Is the site cliff notes reliable?

Answer 1

As a professor, I can tell you that sites like Cliff notes do have some useful (although often basic) information; but they are no substitute for doing the actual reading that you were assigned. Cliff notes provide the short synopsis version of the work of literature (like a Shakespearean play, or a famous novel); and yes, they can help you with parts that you didn't understand. But as a short-cut to avoid doing the reading, I don't recommend it. Teachers and professors want your reaction and analysis, not work that was done by someone else. So, yes, if you find yourself confused by a reading assignment, the Cliff notes may be helpful; but I would not want you to rely on them too much, since your teachers want you to learn how to analyze literature, how to do research, and how to quote from respected sources. (And just like it's a bad idea to copy answers from Wikipedia, I also don't recommend copying answers from Cliff notes!)