For some time, I have not offered extra credit or bonus points. My assessments have sufficient variety and a balance of group work and solo work where there is no need for subjective grading. This helps me defend grades because students earn the grade they get - period. Students who ask for extra credit, in my opinion, are looking for easy ways to increase a grade despite the fact that the rest of the class was prepared timely and made the effort when the effort was required. Many of those students do not check their progress through available means, such as the electronic grade book. I can print each student's grades periodically, but I'd like to see students take a greater interest in their progress. I see all of this as connected. Am I on the right track with my observations?