SHANNON KELLY
Assistant Perspectives Editor
In January, Pepperdine rejected a reading supplement product developed by one of its own, alumnus Steven Emmerson.
In August 2004, Emmerson unveiled “Rocketbooks,” which are digital study guides much like CliffsNotes in the form of interactive and stylized DVDs. They present chapter summaries, in-depth analysis of key themes and pop quizzes. The visual presentations last one to two hours, depending on the length of the novel. Emmerson describes his product as a way to get students more excited about the books they are reading.
“If we can present the difficult content to them in an entertaining way, students will be more likely to want to understand the text better,” he said. “After reading and then watching the Rocketbooks, people will be more confident about the material and will be more likely to want to participate and contribute their input during class discussions”
Emmerson said Rocketbooks are not intended to be used as a replacement for reading the literature.
“I was a literature minor at Pepperdine and remember always trying to find ways to get ahead in understanding the books I was reading,” he said. “Sometimes just reading the book doesn’t provide enough of the leg up that students want and need in the demanding and in-depth discussions that follow.”
Although CliffsNotes are a popular reading supplement, Emmerson said most students won’t be able to gain enough of an edge by relying on that type of product for a better understanding of the literature.
“It especially doesn’t make sense for a student who already has problems with reading comprehension to have to read even more to try to grasp the literature,” he said. “Rocketbooks present supplementary analysis and summaries in a way that all types of learners can grasp the concepts in the books.”
Rocketbooks are already offered in 47 universities across the country including UCLA, University of Colorado and Arizona State University.
“We wanted to introduce the product through college bookstores because managers of smaller retailers were more likely to listen to our pitch,” he said. “Once people started recognizing Rocketbooks from university stores, the bigger retailers were more likely to notice us.”
Emmerson’s plan worked since some major retailers are already selling the product, and others are showing interest. In less than a year, Rocketbooks is already doing business with major distributors such as “Study Tactics,” an online retailer, and “Chapters Indigo,” which Emmerson says is a Canadian corporation comparable to Barnes & Noble.
Many Pepperdine students like senior Kirsten Rush say Rocketbooks is a much better alternative to supplements such as CliffsNotes.
“A digital presentation like Rocketbooks would be especially useful after reading dense and confusing literature,” she said. “That sounds much more user friendly since it is presented in a visual way.”
Senior Marissa Krupa said Rocketbooks would be useful for remembering literature that students have read in years past. She said it would be a good way to be able to recall important themes and ideas without having to go back and re-read the whole book.
“I would watch them as a way to remember back to when I read some of those books in high school,” Krupa said. “That would be a new and entertaining way to revisit those books.”
But don’t expect to find Rocketbooks in the Pepperdine bookstore. A group of English professors who didn’t want Seaver students to have easy access to CliffsNotes, asked for the bookstore to remove such products from its shelves. The bookstore manager, Dianne Criswell, said that she respects the rule.
“Even though we are separate from the school, we are guests on this campus and respect the faculty’s wishes,” Criswell said.
Emmerson said he was turned away from Pepperdine even though Criswell was impressed when he pitched Rocketbooks to her.
“The first thing she told me was that about six years ago, some faculty in the English department asked that the bookstore not sell CliffsNotes-type literary supplements,” he said. “I was a little discouraged because I graduated from there, Pepperdine was one of the first places I went.But all I could do was move on, and that’s what I did.”
The official Rocketbooks Web site lists available DVDs and offers sample clips and downloads. Students can also purchase Rocketbooks online or at nearby schools such as UCLA or Pierce College, in Woodland Hills. Although the company is new, Emmerson said it is continually growing and will release more versions of the product next year.
10-06-2005