IGNOU DCE-03 Assignment 2026-27
Short Story
Last updated by IGNOU: 09 Sept 2026. Guide written from the official PDF on 19 Oct 2026, 03:49 pm.
| Course code | DCE-03 |
|---|---|
| Course title | Short Story |
| Programme |
About the DCE-03 assignment
The DCE-03 assignment focuses on writing short stories for different audiences and genres. It covers developing a supplied plot, writing for children, creating a mystery, continuing from a given opening, and choosing an original subject for comic or serious storytelling.
There are five compulsory questions worth 20 marks each, making a total of 100 marks. The children's story question offers three topics to choose from. The assignment carries 30% weightage in continuous evaluation. No word limits are specified.
What the assignment asks
| Question | Marks | Topic |
|---|---|---|
| Q1 | 20 | Develop a comic or serious story about a young woman who unexpectedly inherits a bookshop with a secret, bringing the plot to a believable ending. |
| Q2 | 20 | Write a children's story using one of three themes: an adventure with a friend in the rain, a newly discovered garden doorway, or the ability to communicate with birds. |
| Q3 | 20 | Create a mystery or detective story involving a letter addressed to someone who died a decade earlier and apparently bearing that person's handwriting. |
| Q4 | 20 | Continue the supplied opening about a woman noticing an unfamiliar person's suitcase beside her after her train has departed. |
| Q5 | 20 | Write a story on a subject of your choice that demonstrates your ability in comedy or serious and tragic storytelling. |
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
- Answer every question and submit all work for the course together; submissions in separate instalments are not accepted.
- Attach a top slip showing the course title, assignment number, name, enrolment number and address, following the booklet's format.
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.