Why Cliff Notes are so Great



 

Cliff Notes are great because they are written by

dedicated scholars and phD's who are deeply in love with their

subject.  They know the Great Book inside and out, and it may have even changed

their lives or added some valued bit of perspective to them as people.  Thus,

they are seriously relating every important bit of plot development while

relating what it all means to the society at the time, the writer's other works,

etc.  You can draw from this knowledge (in your own words, don't copy their

words or their ideas!)  You can use their ideas, throw in a little here

and there to your own argument, but do not make a straight linear transition of

their doctoral thesis to your paper.  That will not sound right to your

professor.

Instead, just sit back with the Cliff Notes, and pretend

you are reading a novel.  A really fast moving novel that gets right to

the point, and doesn't waste any time on setting the scene as great writers are

wont to do.  If there is something important about the setting or time period

that is vital to the larger work as a whole, or perhaps symbolic of something,

you can be sure the Cliff Notes will not hesitate to tell you!  They love that

stuff, really.

So if your are in an English class but you are limited in

time/energy, go get the Cliff Notes and give them the serious, tender loving

attention you would give to the book if you were a wealthy aristocrat

with a huge library and infinite leisure at your disposal.  There is no shame in

it.  The glaring yellow savior is NOT a hack or slacker's tool, if it is truly

used with respect and discretion.  The WRONG WAY to use Cliff notes is to read

them as fast as possible and try to throw their ideas into a random mishmash of

hackneyed prose.  You still have to make a thoughtful

, and you still have to know what you are talking

about.

Just please, before you begin on the yellow and black

booklet, say a prayer to the Lords of the Great books and let them know that you

do perceive their truth and beauty.  Just mention as an act of contrition that

like the great poet John Keats, you are really pressed for time.

This article was written by the Editor

in Chief at