GROUP Bonus Assignments: Total 12 points These are not required assignments and are ONLY to be completed by the GROUPS. To take advantage of these bonus assignments your GROUP must first meet with your instructor to discuss the due date for completion and other details of the assignment. Only a brief explanation is provided below. Additional details necessary for completion of these assignments will be provided during your meeting with your instructor. There is a matching Grading Form that must be completed for these assignments.

1 A. ASSESSING A CLAIM USING FIVE (5) CRITICAL QUESTIONS (6 points) Using all five (5) “Critical Questions” put one claim (ordinary or extraordinary) to the test. Ordinary claims can include pharmaceutical, vitamin, homeopathy, and health/medical claims, and extraordinary claims include magic, psychics, mediums, conspiracy theories, ESP, and remote viewing to name a few. If you have a claim to test and it appear under one of the categories here, please consult your instructor. After you have met with your instructor regarding completion of the assignment, you will have two (2) class meetings within which to submit your answers. Submissions will not be accepted after that deadline.

The five (5) “Critical Questions” can be found at the end of the Critical Thinking PowerPoint slides that were provided with your syllabus and that are available on your instructor’s ACC webpage. At the end of your response you must explicitly state whether you supported or refuted the claim. ------OR ------

1 B. ASSESSING A CLAIM USING THE “CRITIC” ACRONYM (6 Points) Using the “CRITIC” acronym put one claim (ordinary or extraordinary) to the test. Ordinary claims can include pharmaceutical, vitamin, homeopathy, and health/medical claims, and extraordinary claims include magic, psychics, mediums, conspiracy theories, ESP, and remote viewing to name a few. If you have a claim to test and it does not fit within one of the categories listed here, please consult your instructor. After you have met with your instructor regarding completion of the assignment, you will have two (2) class meetings within which to submit your answers. Submissions will not be accepted after that deadline.

The “CRITIC” acronym and complete explanatory article can be found at http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m2843/is_5_26/ai_91236229) If there is a problem with this address, please see your instructor for the complete article. At the end of your response you must explicitly state whether you supported or refuted the claim.

2. JAMES RANDI WEEKLY ONLINE COLUMN (6 Points)

Review the weekly online column of the James Randi Educational Foundation [JREF] (www.randi.org) and each member selects one different entry to review. Each week’s review consisting of all three member’s individual responses are considered to be one (1) point. Therefore, this can be repeated for up to six submissions. Each individual member must provide the following information in their response:

 Brief summary of the entry (one paragraph maximum)  Reason entry was selected  Your reaction to the entry