Jim Karpen Tips

November 2000

Having a Ph.D. in English, I'm not quite sure how I feel about Cliff's Notes, those booklets that generations of students have read instead of reading the book itself. (Not me. But I did find this "study aid" indispensable when I read James Joyce's Ulysses.)

Pink Monkey offers its own version of Cliff's Notes, some 206 "Monkey Notes." Plus, they offer all 109 Barron's Booknotes. I mention this because these resources typify Pink Monkey's content, which I think students will find useful. More than most student sites, Pink Monkey offers practical resources that students need and want.

Another such practical resource is the information the site has on those dreaded acronyms: PSAT, SAT, ACT, GRE, GMAT, LAST, AND MCAT. They offer helpful information on all of these entrance exams, and for most of them they help students prepare by offering them practice. The SAT practice section describes the contents of the exam, offers drills, and provides four practice tests, each of which is accompanied by a section that explains the answers.

I was also impressed with their collection of study guides--from algebra to world history. I checked out the latter and found it to be a useful thumbnail sketch of the subject and enjoyed reviewing the initial sections on prehistory and early civilizations--as skewed and selective as it was.

Another impressive area is the Electric Desk, which offers the Study Smart program, a 24-lesosn course on how to be a good student. Again, it's the practicality of the information that makes this site stand out. The College Planning section takes prospective students through a four-step process: writing an essay, choosing a college, getting financial aid, and finding a place to live. The site also includes links to a web site that offers 100 sample college essays.

The area covering Core Concepts seemed largely a repetition of the study guides. A section on writing consisted of links to web sites that offered instruction on all the particulars of grammar. The Digital Library has the full text of over 1,800 classics, with a listing of the most popular. (These included Twain's Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn and Stephen Crane's The Red Badge of Courage.)

The Monkey Guides seem authoritative. I took a look at the one for Moby Dick. It offered information on setting, characters, conflict, plot, themes, mood, background, and historical/literary context. Also included are chapter summaries with notes.

You must register to use the site and give basic information such as name and address. Registered users can not only access the site but also receive 50 megabytes of online storage, which can be used to store MP3, to create and share photo albums, or for backup.

© 2000 by Jim Karpen, Ph.D. (#239)