Questions to Beat SparkNotes and CliffsNotes
By Shawn Kane
A lot of teachers discussed how students use Spark and Cliff notes to answer basic questions and that is why they
are opposed to independent reading. There are many questions we can ask students that spark and cliff notes
cannot answer and that students will struggle to answer if they do not read the book. Here is a list of questions I
think can help challenge students, help them relate and connect to what they read and increase critical thinking
skills. For the independent thinking these are the kinds of questions I would expect my students to answer. I do
realize some of these questions will be more challenging to some younger students, and maybe some questions
won´t fit all books.
ON CHARACTER:
1. Who is your favorite character and why? What does this character do or say that makes him/her your favorite?
2. Which Character to you feel you are most like or most different from? Describe the characteristics that make you
most like or different from this character? Do you like this character?
3. If you could write yourself into this story would you be a lead character, or side character? Would you be a hero
or villain? Why would you choose this role for yourself.
ON SETTING.
1. Compare and contrast the setting of the story to your own life setting. What are the similarities and differences
between the story setting and your own life setting?
2. Would you like to live in the world or setting of your story? Why or why not?
3. Many stories have Utopian Settings. Based on the setting of your own story, adjust that setting-tell what you
would change-to make it the perfect world setting.
PLOT:
1. Have you ever found yourself in a similar problem as the main character? If so, tell me how you resolved the
conflict?
2. If you could give advice to your main character about the conflict what advice would you give and why?
3. Create a different conflict for your character to face in a sequel to the story you just read. How do you think your
main characters can resolve this conflict?
FINAL PROJECTS FOR NOVEL:
1. Create a yearbook for the main characters of your story (heroes and villains) with a quote from each character,
most likely categories for each character, sketches or pictures of you and friends dressed as each character.
2. Create a childhood for your main characters. Would they grow up together or in different places? What were
they like as kids?
3. Word Collage: Using words from cut out magazines or from word art, create a collage that tells people about
your story, the characters, plot, setting. ]They can include quotes from characters or the author about the book.
4. Poems: Write 3 poems about your story, describing how it made you feel, the characters, how you feel now that
the story is over.
This website also has some excellent ideas for end projects for students independent reading.
http://cheekylit.com/75-book-report-alternatives/
Anyways just some ideas I have been pondering so that kids have to actually read a novel and be challenged by the
assignment for their book.
-Shawn