Extra Credit
Students can earn extra credit to supplement their grades using any or all of the means listed below. However make sure to prioritize required assignments, since these are worth five to ten times more than extra credit supplements.
Written Analyses
Students have an opportunity to raise their TRA score for a given unit by submitting an analysis of one of the OPTIONAL readings listed under "Extra Credit Readings, Practices & Terms."
To complete the analysis, choose a reading and highlight important passages that seem most clearly related to its overall point. Then download and complete the form provided (MS Word/PDF), which asks you to (1) select passages from three parts of the source; (2) give a synopsis of the whole and related your passages to it; and (3) compare and contrast the reading to one of the assigned readings (i.e., those used for application exercise) for the same subunit.
Each analysis may add up to five (5) points to your RAT score, for a maximum of ten (10) points for two analyses per unit. Any points earned from such analyses are added directly to the immediately preceding TRA, except for extra credit done during the introductory unit which is added to TRA #1a.
Special Events
Students can also use the "Reading Analyses" form to report on special events advertised in class, such as cultural performances and gallery exhibits. Instead of reading passages, on the first part of the form describe moments in the event or artifacts in the exhibit, noting what precedes/follows or surrounds them. Then identify underlying themes & issues in the second part of the form.
Such reports will receive 10 - 20 points of extra credit depending on the proximity of the event to the campus.