Reading and Writing with

Fanfiction Michael Sapp

www.shoesatthedoor.com

Reading and Writing with

Fanfiction

Teacher

Notes

Student

Notes

This application is designed in two parts:

Teacher

Notes Intro

The Class

Rationale

Objectives

Schedule

Tips

Procedures

Evaluation

Materials

Intro - What is fan fiction (also

known as fanfiction, fanfic, FF,

or fic)?

―Fan fictions are texts written about media

and popular culture by fans. In these texts,

fan fiction authors take up the characters

and plotlines of the original media and

creatively rework them by developing new

relationships between characters, extending

plot and timelines, creating new settings,

and exploring novel themes‖ (Black, 2006)

Intro - What is a Beta Reader?

A beta reader (or betareader, or beta) is a

person who reads a work of fiction with a

critical eye, with the aim of improving

grammar, spelling, characterization, and

general style of a story prior to its release to

the general public.

-www.fanfiction.net

The Class

This application was designed for

an ESL Writing class in an

Intensive English Language

Program type setting with

intermediate-low to intermediate-

high skill levels.

Rationale

Reading helps students acquire writing skills, especially when students are interested in the subject matter and have background knowledge of the material.

Writing is a multi-phase, non-linear process that can benefit from peer review and revision.

Students writing fanfiction can focus more on the process of writing without having to create new characters or other predefined details.

―As they read, students come

to understand the different

organizational structures

writers use to communicate

ideas‖ (Freeman & Freeman

pg. 30).

―Effective approaches to teaching

writing, such as Writer’s Workshop,

emphasize the importance of peer-

to-peer discussion and review in

helping students to develop meta-

knowledge of their own writing

processes‖ (Black 2005, Piazza,

2003)

Rationale (continued)The combination of

predefined subject matter,

social interaction, and

interesting content make

fanfiction based activities

a beneficial activity for

learning reading and

writing skills.

Using and interacting with

fanfiction and fanfiction

forums helps improve new

literacy skills.

―Members of fanfiction.net

engage in activities that are

congruent with what we already

know about best practice in

writing instruction: that it is

important to integrate multiple

modes of meaning-making into

literacy activities, that

collaborative activity and

discussion between peers

enhances writing ability, and that

language use is social and

intimately tied to identity‖ (Black,

2005).

Objectives Students learn about fanfiction and become acquainted

with the fanfiction writing and review process.

Students learn to search for fanfiction that they are

interested in or have some background knowledge of.

Students learn about the process of writing including:

Multi-phase planning

Individual writing strategies

Recursive and generative editing involving rereading,

assessing, reacting, and moving on.

Revision

Linguistic/Surface editing

―My hope is that

we can teach

students not

only to read

critically but also

creatively and

free them to

make the books

they read for

school into

resources for

their own

imaginative

speculations‖ (Jenkins, 2008)

Objectives (cont.) Students improve reading, composition, and new literacy

skills by reading fanfiction, writing fanfiction, and through

discussion and review of peers’ written works.

Students apply these skills to a class assigned book by

reading, writing a fanfiction response, and reviewing peer

work.

Referring to her study of ELLs using fanfiction Rebecca Black (2009) found that

―[i]n terms of basic print literacy, it is worth noting that through their fan-related

activities, all three focal participants were able to practice and improve their

English-language and composition skills.‖

Schedule

Day 1- Read and discuss examples of

fanfiction In-class/homework:

Write first draft of fanfiction using fanfiction template worksheet

Day 2 – Beta Reading and next draft In-class/homework:

Upload story to the forum

Post comments and reviews to other students’ fanfiction

Schedule (continued)

Day 3 – Discuss novel and begin

novel-based fanfiction In-class/homework:

Write first draft of novel-based fanfiction using fanfiction template

worksheets

Day 4 – Beta Reading and next draft In-class/homework:

Write second draft of fanfiction and upload to forum

Post comments to other students’ fanfiction

Tips

Using school’s private server space, setup open-source

forum such as phpBB or Simple Machines Forums for

students to publish fanfiction and post comments.

If server space is not available try nabble.

The days do not necessarily represent the next calendar day,

but represent the next day planned for this assignment.

Encourage students to focus less on the final product and

more on the process of creation.

When it comes to beta readers and peer comments,

encourage and model the use of constructive criticism

Tips (continued)

This is a large assignment that requires the student to write

at least 2 drafts for two assignments. Because of this, it will

be helpful to encourage the production of short, but well-

formed compositions as opposed to longer stories. I

recommend the story be about one page in length.

This assignment is an introduction to the concepts and

possibilities of the use of fanfiction in a classroom and is

therefore fairly general in scope. As students become more

comfortable with the concepts the lesson should be adapted

to suite more specific aspects or learning objectives such as

a specific writing skill or critical analysis technique.

Procedures:Day 1 - Reading Review examples of fanfiction from sites such as

fanfiction.net

Have students search for fanfiction in their native language

Students read 3 or 4 works of fanfiction (at least 2 in English).

Students should also read the comments and reviews for each story

Students individually fill out a beta review worksheet in response to one story

Discuss the readings How were the fanfics similar to the original work?

How were the fanfics different from the original work?

What changes were made?

What new information was given?

Were the reviews helpful?

Did you agree or disagree with any of the comments?

Day 2 Beta Readers and Revising

Each student reads assigned fanfiction and fills out a Beta Reader Worksheet

Students give a completed Beta Reader Worksheet to the author

Students then revise their stories and begin work on the second draft in response to the beta reader’s worksheet

Day 3 Novel and Fanfiction

Discuss the novel Characters

Themes

Settings

Conflict/Resolution

Have students write a fanfiction story based on some aspect of the novel using the fanfiction template worksheet. Some possible ideas include:

Develop new relationships between characters

Extend plot and timelines

Create new settings

Explore new themes

Day 4 Beta Reading and Revising

Have students read and review assigned student’s fanfiction using Beta Reader Worksheets

Have students return their Beta Reader Worksheets to the author

Students then begin to edit and revise their story based on received Beta Reader Worksheets.

Evaluation

Evaluation is based on 2 Rubrics:Fanfiction Rubric

Novel-based Fanfiction Rubric

Materials

Fanfiction Template Worksheet to help students start

brainstorming and developing a story

Beta Reader Worksheet used to help in the review process

Computer projection and computer access

PowerPoint slides with Student Notes

Evaluation Rubrics

Student

Notes Intro

Assignment

Objectives

Read and Review Fanfiction

Write Fanfiction

Become a Beta Reader

Write Novel-Based Fanfiction

Novel-based Fanfiction Beta Reader

Materials

Intro - What is Fan fiction (also

known as fanfiction, fanfic, FF,

or fic)?

―Fan fictions are texts written about media

and popular culture by fans. In these texts,

fan fiction authors take up the characters

and plotlines of the original media and

creatively rework them by developing new

relationships between characters, extending

plot and timelines, creating new settings,

and exploring novel themes‖ (Black, 2006)

Intro - What is a Beta Reader?

A beta reader (or betareader, or beta) is a

person who reads a work of fiction with a

critical eye, with the aim of improving

grammar, spelling, characterization, and

general style of a story prior to its release to

the general public.

-www.fanfiction.net

Fanfiction Assignment Read fanfiction (3 or 4 stories—at least 2 in English)

Write fanfiction (1 page story)

Review peer fanfiction as a Beta Reader

Write a second draft in response to Beta Reader Worksheet

Upload draft to Forums

Read classmates fanfiction

Comment on at least 2 classmates’ fanfiction

Novel-Based Fanfiction

Assignment-After reading novel

Write fanfiction (1 page of written Fanfiction)

Review peer fanfiction as a Beta Reader

Write final draft and Upload draft to forums

Read classmates fanfiction on forums

Comment on at least 2 classmates’ fanfiction

Objectives Learn about fanfiction and become acquainted with the

fanfiction writing and review process.

Learn to search for fanfiction that students are

interested in or have some background knowledge of.

Learn about the process of writing including:

Multi-phase planning

Individual writing strategies

Recursive and generative editing involving rereading,

assessing, reacting, and moving on.

Revision

Linguistic/Surface editing

―My hope is that

we can teach

students not

only to read

critically but also

creatively and

free them to

make the books

they read for

school into

resources for

their own

imaginative

speculations‖ (Jenkins, 2008)

Objectives (cont.) Improve reading, composition, and new literacy skills by

reading fanfiction, writing fanfiction, and through discussion

and review of peers’ written works.

Apply these skills to a class assigned book by reading,

writing a fanfiction response, and reviewing peer work.

Referring to her study of ELLs using fanfiction Rebecca Black (2009) found that

―[i]n terms of basic print literacy, it is worth noting that through their fan-related

activities, all three focal participants were able to practice and improve their

English-language and composition skills.‖

Read and Review Fanfiction Begin reading selected Novel

Find and read examples of fanfiction

Fanfiction.net

Find examples of fanfiction in your native language

Read 3 or 4 examples of fanfiction (at least 2 in English).

Read the comments and reviews

Select one of the stories you read and using the beta reader

template fill out as much information as possible.

Write Fanfiction

Select a fictional universe

and using the fanfiction

template worksheet fill out

as much information as

possible.

Using the information in the

fanfiction template

worksheet, begin writing the

first draft of a fanfiction

story.

Using the class message

board send first draft to

assigned beta reader.

• Develop new

relationships

between characters

• Extend plot

timelines

• Create new settings

• Explore new themes

Possible Fanfiction

Story Ideas:

Become a Beta Reader Using the beta reader template worksheet fill in as much

information as possible about the 1st draft of peers’ fanfiction

Return beta reader template worksheet to the author.

Based on beta reader template worksheet make corrections

and begin writing another draft.

Upload final draft to message board

Write Novel-based Fanfiction

Based on the novel, use the fanfiction template worksheet

and fill out as much information as possible.

Using the information in the fanfiction template worksheet,

begin writing the first draft of a novel-based fanfiction story.

Think of possible Characters

Settings

Conflict/Resolution

Using the class message board send first draft to assigned

beta reader.

Beta Reading for novel-based

fanfiction

Using the beta reader template worksheet fill in as much

information as possible about the first draft of peers’ fanfiction

Return beta reader template worksheet to the author.

Based on beta reader template worksheet make corrections

and begin writing another draft.

Upload final draft to message board

Materials

Fanfiction Template Worksheet to help students start

brainstorming and developing a story

Beta Reader Worksheet to help in the review process

Student Notes power point slides

Resources & References Black, R. W. (2009). English language learners, fan

communities, and twenty first century skills. Journal of Adolescent and Adult Literacy, 52(8).

Black, R. W. (2005). Access and affiliation: The literacy and composition practices of English Language learners in an online fanfiction community. Journal of Adolescent & Adult Literacy, 49 (2), 118-128.

Black, R. W. (2006). Language, culture, and identity in online fanfiction. E-learning, 3 (2), 170-184.

Freeman, D & Freeman, Y. (2004). Essential linguistics: what you need to know to teach reading, esl, spelling, phonics, and grammar. Heinemann Educational Books

Hirvela, A. (2004). Connecting reading and writing in second language writing instruction. University of Michigan

PressESL.

Jenkins, Henry. ―How Fanfiction Can Teach us a New Way to Read Moby-Dick.‖ Henry Jenkins Blog. 11 Aug. 2008. Retrieved 8 Mar. 2009 from Oncourse L567.