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I'd say making your creation easier for others to understand adds value. Else sparknotes wouldn't exist.
by donaq 18y ago
I'd say making your creation easier for others to understand adds value. Else sparknotes wouldn't exist.
- unalone 18y agoThis gets into a sticky argument of exactly how you define value. For me it's adding something that isn't already there, and so if all you're doing is summarizing without contributing anything new, then even though it holds value it's not really making an original piece of work.
- jpd 18y agoBut Sparknotes are not just a summary, they are also an analysis of the work. Consider the following table of contents for the Sparknotes of Harry Potter & The Sorcerer's Stone: Context Plot Overview Character List Analysis of Major Characters Themes, Motifs & Symbols Important Quotations Explained Key Facts Study Questions & Essay Topics Quiz Suggestions for Further Reading An author has no more right to claim ownership of this than they do any review/critique of their book.
- unalone 18y agoApology, then - if it's doing more than summary, then it's a creative thing. I didn't know Sparknotes entailed all that.