Reading and Writing with

Fanfiction
Michael Sapp
Media Lesson #1
L567
 Reading and Writing with
Fanfiction
This application is designed in two parts:

Teacher Student
Notes Notes
Teacher
Intro

Notes 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
“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-  Students writing fanfiction can focus
to-peer discussion and review in
helping students to develop meta-
knowledge of their own writing
processes” (Black 2005, Piazza,
2003)
 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.
more on the process of writing
without having to create new
characters or other predefined
details.
 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
“My hope is that with the fanfiction writing and review process.
we can teach  Students learn to search for fanfiction that they are
students not interested in or have some background knowledge of.
only to read
critically but also
 Students learn about the process of writing including:
creatively and  Multi-phase planning
free them to  Individual writing strategies
make the books  Recursive and generative editing involving rereading,
they read for assessing, reacting, and moving on.
school into  Revision
resources for
 Linguistic/Surface editing
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
 Intro
 Assignment
 Objectives
Notes
 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
“My hope is that fanfiction writing and review process.
we can teach  Learn to search for fanfiction that students are
students not interested in or have some background knowledge of.
only to read
critically but also
 Learn about the process of writing including:
creatively and  Multi-phase planning
free them to  Individual writing strategies
make the books  Recursive and generative editing involving rereading,
they read for assessing, reacting, and moving on.
school into  Revision
resources for
 Linguistic/Surface editing
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
Possible Fanfiction
 Select a fictional universe Story Ideas:
and using the fanfiction
template worksheet fill out
as much information as • Develop new
possible. relationships
 Using the information in the between characters
fanfiction template • Extend plot
worksheet, begin writing the timelines
first draft of a fanfiction
• Create new settings
story.
• Explore new themes
 Using the class message
board send first draft to
assigned beta reader.
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.
Resources & References
(continued)
 Black, Rebecca. “Access and Affiliation: the Language
Practices of English-Language Learners in an Online
Fanfiction Community.” Journal of Adolescent & Adult
Literacy 49 (2): Oct. 2005. Retrieved 8 Mar. 2010 from
Oncourse L567.
 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.