNotes Plus, a paid service, released, SparkNotes did not charge users to use any of its resources. SparkNotes receives revenue from advertisements.

<a href="Barnes_%26_Noble" title="Barnes & Noble">Barnes & Noble</a> acquired SparkNotes.com in 2001 for approximately $3.5 million.<a href="#cite_note-Barnes-&-Noble-inc-Jun-2001-10-Q-2">[2]</a>

<div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="History">History</h2></div>

TheSpark.com was a literary website launched by four <a href="Harvard" class="mw-redirect" title="Harvard">Harvard</a> 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.<a href="#cite_note-history-1">[1]</a><a href="#cite_note-3">[3]</a><a href="#cite_note-harvard-4">[4]</a>

In 2000, the creators sold the site to iTurf Inc. The following year, <a href="Barnes_%26_Noble" title="Barnes & Noble">Barnes & Noble</a><a href="#cite_note-harvard-4">[4]</a> purchased SparkNotes and selected fifty literature study guides to publish in print format. When Barnes & Noble printed SparkNotes, they stopped selling their chief competitor, <a href="CliffsNotes" title="CliffsNotes">CliffsNotes</a>.<a href="#cite_note-wall-5">[5]</a>

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 <a href="The_Adventures_of_Huckleberry_Finn" class="mw-redirect" title="The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn">The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn</a> and <a href="The_Scarlet_Letter" title="The Scarlet Letter">The Scarlet Letter</a> into modern language.<a href="#cite_note-history-1">[1]</a>

In April 2022, a paid service, SparkNotes Plus, released, locking many works from the No Fear <a href="William_Shakespeare" title="William Shakespeare">Shakespeare</a> series, their modern translations of Shakespeare plays, among other things, behind a <a href="Paywall" title="Paywall">pay-wall</a>, and adding new features.<a href="#cite_note-6">[6]</a>

<div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Criticism">Criticism</h2></div>

Because SparkNotes provides study guides for literature that include chapter summaries, many teachers see the website as a cheating tool.<a href="#cite_note-7">[7]</a> These teachers argue that students can use SparkNotes as a replacement for actually completing reading assignments with the original material,<a href="#cite_note-tulsa-8">[8]</a><a href="#cite_note-9">[9]</a><a href="#cite_note-10">[10]</a> or to cheat during tests using cell phones with Internet access.

SparkNotes states that it does not support <a href="Academic_dishonesty" title="Academic dishonesty">academic dishonesty</a>,<a href="#cite_note-11">[11]</a> or <a href="Plagiarism" title="Plagiarism">plagiarism</a>.<a href="#cite_note-12">[12]</a> 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.<a href="#cite_note-tulsa-8">[8]</a><a href="#cite_note-13">[13]</a><a href="#cite_note-14">[14]</a><a href="#cite_note-15">[15]</a>

In January 2019, site developers announced a complete redesign of the SparkLife section of the website in order to focus more on literature-related content. This announcement was met with a negative response from SparkLife users due to the removal of user-made accounts, blog posts, and comments.<a href="#cite_note-16">[16]</a><a href="#cite_note-17">[17]</a>

<ul><li><a href="BookRags" class="mw-redirect" title="BookRags">BookRags</a></li>

<li><a href="CliffsNotes" title="CliffsNotes">CliffsNotes</a></li>

<li><a href="Coles_Notes" title="Coles Notes">Coles Notes</a></li>

<li><a href="Quizlet" title="Quizlet">Quizlet</a></li>

<li><a href="Schaum's_Outlines" title="Schaum's Outlines">Schaum's Outlines</a></li>

<li><a href="Shmoop" title="Shmoop">Shmoop</a></li>

<li><a href="York_Notes" title="York Notes">York Notes</a></li></ul>

<div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="References">References</h2></div>

/* start https://en.wikipedia.org/ */

.mw-parser-output .reflist{margin-bottom:0.5em;list-style-type:decimal}@media screen{.mw-parser-output .reflist{font-size:90%}}.mw-parser-output .reflist .references{font-size:100%;margin-bottom:0;list-style-type:inherit}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns-2{column-width:30em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns-3{column-width:25em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns{margin-top:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns ol{margin-top:0}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns li{page-break-inside:avoid;break-inside:avoid-column}.mw-parser-output .reflist-upper-alpha{list-style-type:upper-alpha}.mw-parser-output .reflist-upper-roman{list-style-type:upper-roman}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-alpha{list-style-type:lower-alpha}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-greek{list-style-type:lower-greek}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-roman{list-style-type:lower-roman}

/* end https://en.wikipedia.org/ */

</style><div class="reflist reflist-columns references-column-width" style="column-width: 30em;">

/* start https://en.wikipedia.org/ */

.mw-parser-output cite.citation{font-style:inherit;word-wrap:break-word}.mw-parser-output .citation q{quotes:"\"""\"""'""'"}.mw-parser-output .citation:target{background-color:rgba(0,127,255,0.133)}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-free.id-lock-free a{background:url("./mw/Lock-green.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-limited.id-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .id-lock-registration.id-lock-registration a{background:url("./mw/Lock-gray-alt-2.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-subscription.id-lock-subscription a{background:url("./mw/Lock-red-alt-2.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background:url("./mw/Wikisource-logo.svg")right 0.1em center/12px no-repeat}body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-free a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-limited a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-registration a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-subscription a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background-size:contain;padding:0 1em 0 0}.mw-parser-output .cs1-code{color:inherit;background:inherit;border:none;padding:inherit}.mw-parser-output .cs1-hidden-error{display:none;color:var(--color-error,#d33)}.mw-parser-output .cs1-visible-error{color:var(--color-error,#d33)}.mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{display:none;color:#085;margin-left:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-left{padding-left:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-right{padding-right:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .citation .mw-selflink{font-weight:inherit}@media screen{.mw-parser-output .cs1-format{font-size:95%}html.skin-theme-clientpref-night .mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{color:#18911f}}@media screen and (prefers-color-scheme:dark){html.skin-theme-clientpref-os .mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{color:#18911f}}

/* end https://en.wikipedia.org/ */

</style><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.sparknotes.com/about/history/">"A Brief History of SparkNotes"</a>. SparkNotes. SparkNotes LLC. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20080212022748/http://www.sparknotes.com/about/history/">Archived</a> from the original on February 12, 2008. Retrieved February 4, 2008.</cite>

</li>

<li id="cite_note-Barnes-&-Noble-inc-Jun-2001-10-Q-2"><a href="#cite_ref-Barnes-&-Noble-inc-Jun-2001-10-Q_2-0">^</a> <cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://edgar.secdatabase.com/1142/95012301503532/filing-main.htm">"Barnes & Noble inc, Form 10-Q, Quarterly Report, Filing Date Jun 18, 2001"</a>. secdatabase.com. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20180515112509/http://edgar.secdatabase.com/1142/95012301503532/filing-main.htm">Archived</a> from the original on May 15, 2018. Retrieved May 14, 2018.</cite>

</li>

<li id="cite_note-3"><a href="#cite_ref-3">^</a> <cite id="CITEREFMartin2004" class="citation news cs1">Martin, Stacy (5 September 2004). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2004/09/05/LVGE88I6RA1.DTL">"SITE SPECIFIC-www.sparknotes.com"</a>. San Francisco Chronicle. San Francisco: Hearst Communications Inc. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20050131025114/http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=%2Fc%2Fa%2F2004%2F09%2F05%2FLVGE88I6RA1.DTL">Archived</a> from the original on 31 January 2005. Retrieved 19 March 2006.</cite>

</li>

<li id="cite_note-harvard-4">^ <a href="#cite_ref-harvard_4-0">a</a> <a href="#cite_ref-harvard_4-1">b</a> <cite id="CITEREFBorjaLester,_Amelia2001" class="citation news cs1">Borja, Anais; Lester, Amelia (18 October 2001). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.thecrimson.com/article.aspx?ref=121750">"The Rise and Success of Sparknotes"</a>. The Harvard Crimson. Harvard: The Harvard Crims0n Inc. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20081213002244/http://www.thecrimson.com/article.aspx?ref=121750">Archived</a> from the original on 13 December 2008. Retrieved 19 March 2008.</cite>

</li>

<li id="cite_note-wall-5"><a href="#cite_ref-wall_5-0">^</a> <cite id="CITEREFBowman2003" class="citation news cs1">Bowman, James (8 August 2003). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.opinionjournal.com/taste/?id=110003858">"Murder Most Foul"</a>. The Wall Street Journal. Dow Jones & Company, Inc. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20070812124524/http://opinionjournal.com/taste/?id=110003858">Archived</a> from the original on 12 August 2007. Retrieved 24 March 2008.</cite>

</li>

<li id="cite_note-6"><a href="#cite_ref-6">^</a> <cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.sparknotes.com/plus/">"SparkNotes Plus: Exclusive, Ad-Free Study Material & Test Prep"</a>. SparkNotes. Retrieved April 13, 2022.</cite>

</li>

<li id="cite_note-7"><a href="#cite_ref-7">^</a> <cite id="CITEREFSimnauerDumler,_Christie2007" class="citation news cs1">Simnauer, Lauren; Dumler, Christie (20 June 2007). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://archive.today/20071221212928/http://www.theviewnewspapers.com/article.asp?article=9154&paper=91&cat=199">"There's room for sparknotes, too"</a>. The View. Zip Publishing. Archived from <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.theviewnewspapers.com/article.asp?article=9154&paper=91&cat=199">the original</a> on 21 December 2007. Retrieved 24 March 2008.</cite>

</li>

<li id="cite_note-tulsa-8">^ <a href="#cite_ref-tulsa_8-0">a</a> <a href="#cite_ref-tulsa_8-1">b</a> <cite id="CITEREFEger2008" class="citation news cs1">Eger, Andrea (February 22, 2008). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?articleID=20080222_1_A1_hTeac07026">"Students love study guides"</a>. Tulsa World. World Publishing Co. Retrieved March 2, 2008.</cite>

</li>

<li id="cite_note-9"><a href="#cite_ref-9">^</a> <cite class="citation news cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.csmonitor.com/2002/0625/p12s01-legn.html">"Competition for CliffsNotes arrives on the scene. Later, a popular study supplement called "Kramnotes" were put into circulation. Today they serve as one of Sparknotes top competitors. – in print"</a>. The Christian Science Monitor. 25 June 2002. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20080327201543/http://www.csmonitor.com/2002/0625/p12s01-legn.html">Archived</a> from the original on 27 March 2008. Retrieved 24 March 2008.</cite>

</li>

<li id="cite_note-10"><a href="#cite_ref-10">^</a> <cite id="CITEREFSaltz2006" class="citation news cs1">Saltz, Molly (January 2, 2006). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://rgweb.registerguard.com/news/2006/01/02/tw.sparkno.0102.p1.php?section=20below">"No, it's a cheap shortcut that does no one any good"</a>. The Register-Guard. Eugene, Oregon, United States. Retrieved March 25, 2008.</cite>

</li>

<li id="cite_note-11"><a href="#cite_ref-11">^</a> <cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.sparknotes.com/about/">"About SparkNotes"</a>. SparkNotes. SparkNotes LLC. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20080208163254/http://www.sparknotes.com/about/">Archived</a> from the original on February 8, 2008. Retrieved February 6, 2008.</cite>

</li>

<li id="cite_note-12"><a href="#cite_ref-12">^</a> <cite id="CITEREFKestler" class="citation web cs1">Kestler, Justin. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.sparknotes.com/help/plagiarism.html">"Help:The Plagiarism Plague"</a>. SparkNotes. SparkNotes LLC. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20080306065826/http://www.sparknotes.com/help/plagiarism.html">Archived</a> from the original on March 6, 2008. Retrieved February 6, 2008.</cite>

</li>

<li id="cite_note-13"><a href="#cite_ref-13">^</a> <cite id="CITEREFMiller2006" class="citation news cs1">Miller, Erin (January 2, 2006). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://rgweb.registerguard.com/news/2006/01/02/tw.sparkyes.0102.p1.php?section=20below">"Is SparkNotes worthwhile? Yes, used properly it can enhance our education"</a>. The Register-Guard. Eugene, Oregon, United States. Retrieved March 24, 2008.</cite>

</li>

<li id="cite_note-14"><a href="#cite_ref-14">^</a> <cite id="CITEREFNguyen2003" class="citation news cs1">Nguyen, Kim Ngan (2 October 2003). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.thedenverchannel.com/education/2526307/detail.html">"SparkNotes A Hit With High School Crowd"</a>. The Denver Channel. Internet Broadcasting Systems, Inc. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20080327183114/http://www.thedenverchannel.com/education/2526307/detail.html">Archived</a> from the original on 27 March 2008. Retrieved 24 March 2008.</cite>

</li>

<li id="cite_note-15"><a href="#cite_ref-15">^</a> <cite id="CITEREFFormato2004" class="citation news cs1">Formato, Brynne (February 5, 2004). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://media.www.fairfieldmirror.com/media/storage/paper148/news/2004/02/05/CampusLife/A.Quick.Study.Online.Sites.Speed.Up.Reading-597299.shtml">"A quick study: online sites speed up reading"</a>. The Mirror. Fairfield, Connecticut, United States. Retrieved March 25, 2008.</cite>

</li>

<li id="cite_note-16"><a href="#cite_ref-16">^</a> <cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20190131053123/http://community.sparknotes.com/2019/01/24/coming-soon-the-new-sparknotes-blog">"Coming Soon: The New SparkNotes Blog!"</a>. Sparknotes Blog. January 24, 2019. Archived from <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.sparknotes.com/blog/2019/01/24/coming-soon-the-new-sparknotes-blog/">the original</a> on January 31, 2019.</cite>

</li>

<li id="cite_note-17"><a href="#cite_ref-17">^</a> <cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20190131051007/http://community.sparknotes.com/sparkler-post/parr_kerr/a-message-to-sparknotes-editors-please-take-time-to-read-if-you-see-this">"Sparkler Posts » A Message To Sparknotes Editors - please take time to read if you see this"</a>. January 31, 2019. Archived from <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://community.sparknotes.com/sparkler-post/parr_kerr/a-message-to-sparknotes-editors-please-take-time-to-read-if-you-see-this">the original</a> on January 31, 2019. Retrieved February 21, 2019.</cite>

</li>

</ol></div>

<div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="External_links">External links</h2></div>

<ul><li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.sparknotes.com/">Official website</a></li></ul></div><div><div class="zim-footer">

This article is issued from <a class="external text" title="Last edited on 2025-04-30" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/?title=SparkNotes&oldid=1288075236">Wikipedia</a>. The text is available under <a class="external text" href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.en">Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0</a> unless otherwise noted. Additional terms may apply for the media files.

</div>

</div></div>

</div>

</main>

</div>

</body></html>