An Introduction to Prose Fiction

Subject	Course No.	Credit Value
English	ENGL 1145	Three (3) credit hours

This course surveys the structure and style of the short story, focusing on works by British, American and Canadian writers. You will explore the social contexts, the innovations in narrative form, and the elements of fiction, including plot, setting, characters, dialogue, narration and point of view. This course will also provide you with an opportunity to become a more sophisticated writer through writing lessons, online quizzes, and essays.

Because this is an open entry course, you have some freedom to set the pace for the reading and the writing; however, the minimum required time to complete the coursework is 8 weeks.

Contact the instructor to request a syllabus.

Instructor: Dr. Vicky Simpson
Prerequisite: For those students not currently enrolled in a UNB program who may need additional exposure to English before enrolling, please consider taking the University Prep English course first.

What you will learn

This course is designed to help you:

• Become familiar with a range of classic short stories from the nineteenth century to the present.
• Deepen your understanding of the social and historical contexts of these works, the innovations in narrative form, and the elements of fiction, including plot, narration, characters, setting and dialogue.
• Hone your skills in effective writing, particularly essay structure and development, punctuation, word choice, and grammar, and practice these principles through online quizzes.
• Employ critical thinking and reading skills and properly quote from and cite sources in essays. You will receive in-depth feedback to help you strengthen your analyses and improve your writing.
• Become more aware of the ways in which fictions not only reflect but make culture, by justifying certain experiences, perspectives, and values, and potentially challenging how people think, perceive, believe and act.

Students have six months from the registration date to complete the course. All course exams and/or assignments must be completed by the designated end date.

Assignments and examinations

• Quizzes (20%)
• Essay #1 (15%)
• Essay #2 (15%)
• Essay #3 (20%)
• Final exam (invigilated, 30%)

The exam for this course will be invigilated on an approved date using Respondus e-proctoring software (LockDown Browser). This is a free tool provided with this course. More information will be given once you have been registered.

Fees and payments

There is a $150 non-refundable/non-transferable online fee per course in addition to applicable tuition & fees. Learn more about our payment options.

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