Sabina, Everyone and every institution has to come up with what works for them. I find EC is mostly about grades and points, i.e., "extra", and usually has little to do with new or applicable learning. I think research assignment are a terrific method to acquire learning. It's the awarding points for it I would choose not to award. I feel if it's important enough to give any kind of grade it's worthwhile putting that assignment into the required, not option category for grading. But that's just me, my bias, and not necessarily representative of this course. Barry Westling