Susanne, On one level, awarding EC is a decision that should be left up to the instructor and institution policy. In law, there is a "clean hands" doctrine, which implies a plaintiff cannot expect favorable treatment if they are complicit to illegal activity. Applied to the classroom, and in my opinion, a student ought not receive favorable treatment (EC) if they have been negligent in submission of required assignments, homework, or projects. But there are circumstances where EC can be beneficial, most importantly when it demonstrates learning and enhanced understanding in addition to the required assignments. Barry Westling