Extra credit opportunities

A few members of the class have asked about extra-credit opportunities. As I've said, the best way to improve your grade in this course is simply to concentrate on doing the regular assignments well. I do accept extra-credit work, but please understand that it takes much more work to raise your grade than to simply make a high grade at the outset.


With that caveat, you may choose to write a 300- to 500-word essay to replace one quiz grade and one in-class writing grade. The essay will be graded pass/fail and will not hurt your grade unless you plagiarize. A passing grade will be averaged as a 100 in both your quiz and in-class writing averages.


Choose one of the following statements and argue for or against it, with examples and citations:

• The best option for the U.S. in Afghanistan is to cut and run; we need to withdraw our military forces now.
• The tea party movement is a shining example of democracy in action.
• Sarah Palin is a force to be reckoned with in American politics.
• The government's new mammogram recommendations are a good idea.
• The U.S. policy toward nuclear containment in Iran is working as it should.

Papers are due no later than Thursday, December 3, 2009.