Website Review #3

Fanfiction.com

 

What age level student should use it?

High school (or older)

Is this a site that could be used in school? If so, how?

I thought so at first.  I was thinking I could have the students go on a scavenger hunt for a good story.  …just to let them know what fan fiction is (if they don’t already).  This initial exposure to reading fan fiction could lead them into writing their own fan fiction about a favorite book, tv show, movie, game, anime/manga, etc…. 

Now that I’ve explored the site more, I feel like I would at least have to have principal/parent permission before I exposed the students to this site.

 Are there any content area connections?

Definitely English with the whole plot structure, symbolism, character development, suspense…all of the stuff that goes along with the literature standards. 

Also, possibly science and social studies, depending on which topic they choose.  There are some sci-fi options.

How interactive is the site?

Well, users are able to point and click their way to what they are interested in.  When you reach the fanfiction.com home page, you can browse Fanfiction or Crossover Fanfiction, choosing from the following categories: Anime/Manga, Books, Cartoons, Comics, Games, Movies, Plays/Musicals, TV Shows, or Misc.

Users can also search for recommended stories by “communities,” which are custom archives organized by active members containing hand-picked stories from community volunteers. 

I looked for Hunger Games, Simpsons, Sound of Music, mostly to no avail.  However, I stumbled across Toy Story and clicked it.  The writer had crossed Toy Story with the Hunger Games, if you want to read it, click here. 

When I was looking at Musicals and Plays, searching for the Sound of Music, I stumbled across a Shakespeare section.  Students can sort through the Shakespeare stories (or any other groups of stories) by clicking through a number of categories at the top of the page.  They can sort by Genre, Rating, Language, Length, Status (In-Progress or Complete), etc….

How commercial is the site?

This site has one ad space at the top of the page, and one at the bottom.  To me, it doesn’t seem “overrun with ads.”

However, if the user clicks “ads” link at the bottom of the page, he or she will receive the following message:

AdBlocker -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ad Blocker allows a user to remove most advertising from being displayed on this site. We believe there is a compromise between showing ads to offset operating costs and crossing the line to the point of annoying our users. Unlike most sites, we allow anyone to remove our ads. To enable Ad Blocker for 1 days, click here.

  

Pros about the website?

·         Students can decide for themselves what they believe is quality writing or not.  Either way, they are getting to choose to read what they are interested in.

·         This material is easy to access, as long as you have computers and internet access (even if you have to book the computer lab).

·         Students will likely feel in-control since they are getting to navigate their way through the site and choose what they read.

Cons about the website?

·         Students might get frustrated if their favorite book or movie, etc. hasn’t been fanfictioned ß(I think I made that word up) yet, but perhaps this will give them motivation to do it themselves!

·         The material might not actually be quality writing. 

·         There is a possibility that students can run into, what some would deem, “inappropriate material.”  For instance (see below):

<><> <><>

Author: beatlesxlove PM WARNING: Read at your own risk. This is a parody of Romeo and Juliet. It contains some strong language and overall craziness. Read and review, por favor! To see full text, click here: Romeo and Juliet: The Cheap Version. Verona, Italy Act I, Scene I Capulets: We hate Montagues. Montagues: Well, we hate you guys too. Capulets: OH NO YOU DIDN'T! Montagues: OH YES WE DID! CAPULETS: OH IT'S ON, B*TCHES! *They fight* Benvolio: Dude, like WTF? Silence the violence, increase the peace! Tybalt: NO! DIE, B*TCH! Lord Capulet: Oh, look! It's a fight! Yo b*tch, get me my sword! Lady Capulet: *facepalms herself* Oh God…here we go again. Lord Montague: *has same reaction as Capulet* Lady Capulet: Don't you dare! *b*itch-slaps her husband* All: Le gasp! *Prince Escalus enters* Prince: WHAT THE DEVIL IS GOING ON HERE? Snape: You can't steal my line! That's absurd! Prince: GTFO and go wash your hair, you overgrown bat! Benvolio: BUUUURN! Gimme some fin! *high-5s Prince* Noggin! *They bump heads* Benvolio and Prince: Duuude. Prince: Anyhoodle, if I catch y'all fighting again, YOU DIE. Capulet and Montague: F*-*-*-*CK. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Montague: Hey Benny, where's Romeo? Benvolio: Don't call me that. Montague: I'LL CALL YOU WHATEVER THE HELL I WANT! I AM THE MAN OF THIS HOUSE! Benvolio: Then why did I find several dresses and wigs in your closet? Montague: Um…Mercutio left them here when he was hanging with Romeo. Benvolio: Riiiight. Montague: Well, he does like to dress in drag. Benvolio: True dat. Montague: So where's Romeo? Benvolio: Are you that deaf that you can't hear the screamo music coming from his windows? Montague: Dude, it's the 1500s. Stereos and screamo hasn't even been invented yet. Benvolio: Oh yeah…well, he's pretty angsty. Montague: F*ck.

Does it require you to sign up?

No! :D  ...or at least, not to read the fanfiction.  However, I'm assuming one would have to sign up to post their fanfiction creations.

Is adult supervision required?

Perhaps, depending on the level of the student.  As I mentioned earlier, students might run into some bad language or some “rated R” material.  As I mentioned earlier, I will definitely get permission from my principal and from parents before I use this site in the classroom.