Tips for Success

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What You Should Already Know

There are no prerequisites for this course. To be successful you should have a desire to write. Even better would be that you enjoy writing.

Course Learning Outcomes

  1. Read fiction to enjoy the overall effect and to recognize, at least in part, how the author achieved that effect by using the elements of creative writing discussed in this course.

  2. Create believable short stories or plot outlines with tension and conflict that keep the reader's interest.

  3. Create characters in a short story who are believable and interesting enough that the reader will care about what happens to them.

  4. Choose the best point-of-view from which to tell your story.

  5. Use description in a story in a way that will advance the plot and reveal character.

  6. Create dialogue that sounds realistic and reveals what you want the readers to know about the characters.

  7. Establish a tone that matches the message of the story.

  8. Determine what your theme will be before writing your story.

  9. Rewrite in such a way as to improve earlier drafts of a story.

Course Materials

There is no required textbook for this course. All the required reading is in this course. However, I encourage you to read other short stories on your own—bookstores and libraries have volumes of short stories for you to choose from. Read to discover just how the author accomplishes his or her effects.

*Please note that this course was written by Karen Schlosser, M.A. Any first person reference is that of the author and not the instructor that might be teaching this course.

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Assignments

Most of the objectives in this course are followed by a self check quiz. These computer-graded quizzes do not count toward your grade. If you pay attention and do well they will prepare you for the quizzes and for the final exam.

This course consists of 9 units. Most units end with a quiz. These computer-graded assignments count toward your grade and are one of the best ways to prepare for the final exam.

You will create a writing portfolio through this course. After you complete a writing assignment save it in a secure place. You will submit these in 2 different submissions. Be sure you have completed and submitted every assignment associated with the portfolio before you submit it.

Exams

The final exam consists of matching questions, short answer questions, and writing/rewriting exercises. You must pass the exam with at least 60% to receive credit for this course.

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Grading

Your grade in this course will be based on these assignments and exam.

Assignment or Exam Grading Percent of Total Grade
7 Unit Quizzes Computer 35%
2 Portfolio Submissions Instructor 50%
Final Exam* Instructor 15%

* You must pass the final exam with at least a 60% to earn credit for the course.

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Grade Scale

Your letter grade is calculated according to these percentages.

A 93% - 100%
A- 90% - 92%
B+ 87% – 89%
B 83% - 86%
B- 80% - 82%
C+ 77% - 79%
C 73% - 76%
C- 70% - 72%
D+ 67% - 69%
D 63% - 66%
D- 60% - 62%
F (fail) 0% - 59%

Getting Help

Please use the help menu in this course to contact Academy of America or your instructor. You can find information about tutoring available to Academy of America students on the Tutoring website.

The Resources page offers a wide variety of services to support you:

  • Academic success skills coaching such as time management, study skills, test preparation, motivation, and more.

  • Course-specific support that includes live tutoring and on-demand resources.

Come find out how we can help you achieve your goals.

Course Policies

For information about how long you have to complete the course, resubmitting assignments, retaking exams, and other questions, please see Course Policies.

Plagiarism Policy

Plagiarism is defined as the unauthorized use or close imitation of the language and thoughts of another author and the representation of them as one’s own original work. This may also include when a student copies and pastes directly from another source and passes it off as his or her own, copies computer-generated text from a translation tool and uses it as his or her own, or fails to cite a source after loosely summarizing its content in his or her own words.

As determined by your instructor or the BYU Independent Study administration, if evidence of academic misconduct on assignments or exams is established, one of the two following consequences will apply to each incidence:

First Offense of Plagiarism

  • You will fail the lesson and be allowed the opportunity to resubmit the lesson (or)

  • You will fail the lesson and be denied the opportunity to resubmit the lesson

Second Offense of Plagiarism

  • You will fail the lesson and fail the class (or)

  • You will fail the lesson, fail the class, and may be ineligible to enroll in a specific course or any of our courses without going through an appeals process

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