Science fiction composition draft need at least 2000 words

SCI 215SC – Science Fiction Original Story

For this assignment, you will write an original science fiction short story based on the guidelines and
parameters described below.

Assignment Guidelines
The story should be 2000-3000 words in length, double-spaced, and typed in Times New Roman, 10-
point font.

Choose one of the following inspirational themes on which to base your story.

1. Earth and Beyond
2. The Future of Food
3. Smarter, Stronger, Faster
4. The City of Tomorrow
5. The Incredible Shrinking Computer
6. The Future of Your Mind

Your story should follow the plot outline below.

Step 1: Build the World
Who are the main characters? Where do they live? When? Select a date that is just on the other side
of plausibility.

Step 2: Insert Technology Inflection Point
Choose a technology you are worried or excited about. What happens in the story that causes that
same concern or excitement?

Step 3: Explore the Ramifications
What are the consequences of the inflection point or conflict? How are the characters or setting
affected?

Step 4: Insert Human Inflection Point
How do the main characters adapt to what is going on? How do they change? What decision do they
make?

Step 5: Reveal What We Learned
How does the setting or the main character change as a result of their reaction or interaction with the
technology?

Note: If you want some inspiration, read this short story that won a science fiction creative writing contest
sponsored by the Intel Corporation. The author wrote “The Lost Emotion” as a response to the
competition theme: “Is the Future Friendly?” It contains references to compelling technology, but the story
is about people, not just technology.

(The elements used in this assignment, primarily the story themes and plot outline steps, are derived from
The Tomorrow Project’s fiction competition. Source: “How to Create a Science Fiction Prototype.” The
Tomorrow Project. n.p., n.d. Web. 23 May 2014.)

Submission
You will submit a complete draft of your story to the Dropbox no later than Sunday 11:59 EST/EDT.
(This Dropbox is linked to Turnitin.)

Your instructor will have one week to read and provide feedback. The final version is due by the
conclusion of Module 7.

Grading Rubric

Category Level I (0-3 points) Level II (4-7 points) Level III (8-10 points)

Setting
Limited descriptions of
setting (world, people
involved, conflict, etc.).

Significant but incomplete
descriptions of setting
(world, people involved,
conflict, etc.).

Complete descriptions of
setting (world, people
involved, conflict, etc.).

New
Technology
(Sci Fi)

Technology is not
disruptive.

Technology is not
completely thought out.

Technology is disruptive.

Reactions
Reactions to technology is
not realistic or is not
explored.

Reactions to technological
disruption is partially
explored but
unsatisfactorily so.

Reactions are true to the
characters and are in
response to the technology
introduced.

Lessons
Learned

No transformation in the
character or setting as a
result of the events in the
story.

Transformation in the story
is unrelated to the events
or is partially connected to
the plot.

Lessons learned are clear
and have some teeth to
produce a transformation in
perspective or setting.

Writing
Construction

Story is unclear and needs
significant work to improve
plot.

Story is missing some
information to improve the
clarity of the story.

Plot and storyline flows
clearly from beginning to
end.

Total ____ / 50 points