Extra Credit

[McDreidel09]

Okay. I don't hate extra credit. What I hate is when people have a chance to get guaranteed extra credit and they don't do it.

For instance, my Intermediate Algebra class has bonus points aka extra credit. What you do is go to the book (our homework is online), go to the 'synthesis problems'. Synthesis problems are harder problems. They are frustrating. Then, when you do those, you can go see the professor. If you get the answer wrong, then she will guide you so you can get the right answer and get that bonus point. Yeah. It's one bonus point per section, but if each chapter has at least 8 sections, then that is a lot of bonus points.

I have been doing them, pretty much all of them, for every section of every chapter we have covered. They have been covering my butt because I didn't do as well as normal on the last test and a section of the online homework was so frustrating, I couldn't finish, but that was only one or two problems. When people in my class complain about how badly they are doing, I tell them "Do the bonus point problems. You are guaranteed to get the points because she helps you if you get them wrong." They say "No. I don't want to." Then they keep complaining on how they aren't doing well in the class.

Now, I understand not doing the extra credit in my theatre class because it costs money to go to plays. For this extra credit, we go to a play and write a review about it. However, it does cost money to go to these plays and I am understanding about that.

Just seriously, stop bitching about your grade and do something that will help it!

[AdminAssistant]

That has to drive your teacher crazy. :/ Sheesh.

Now, for the Intro to Theatre class I TA, going to see plays is required. We don't make them write a review, but they have to check in and check out. Students have the opportunity to usher in exchange for a free ticket, but even then, at my school student ticket prices are $10. My prof just tells them to think of it like buying textbooks.

At any rate, my students are always nagging me for extra credit. We don't provide many opportunities for it - having perfect attendance at section gets you a few bonus points as does performing a scene in front of the entire class.

But, yeah McD, most of my students would rather just complain to me about how "hard" this class is and how having a low grade is going to ruin their lives, as if it's my fault.

[smileyeagle1021]

Then there are classes like mine where the homework isn't even graded for accuracy, just whether or not you completed it... and people still bitch about how hard it is... hello, you still get at least partial credit just for writing out the problem and attempting a first step. There is absolutely no reason to ever get a zero on homework, yet prior to the drop date I had several classmates who had zeros on homework.

[Greenday]

I always hated people who really slacked on easy assignments. Graded homework...and by graded I mean "Oh, you did it, 100%!" How do you not do it if the actual work isn't even graded?

We have an opportunity to bump our final grade up half a letter grade by going to Gettysburg. Yes, it's two hours away. Yes, it's over three hours. But it's not like people are doing anything else on a Saturday morning besides sleeping. You just have to walk around and not pass out.

[BuggedMei]

I really hate the people who, on the first day of *college* classes, take one look at the syllabus and go "Is there any extra credit?" (or something like "Is there make up tests/is the lowest grade dropped)

You haven't even STARTED the class yet and you are fishing for ways to get out of assignments? Really? How lazy can you get?!

[AdminAssistant]

Or, "How many absences are excused?" Grrrrrr. Look, if you don't want to show up to class, why are you in college? In my class, everyone gets two "free" absences to use as they see fit. As I tell my students, if you know you'll need to miss class one day, use those freebies. But, no, they use those on days when they just don't feel like getting out of bed, and then expect me to "excuse" their absence on Good Friday. Gah! It's so frustrating.

[Plaidman]

I love extra credit. I always do it. It means bumping my grades up. Even if I do get nonstop A's, those extras can make up for any future B's or (havent had them yet C's). I mean, oh no, I can't play any more Harvest Moon, or not read a batman comic. So what? I need to keep my grades up.

I will admit the only time I hated the Extra Credit was one where I had to go to some historical meeting, (Paying five bucks to get in mind you), write a six page report on what they said and expand on minor aspects of what they said. I got a whole extra 2 points. I mean wow. Sometimes those points are worth it. Even the homework assignments were worth 10-20 points.

But hey. whatever. I still got an A on that. I was also the only one to go other then the teacher.

[Greenday]

Personally, I've found ass-kissing (not a drastic obvious amount) is definitely a good form of getting extra credit. When teachers like you and you are on the cusp of, say, a B or a B+...helloooooooooooo B+.

[McDreidel09]

Personally, I've found ass-kissing (not a drastic obvious amount) is definitely a good form of getting extra credit. When teachers like you and you are on the cusp of, say, a B or a B+...helloooooooooooo B+.

Oh don't I know it... Being really nice to my professors has really helped out. I didn't do so well on the first paper of my English Comp. He allows re-writes, but usually, on the same topic. My topic wasn't good enough, so he is letting me start over on the whole thing and I have until the end of the semester to do it. One day in my Intermediate Algebra class, I wasn't able to concentrate because of some family problems, so I explained the situation to my professor and she let me leave, knowing very well that I would get the notes from a classmate and do the homework. So this week,during Day of Silence, I know those two professors will excuse my absence, since I need to be at the Student Center for the Alliance, because they know I will do whatever make up work that needs to be done.

ETA: Admin, we are required to go to two plays and write a review paper about them both as a term paper. We can do more reviews for extra credit. We have to sign in after the show to prove that we were there.

ETA again: I am not saying that I hate extra credit. I LOVE extra credit. I do it all the time, which is why I am so hard to make plans with during the week because I am devoting more time to homework and extra credit.

[smileyeagle1021]

Personally, I've found ass-kissing (not a drastic obvious amount) is definitely a good form of getting extra credit. When teachers like you and you are on the cusp of, say, a B or a B+...helloooooooooooo B+.

I know that one too. Last semester my sci-fi and diversity class (a writing class) I should have gotten a B but my professor gave me an A- anyway because of how involved I had been in the class (and my final presentation is still what he considers the best he's ever seen).

[Fashion Lad!]

My school doesn't allow extra credit at all, ever. And we have a strict attendance policy.

[McDreidel09]

I know I'm lucky to be able to do extra credit. We have a pretty strict attendance policy, but most professors are willing to let it slide if something important happens. Me, standing outside the Student Center for Day of Silence, is fine with them. They totally support it.

I ended up just going to their earlier sections so I don't miss anything.

[DrFaroohk]

When I was in the 8th grade our teacher allowed extra credit on the homework assignments, but eventually people started abusing it by skipping over the hard problems and using the extra cred to make up the difference. He fixed that by making it so that extra credit only counted if you got a 100 anyway, and also by automatic fail if you just plain skipped problems for that reason.

[Pagan]

He fixed that by making it so that extra credit only counted if you got a 100 anyway, and also by automatic fail if you just plain skipped problems for that reason.

I don't get that. If you've already gotten 100, why would you need the extra credit? Did you not get the extra credit if you did all the problems, but got a couple wrong?