IGNOU DCE-01 Assignment 2026-27
General Principles of Writing
Last updated by IGNOU: 09 Sept 2026. Guide written from the official PDF on 19 Oct 2026, 03:48 pm.
| Course code | DCE-01 |
|---|---|
| Course title | General Principles of Writing |
About the DCE-01 assignment
The DCE-01 assignment covers writing techniques, literary analysis, editing and creative expression. It asks students to examine a prose passage, discuss writing principles and produce an autobiographical-mode short story about a young commuter supporting their family.
There are seven compulsory questions worth 100 marks altogether. Question 1 requires short notes on four of five topics, while Question 2 has four passage-based parts. The remaining questions include three 10-mark responses and two 15-mark tasks. No word limits are specified. This Course 1 assignment is compulsory for all DCE students.
What the assignment asks
| Question | Marks | Topic |
|---|---|---|
| Q1 | 5x4=20 | Write short notes on four topics chosen from footnoting, proofreading, indexing, imagery and structure. |
| Q2 | 5x4=20 | Analyse the supplied passage through its tone, taste-related imagery, diction and the effect of sentence flow on mood. |
| Q3 | 10 | Explain your position on whether writers should review and edit their own work, supporting it with reasons. |
| Q4 | 10 | Explain creative writing and distinguish it from non-creative writing. |
| Q5 | 10 | Describe and elaborate on different forms of monologue and dialogue. |
| Q6 | 15 | Create an autobiographical-mode short story about a young person commuting daily to a neighbouring city to improve their family's finances. |
| Q7 | 15 | Discuss why a writer must maintain reader interest throughout a work and explain ways to make it readable. |
This is a summary of each question. Download the official PDF above for the exact questions and word limits.
How to write and submit it
Assignment details and PDFs come from IGNOU's official website; the guide is a summary of the official PDF. Always check the latest instructions and last dates on ignou.ac.in or with your Regional Centre before submitting.