Studying English Literature develops the ability to think critically about varied topics, from a range of diverse theoretical perspectives. Through books, we learn about various historical events and build an understanding of a wide range of cultures. In our curriculums, English Literature has always held a place of prominence and is arguably one of the most interesting subjects to study. What makes it more compelling is having a variety of sources to read summaries, analyses, and character sketches. Whether from an exam-centric perspective or just general reading, having a sound source to get relevant literature notes is crucial. We took up the big task and researched some reliable websites you can refer to while studying literary texts.
Spark Notes
This is a website that students around the world swear by. Texts ranging from Shakespearean drama to postmodern novels are summarised on this website. What is unique about this site is that you are able to access the original text side by side with the analysis of the lines as the screen splits into two sections. This is useful for a deeper understanding as you get an explanation while simultaneously reading the text closely.
It offers more than 1,100 book summaries and literature guides, as well as poetry guides and a glossary of literary terms. The best part remains that you can read every Shakespeare play, poem, and sonnet paired with a modern English translation of the text.
This one is a student-focused analysis and summary website. In addition to the reviews and chapter summaries, it also offers lesson plans for teachers, biographies of more than 1,500 authors, and a “Homework Help” section. You can use the Homework Help feature to get solutions to specific doubts about literary texts, answered by other members of the community. This also gives you a chance to interact with like-minded readers.
The content of the website is sub-divided into categories such as Literary Movements, Plays, Non-Fiction, Poetry, and Shakespeare. You’ll even find some cinema analysis on this website. One downside however, is that to access the content for many texts, you will have to buy a subscription.
This platform is a wiki, which means that anyone online can change the content of the website and it’s not necessary for them to hold any relevant credentials. Due to this reason, this source is not as reliable as the others mentioned here but can be the knight in shining armour when you just want to obtain a general understanding of the text instead of a deeper one.
Moreover, the language used is fairly simple and one can read through, as well as understand the basic concept easily by using this website. Overall, this website offers an overview of the plotline, but for readers who are looking for a deeper analysis of the underlying themes, the site will not suffice.
Shmoop is a website that is quite similar to SparkNotes. Its target audience is pre-university level students. If you’re taking your ACTs, SATs, or AP tests, a website like Shmoop is a prominent resource.
Although the site primarily focuses on providing summaries of texts, the content on Shmoop is much more than book and chapter summaries. You’ll also find study guides for everything from marine biology to oil drilling. If you use Shmoop, you can be confident the material you’re accessing will be accurate and well-written. All the summaries are written by Ph.D. holders in their respective fields.
If you want your sources to be completely foolproof, check out GradeSaver. The book summaries in its “ClassicNotes” series are all written by Harvard students. You’ll find book reviews of most titles you’re likely to study in school, including ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’, ‘Animal Farm’, ‘The Catcher in the Rye’, ‘The Great Gatsby’, ‘Lord of the Flies’, and ‘The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn’.
Best of all, the chapter summaries on GradeSaver are free to read. There are even free quizzes, mock exam titles, and theme guides which will help you prepare for a big exam.
We hope this well-researched list of sites for literature notes will prove useful when you’re studying for the exams! If you have any other site suggestions that you’ve been using, do share them with us.
Young Scholarz is excited to announce its latest partnership with Lumiere Education. Lumiere is an organization founded by Harvard and Oxford PhDs with the aim to provide high-school students around the world the access to research opportunities with top global scholars. (more…)
Two weeks after the Ivy League brought in the storm, some students are still reeling. By now, some have managed to gain admission to a decent college. Some, on the other hand, have decided to take a gap year and reapply. Many, devastated, have sought advice from their parents, peers, educators, and counselors to take the next step ahead. There was a time when Ivy League acceptance rates, like Princeton University, accepted 15% to 20% of applications. During that time, there wasn’t any Covid-19 or the looming threat of World War 3. People were content.
Acceptance Rates Continue to Take a Dip
The number of applicants increases exponentially every year, especially because of the pandemic-driven test-optional policy adopted by most colleges. With the information gathered from the student newspaper, ‘The Harvard Crimson’, Harvard’s acceptance rate has fallen steeply to 3.19. This is the lowest ever since it was founded almost 4 centuries ago! The number of applicants continues to increase inversely, with a record number of 61,220 applicants that applied for their seats in the class of 2026. The accepted students have gotten luckier, as some of them—exactly a fourth—are from families with an annual income below 75,000 dollars. They have their main costs of tuition and boarding covered. This is much higher compared to last year when 65,000 dollars was the criteria for availing aid in education and stay.
Universities like Yale and Brown have also reported record-low acceptance rates, with Yale’s acceptance rate of 4.7% and Brown at 5%. Columbia remained unchanged with its 3.7% acceptance rate, akin to last year’s. Dartmouth on the other hand is ahead of last year, with a rate of 6.24%.
Universities Opting Out of Making Their Acceptance Rates Public
A Thursday morning not more than two weeks ago, The Wall Street Journal published an article that reported 3 Ivies that would forgo announcing their acceptance rates. Along with Stanford, Princeton, Penn, and Cornell have chosen to withhold their acceptance rates. They argue that publishing these rates does more harm than it does good. They felt it unleashed a surge of panic among high school students and their parents. In addition, it reinforces a ‘myth’ that it is close to impossible to get into a good college. The Princeton admissions website has stated that this decision of theirs is part of its “student-centered approach to the admission process”. But the argument here is – does it protect the interests of the students or is it a ploy to protect the interests of the institutions in question? What harms the students is when they, along with their parents, begin to worship the universities, seeing them as their final destination in life. But what could be a more sensible approach here? Students need to weigh their options and understand that while a brand name can get you far, it isn’t the only way to the top!
How Does This Affect Students?
Coming back to this supposed myth that it is nearly impossible to get into a good college, is it a myth? That depends on two factors – how you define a college as ‘good’ and based on that, how impossible it is to get into a good college. If you ignore the plethora of ‘good’ colleges in America, like Michigan University, and New York University, then yes, it is close to impossible to get into a good college.
Having said that, this notion affects a crucial number of the aforementioned 96-97% rejected applicants. Along with them, their parents as well as their education counselors! They end up scrambling to get their seats in other universities. The realists have applied beforehand to other institutions as backup, while the overly optimistic ones are in for an inevitable rude shock. If you’re one of these applicants who feel like you’ve lost the light at the end of the tunnel, then here’s an article that might just be the sliver of sunshine you need. Click the link to read: What to Do If Your Dream College Rejects You.
Other Colleges
Apart from the Ivy League schools, other popular colleges such as the University of Michigan, University of Virginia, University of Pittsburgh, and many more are surging with applications. This is due to the pandemic and test-optional policies. It’s not just the students competing with one another to get their seats secured, it’s also the lesser-known institutions. They are trying hard to fill up their seats while being overshadowed by the Ivy League and other more popular colleges. It’s always a wise decision to keep yourself open to newer, less explored options. When a path is crowded with people, then you have to create your own path. And while we’re at that, if you have the means to cross the ocean, then why not?
What does it for Future Students?
Does it mean that you’re not good enough? Do the rejection letters from Harvard, Yale, and other Ivy League schools decide your self-worth and value in the world? The sad truth isn’t in affirmation of the statement, but that you are good enough and you still didn’t get in. What should you do then? If you want to get in, you can always apply for a transfer in the second year. Otherwise, apply elsewhere – plenty of interesting colleges await your application! Keep up your A-game and aspire to perform your best. Don’t let an institution bring you down. Until our high-paying corporate culture changes to accept people from everywhere, the focus remains on getting into a classroom. Instead, we should shift our focus. Concentrate on learning well and securing a successful degree. Embrace career opportunities beyond the classroom, independent of a brand name.
We’re pleased to announce our latest accreditation – Top 3 in Math Tutoring Services in Singapore! (more…)
Reading texts? Done. Preparation? Almost done. Confidence? Not quite there… Is this you? Whether you are looking for a way to set off IGCSE students exam jitters or check if your exam preparation is on point – we can help! We have intensive EXAM PRACTICE sessions that will get you ready and feeling confident. When you join these sessions, you’ll find yourself writing handwritten answers in a timed, realistic and controlled exam-like setting where you’ll have to face your shortcomings and work on them.
We all know there’s only a slight difference between getting an average score and achieving a high score – the secret is in smart work, motivation and proper guidance. Our highly sought-after Face-to-face exam practice sessions are here to help you! So get ready to brush up your knowledge with Young Scholarz’s In-Person Exam Practice sessions on IGCSE English Literature SET-TEXTS, English Language 0500, and English Literature 0475/ 0408.
What’s more? All your handwritten papers will be marked as per IGCSE guidelines. We will provide you with valuable feedback, in line with the Cambridge mark schemes, to set you on the road to improvement and achieve the desired results.
There are limited sessions and slots available. We also offer online seats if you’re unable to come in. Whatsapp us on +65 8228 1164 to enrol!
Check out our social media pages and our website to view the schedule.
We are bringing back the in-person exam preparation classes for IGCSE and IB exam to all students. (more…)
We are delighted to announce three new additions of experienced and amazing teachers to our team – Manisha Thakur, Sonia Mathews and Sumit Bhatnagar. (more…)
Young Scholarz is bringing back the Paper Marking Services during Easter break and through the exam prep period for IB / IGCSE exam papers and PSAT/ SAT/ ACT/ GRE/ GMAT essays. (more…)
Good grades have their place on the top of the mantle when it comes to building your college applications. However, apart from academic excellence, extracurriculars hold a crucial position too. Many other applicants will have the same or similar grades as you do, there needs to be something unique that makes your application stand out when compared to your counterparts. Although, just involving in some activities limited to our school and the academic year will not be enough. There is a multitude of activities you can take up during the summer break which will have an immense reflection on your profile. Listed below are a few such exciting activities one must indulge in during break time to build a strong college application.
1. Take a Summer Program
Summer programs happen on college campuses for high-school students to give a chance at experiencing college life on campus and learning from university-level professors. All Ivy League schools host a variety of summer programs and they will definitely make your application stand out while you get an experience of a lifetime with bundles of knowledge. There are many universities in Asia that offer summer programs as well. Get Researching!
2. Work on a personal project
It’s necessary to find what you are passionate about outside of school and then pursue it. If you like reading, go ahead and set up a blog where you review all that you read. If you’re a cinephile, start a social media page recommending to people what they can watch on the basis of different genre choices. Intrigued by how evolution works? Start researching about it, find an interesting arc, and write a paper. All in all, invest in something that’s personally relevant and make it worth your time!
3. Take a free online course
With the digital revolution on rise, there are many online portals offering courses from recognised universities that provide you with vocational training. Try out websites such as Coursera, Edx, and Udemy, find out what you are interested in, and take an online course. Make sure they provide a certificate highlighting your achievement in the program.
4. Get an internship
Corporations around the city are always looking for a helping hand and usually have interesting internships to offer around summertime. Make a list of places that are aligned with your long-term goal and enquire whether they offer such spots for high-school students. If your passion lies in fashion, pursue internships with boutiques or fashion management firms. Express your interest via email and take proactive steps to secure valuable hands-on experience.
5. Work on a side hustle
If you ask a Gen Z who their soulmate is, they’d probably say it’s Instagram. Put the time spent on social networking sites to use by starting a small business of your own. If you’re an artist, start showcasing it online. If you’re a baker, start an Instagram page selling your sweet treasures. Remember to make a brand out of it. This will give you hands-on experience on how marketing works in the real world and it will reflect well on your college application.
5. Start prepping for competitive exams
There is a high chance that you would require to clear some competitive exams such as the SAT, ACT, GMAT, or GRE. Apart from this, if you’re applying to a university located in the West as an international student, you’ll be required to clear English proficiency tests such as IELTS or TOEFL as well. Young Scholarz will be able to guide you through the process of prepping for these college-level exams.
7. Volunteer around the neighbourhood
There are many animal shelters, old age homes, orphanages, and other non-profit organisations that are looking for student volunteers. Find out a cause that intrigues you and fills your heart as well as your skillset by doing some good old volunteer work.
Here’s hoping this blog gives you many new ideas and a lot to think about. Do follow through on at least three of these summer activities to have a fool-proof college application and a guaranteed fun life experience. If you seek more guidance, feel free to contact us on social media or send an email.
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