by Sally Morem

Created on: February 14, 2009

The Internet has utterly transformed the ways in which we do research, not just on science, technology and politics, but also on literature. Using "Cliff Notes" as a source for quotes for your paper is a no-no, but using it as a jumping off point for your own searches on the Web is perfectly acceptable.

How does this work? Let's say, for illustrative purposes, that I wanted to do a paper on Mark Twain's novel, "Huckleberry Finn." I know that that's a huge subject, one much too large for my paper, but I'm particularly interested in exploring the relationship that develops between Huck and Jim as they ride the raft down the Mississippi. I could thumb my way through a copy of the novel, but an easier, and much faster way to find the scenes I'm interested in would be for me to use "Cliff Notes Online," which lists a variety of scenes for my consideration when I type in "Huck and Jim." Here's some I pulled from their web site:

http://www.cliffsnotes.com/WileyCDA/LitNote/The -Adventures-of-Huckleberry-Finn-Summary-Analysis-and -Original-Text-by-Chapter-Chapter-31.id-20,pageNum-3 23.html

*Book Summary, page 2: Huck and Jim encounter several characters in the book.

*Characters are listed who interact with Huck and Jim here.

*Chapter 12 and 13, Huck and Jim leave Hannibal.

*The con men take over the raft; Huck and Jim are no longer in control of their journey.

*Huck must decide whether or not to help Jim escape slavery, a key moment in Huck's character development.

*Tom arrives at the Phelps farm; he now controls the adventure of Huck and Jim.

After checking these and other summaries, I decide that those listed above fit the needs of my paper, and so I read those sections of "Cliff Notes" and my copy of "Huckleberry Finn." While doing so, I note any interesting key words and phrases for my later search online. I'll use them to find essays on those aspects of "Huckleberry Finn" I'm most interested in.

I'll use as an example of this research technique the key scene in "Huckleberry Finn" when, in Chapter 31, Huck realizes he must "rise above his principles," specifically his belief that if he engages in an act that abolitionists would approve of (freeing Jim), he would go to hell.

Here is how that scene is described in "Cliff Notes":

"As Huck ponders his choices, his conscience begins to trouble him again. He cannot help but feel guilty for assisting Jim, despite the fact that his instincts constantly force him into that role. After trying to pray for resolution, Huck writes a letter

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