There comes a time when students are faced with a predicament: read the assigned books or use websites instead. Students should be able to use appropriate resources to help them grasp the concept of materials. However, websites should not be used as a replacement for the actual assignment.

One well known website that students use for reading assignments is Sparknotes.com. The site contains quick chapter summaries and analyses of the book. Tools that Sparknotes offers such as character summaries and a compiled list of themes or motifs come as a convenience to students.

That being said, students should not neglect reading the actual book. Part of the learning comes from the actual reading—not only if the student has the correct answer on paper. Courses such as English and history are comprehensive and require the student to read, infer and analyze the material.

The website serves as a convenient shortcut that saves time for other work, which is why students lean towards not reading the book. However, if the student decides not to read the complete material, they may miss important details as opposed to learning the general idea of the piece.

For students, Sparknotes is a source to help with their homework. Not only does it make the material easier to understand, it’s also available at their fingertips. DHS is technologically recognized; students should use what they are allowed to use when deemed suitable and necessary. The site serves as a tool to clear up interpretations of the assignment. Yet that is the only purpose the site serves to help with the understanding of the topic, not so the student doesn’t have to do their work.

Websites should not take the place of the actual book. Students should make time to actually do their assignments instead of procrastinating and taking the easy way out.