Alright, so for APUSH we’re supposed to read Uncle Tom’s Cabin and answer some questions for summer work. We go back next Monday and I haven’t started it so I’m just going to use spark notes. I won’t have a problem answering the questions but it says we will have a quiz over the book in general when school goes back. This isn’t english class so I can’t see it being that specific. Do you guys think I’ll be good just with the Spark notes. I just cannot read this long book in a week and a half.
That’s only 30 minutes per day on average. Plus you have two weekends. Don’t risk it.
Not the same exact situation, but my APUSH teacher would create quiz questions that weren’t in the textbook chapter outlines/review vids. Don’t count on the quiz not being specific just because it isn’t English.
“easy a less effort” will absolutely come back to bite you in the butt at some point. This may just be that point.
Every teacher I know is aware of what’s covered in Spark notes.
And Cliffsnotes and quizlet and …
In fact, I know many teachers who (gasp) made up their own exams/quizzes instead of using the ones the publisher provided in the instructor’s copy. 
EVERY teacher I know makes up his/her own tests.
And before my husband makes up an English test, he checks those same “cheater” sources.
And the mom/teacher in me can’t help asking: If you’re already looking for shortcuts in August, why not just assume that taking a college course in high school will be too much work for you? Reading a book in a week and a half of vacation time is a reasonable expectation for a college course.
I am going to take a contrarian view and suggest it depends…
Are you planning on working 15 hour days at a soup kitchen, advancing a science experiment, working on a math theorem and that is the reason reading a book is a burden? Attending to a sick relative, traveling to participate in an archeological dig, or working several jobs to pay for college? Or are you hoping not to have HS prep detract from slacking off, getting a tan or playing video games?
There exists a marginal utility and value to time usage. If you aspire to grow up uninformed and live in your parents basement all of the above are acceptable reasons to take a short cut. Alternatively if college is in your plans I would read the book if only the last 3 apply.
Tongue in cheek but come on, intellectual curiosity and ambition are value on CC so what did you expect.
Just rent The King and I and skip ahead to the scene with Small House of Uncle Thomas. Or look for it on Youtube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zJ-lyu9OOuo
You teacher will be impressed with your initiative. :))
Why are you posting? Curl up in a chair and start reading! Maybe look at the sparks notes ahead of time to take note of themes and such.
Just read it…
After you finish that book , then read this one :
I would highly recommend the book by Cal Newport: “How To Become a Straight-A Student:
The Unconventional Strategies Real College Students Use to Score High While Studying Less”
It will help you with time management and how to be more efficient.
A few comments:
–You have posts saying you slacked off freshman and sophomore years but realized your mistake and want to get into a competitive college-- however it looks like junior year is starting off the same way.
–This is an AP class it is highly likely that the rigor required would be beyond what Spark Notes offer. Consider if you should be taking the AP class if you are not willing to do the work it requires.
–If you come to CC looking for praise for taking academic shortcuts, you are probably in the wrong place.
–There is still time to read the book.
You have plenty of time to read the book! You say the class is not English. You need to know both the content and think about applications to your current course. Academic deadlines, especially when you are in college, are not managed by faculty other than suiting organization and timing class content within the context of the academic schedule. Your role as a student means you must act to fulfill class requirements and learn. Dont look for wiggle room. Read!
Ok I started it up and after 3 hours I am now on page 60, so at this rate it is going to take me 20 hours to read the book. I’m gonna do it, but it is really annoying and I just can’t read any faster.
Seriously reconsider taking an AP class. School hasn’t started yet, and you really don’t seem to have the mindset for this. Why make yourself miserable for the next 10 months?
If you’re struggling to read this book now, what are you going to do when you have similar reading assignments, and several other classes at the same time? Drop to Honors US History, and work to earn a good grade. If you stay in APUSH and don’t do well, it’s not going to impress anyone. Take best advice is to take the most rigorous schedule that you can handle, not the more rigorous available if you can’t handle the work.
If you are a slow reader and don’t enjoy reading perhaps taking APUSH and AP English in the same year (per another post of yours) is not a great idea.
I can handle the work. I just forgot we had to read it and now I have to cram it all in the week before. Believe me I would’ve taken honors English and us history, but we only have AP or regular for both, and regular is a waste of time
Okay you need to stop posting on this website, at least until you’re finished reading. The time you spend here typing up useless lamentations could be better spent reading your book and admitting to yourself that you made the mistake of taking AP English and that if you have any hope of surviving that class you need to start it off running. And the first step to doing that is finishing your summer reading assignment, not sitting on your computer and wasting time on this website.
Aight guys I read the whole book. Thanks for the support homies. I got a 95 on the quiz and a 100 on the summer work. Gonna put in the work this year