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NOTE: These assignments are extra-credit, and not mandatory. You will not loose out on points if you do not do them - your grade will stay the same. However, should you decide you need to bolster your performance (because you've been slacking off in class or want to go the extra mile), here follows a few assignments for you. You may do one or all - you can only earn 40 points total though.

You must follow all directions as listed for each assignment exactly, and to the letter - if not, you will not be graded.

You have a couple of choices when it comes to what you want to do:

First, you may pick any of the online writing assignments below - make sure you post all of your answers to the blog (otherwise no credit).

Second, you may choose to interview one or more of your teachers. If this is what you wish to do, you must do the following:

1. Select a teacher to interview, and ask their permission to do so.
2. Create at least 15 questions to interview them with. Make sure to use open-ended questions, NOT yes/no questions. A great example would be "What is the best memory you have from 6th grade?"
3. Come find me - show me the questions you plan to use.
4. I will teach you how to use a Digital Voice Recorder, and give it to you for use in your interview.
5. Interview your teacher.
6. Give the equipment back to me.
7. You're done! Your work will be displayed on the Sounds of Fairless site.

All of the below assignments must be submitted using the class blog. You must post your response using the latest extra credit post (titled Extra Credit Spring 2008).

NPR Report - Foolproof Test for Catching Liars Still Elusive

All of your answers need to be posted as a comment on the class blog. Your response needs to identify which assignment you are responding to. You need to identify yourself using your last name and class period.

Click on the above link. Listen to the report by clicking on the icon that says "Listen" in red. You may read the article as well - it is a hash of the audio file, and listening is easier than reading. Once done, answer the following questions in a two (2) paragraph response:

1. What does the polygraph measure, according to the audio clip?
2. What kinds of questions are usually asked in a polygraph session?
3. Who concluded that the polygraph machine was lacking, and performed well above chance, but well below perfection?
4. How does face to face interaction between examiner and examinee matter in a polygraph session?
5. Who is Aldrich Ames, and why does he matter?
6. What's your take on the polygraph? Good or bad? Would you trust it? Why? Would you like to try one out? Could it be used in school? If so, how, and for what purpose?

Questions 1-5 in paragraph # 1. Question 6 in paragraph # 2.

China's Me Generation

All of your answers need to be posted as a comment on the class blog. Your response needs to identify which assignment you are responding to. You need to identify yourself using your last name and class period.

Click on the above link and read the article. Once done, answer the following questions in a two (2) paragraph response:

1. What's so great about Thailand?
2. What happened at Tiananmen Square, what year, and why is it important?
3. What does a sinologist study?
4. What's an example of China's youth standing up to authority that's mentioned in the article?
5. What is, according to the article, the article's protagonists' power?
6. What power to you have in today's society and culture, given your situation?

Questions 1-5 in paragraph # 1. Question 6 in paragraph # 2.

Getting Brain Food Straight from the Source

All of your answers need to be posted as a comment on the class blog. Your response needs to identify which assignment you are responding to. You need to identify yourself using your last name and class period.

Click on the above link and read the article. Once done, answer the following questions in a two (2) paragraph response:

1. What is Omega-3, and why is it important, especially to women?
2. What is a supplement? What are 5 supplements that you know of?
3. Why is mercury bad? Where does it come from?
4. Is fish from Lake Erie safe to eat, considering that the Cuyahoga River, which leads into the lake, has caught on fire twice?
5. What is the chemical symbol for mercury? Why?
6. How can you reduce your risks of getting too much mercury while still eating fish every week? What else can be done to increase omega-3?

Questions 1-5 in paragraph # 1. Question 6 in paragraph # 2.

Mick Jagger: A Stone Alone

All of your answers need to be posted as a comment on the class blog. Your response needs to identify which assignment you are responding to. You need to identify yourself using your last name and class period.

Click on the above link and read the article. Once done, answer the following questions in a two (2) paragraph response:

1. What, after reading the article, do you know about Mick Jagger?
2. Make a case for Mick Jagger: Why should he be considered a good artist?

Use one paragraph per question. Make sure you explore all issues and angles. This task, while seeming easy and quick, will require your best effort to earn points. Do not take this challenge likely.

The World of Blue Jeans

All of your answers need to be posted as a comment on the class blog. Your response needs to identify which assignment you are responding to. You need to identify yourself using your last name and class period.

Click on the above link and read / look at the photo essay from TIME.

1. Where do most of our blue jeans come from?
2. Who is Jason Ferro, and what does he do?
3. How much do we spend on jeans in a year?
4. Google "Blue Jeans". What do you find? Read Wikipedia's article on jeans and summarize it here.
5. Go to the ideafinder's website (from your above Google search. How much did a pair of waist overalls cost in 1885?
6. What are your favorite pair of jeans? Why?

Men of War

All of your answers need to be posted as a comment on the class blog. Your response needs to identify which assignment you are responding to. You need to identify yourself using your last name and class period.

Click on the above link and read / look at the photo essay from TIME.

1. Pick on of the photos - describe it in detail, including the citation from the photo essay.
2. Then, research that war a bit (use Google...) Summarize the war in a one paragraph answer. Why did we go to war? Where did we go? How long did we stay there? Who did we fight? Make sure to be very thorough!
3. Write a one paragraph story about the person in the photo. Where does he live, who does he love, what does he like to eat back home?

Primates in Peril

All of your answers need to be posted as a comment on the class blog. Your response needs to identify which assignment you are responding to. You need to identify yourself using your last name and class period.

Click on the above link and read / look at the photo essay from TIME.

1. What is a primate?
2. What's the difference between an ape and a monkey?
3. What does the word 'brachiated' mean? (Use Google...  define:brachicated)
4. What's the difference between an old-world monkey and a new-world monkey?
5. Pick one of the primates in peril and research them further. Why are they in peril? Where do they live? What can be done to save them?

DISCLAIMER: I am not responsible for you not being able to submit any materials, or in other words, don't come to me with technical difficulties or excuses like "my dog ate my computer so I couldn't do the assignment" or "no one would drive me to the library and we don't have Internet at home".