Extra Credit Opportunities

There is no limit to the amount of extra credit you can complete.  I allow ample opportunity for extra credit because:

	I do not round grades, at all, period.  Don’t even ask.  I leave it up to the students to do extra credit to round up their grades.
	I want you to do as much biology related work as possible, and if that means that you do extra work to go above and beyond what is required in class, I want to reward you for that with extra points.

The following extra credit options are available:

1. To reward good attendance, I award extra credit class work points as follows:

• 1 point per day that no-one is absent

• 1 point per day that no-one is tardy

• 1 point per day that everyone is working on their warm up immediately when class starts

So, it is possible to earn 3 points of extra credit per day!!  Do your part and be in class, on-time and working!!

2. Read an additional Supplemental Reading Assignment book for 50 class work points.  Due at the last day of each semester.

3. Complete all or part of the Biology Scavenger Hunt.  Evidence gathered during the scavenger hunt must be organized and presented by the last day of each semester.  A variable number of points can be earned towards your class-work grade.

4. Attend a study session.  Attendance will be taken and students will earn extra class work credit for coming.

5. Read and respond to a science related news story. 

• There is no limit to the number of article summaries you can turn in.

• News articles are due VIA EMAIL ONLY once per week by Friday afternoons at 3:00.  You may either send your extra credit science news as a word document attachment or as text in the email.  The subject line of your email MUST be:  Science News Extra Credit

• News extra credit must be from an article that was published within the 7 day period prior to the day the article was turned in.

• To earn points you must list 3 things you learned by reading the article, list 2 ways the article relates to what we have learned in class list 1 way the discovery relates to you as a person. 

• Your 3-2-1 list should also include the title, author, date and source (including a link if using an online source) of the article you are summarizing.  Only articles from reputable science news sources will be permitted (many of which are linked from the home page. You do not need to provide a copy of the article. 

• Each article summary is worth up to 6 extra credit class-work points.

6. Watch a Biology related TV show.  Upon occasion, you will be given the option of watching a TV show related to biology.  You will be notified in advance when the show will air on television. 

• To earn points you must list 3 things you learned by watching the show, list 2 ways the show relates to what we have learned in class list 1 way the show relates to you as a person. 

• Your 3-2-1 list should also include a parent signature verifying that you did indeed watch the entire show. 

• Each approved show is worth up to 6 extra credit class-work points.  

7. Do really well on a test or quiz.  The top 5% of scores on any quiz or test will be awarded with extra credit in the test-quiz category of the overall grade.

8. Find relevant and accurate websites related to what we are learning in class.  Write a short paragraph explaining what information is posted on the page and to what assessment statements it relates.  Send our description and the link to the page via email to Ms. vB for review and posting on the class web site.  Each unique and high quality link will earn you 5 points extra credit.