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[anon]

Student: Why don't you give extra credit?

You: Because __________.

I'm very interested in how you answer this question.  Real answers preferred.  But, of course, snarky, clever retorts are always welcome.

(Snarky retorts to the imagined student, not me.  I'm a thin-skinned little thing.)

[We already covered this]

. . . a week or two ago.

You get credit subtracted for not checking previous threads.

[%sig%]

[anon]

Clever but not exactly on point: the thread from last week was on how to respond to the student who didn't "have time" to do an extra credit *offered* by the professor.

My question is substantially different.  For students who ask why you don't offer extra credit in the first place, what is your response?

[LuckyDuck]

Good point, anon.  I agree that this is a new thread question, albeit just on the same general topic.

Here's what I say, and have said:
"You should be focusing on learning the main points, the topics over which I structure the quizzes, exams, and papers.  These are the most important, so you should learn these concepts before spending any time on the less important ideas.  You must at least master these concepts, and you haven't done that well enough to distract yourself by spending your valuable time on other things." (Typically, the people wanting extra credit are the ones who have not performed well to date, so they want to do "extra" work to make up for the fact that they haven't to date done any work.  My view: just do the 'regular' work and you'll end up with a decent grade.)

[Xylocopa]

You don't have to justify your course policies to the students. If a student asks, "Why don't you give extra credit?" just say, "Because I don't. I have already given you the course requirements in writing and I couldn't change them if I wanted to. And I don't want to." Then you turn to the next student who has a question, indicating that the subject is closed.

If you're willing always to argue about everything, you'll always be arguing about everything.

[Escaped]

I've used the following analogy with students:

Would you want a physician who does not know anatomy, physiology, or underlying causes of a disease, but they did a great extra credit report in college!

Most students reply 'No' and do not push it beyond that.

[asst_prof]

I would state simply that I don't offer extra credit opportunities in my syllabus and on the first day of class.  There would be no explanation because an explanation is not required.

[Fiona]

If you're uncomfortable saying, "This is the way I've decided it will be," you can always hide behind "This is the course policy, as announced on the syllabus."

Not many people argue with something that is called a "policy."

[%sig%]

[LuckyDuck]

Xylocopa (nice name-do you study them? I seem to recall you're a scientist) has an interesting point, namely, don't get bogged down in arguing with students about policy.

However, I do feel it's important to not cut them off with citing policy, but to inform them why I teach the way I do.  I'm sure that many professors tell students why they lecture, or discuss, or present, etc. the material the way they do, and how they structure the class day or the entire semester.  It does help my students see the big picture if I explain how it works & that I have thought about it & chosen a certain way as working the best (or at least that's my hypothesis, if I'm trying something new!).

When I tell students why I don't have extra credit, they accept it.  No arguing.  But at least they know why I don't feel it's a sound pedagogical practice, IMHO.  (And no, of course I don't use the word pedagogy.  Heck, some of my colleagues can't seem to figure out that word, and/or hate it!)

[%sig%]

[Ming the Merciless]

I first say, more or less, "We have quite enough to do in the course as it is, and your performance on these standard materials is sufficient for me to calculate your deserved grade."  I also say, "And you might review the course outline where it says 'Extra Credit: Not allowed under any circumstances.'" Then I say, "Begone, worm!"

[%sig%]

[Untenured]

I have two responses, anon:

Q: Why don't you give extra credit?

A: When I first started teaching:  "I would love to give extra credit.  I really would.  That would not be far to other students in other courses who did not receive extra credit.  Extra credit is actually defined as ... [as I explain in depth]

A: Now:  "Extra credit? HAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHA  [take a breath] HHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA .... yeah... extra credit.  That's funny."

They all get a good laugh out of it.  They don't ask again.

Untenured

P.S. For the sensitive among you, I laugh in a playful way, not a mean one.

[Fiona]

I like Ming the Merciless's "Begone, worm!" the best.

I hope to have the opportunity to use it soon.

[%sig%]

[melba]

I do offer extra credit. It is not fun extra credit, but real work extra credit. No one does it. It kind of cracks me up how a student will come along crying about their low grade, ask for extra credit, and I say "SURE! do this, just like it already says in the syllabus!" their face falls like I have told them to eat a dog turd for five bonus points. (I guess their notion of extra credit is something fun and easy that only remotely relates to the class.)

[dog turd]

melba wrote:

> I do offer extra credit. It is not fun extra credit, but real
> work extra credit. No one does it. It kind of cracks me up how
> a student will come along crying about their low grade, ask for
> extra credit, and I say "SURE! do this, just like it already
> says in the syllabus!" their face falls like I have told them
> to eat a dog turd for five bonus points. (I guess their notion
> of extra credit is something fun and easy that only remotely
> relates to the class.)



Good one! Would you share what the student would have to do for the extra credit (I am assuming it's not the dog turd???).

[senior prof]

Because

quizzes and exams serve only one purpose---to evaluate a student's mastery of the subject matter

extra credit serves only one purpose---to let a student get a better grade than what they deserve based on quiz and exam scores

extra credit is just more work for the professor. tell the student to study so they can do better on the exams. that way they don't need extra credit.

By the way, I don't assign extra credit work.

Ever.