2011 Physics 280 Extra-Credit Essay Opportunity C (ECEO-C)

To qualify for this extra credit, you must attend the documentary video titled "Nuclear Tipping Point", which will be shown at 7:00-8:30 PM on Monday, April 25th, in 144 Loomis.

In order for us to be able to accept and grade your essay, you must sign the special sign-in sheet that will be in 144 Loomis.

This documentary presents the problems of securing loose nuclear material through the persepctive of four great experts in nuclear weapons policy: Former Secretary of State George Schultz, Former Secretary of Defense William Perry, Former Secretary of State Hennry Kissinger and Former Senator and Co-chair of the Nuclear Threat Initiative Sam Nunn.

After attending this documentary, you must submit a report that summarizes it and assesses it critically. You will submit only one version (extra-credit essays are not revised).

Your report must be at least 1.5 pages but no more than 2.0 pages in length.

Your report should have the following structure:

• A brief introductory paragraph that explains what the documentary was about.
• One or two paragraphs that summarize the information and arguments presented in the documentary.
• One or two paragraphs that critically evaluate the information and arguments presented in the documentary.
• One or two paragraphs that mention information or arguments you found interesting or important and explain why they were interesting or important to you. Which information and arguments did you find persuasive? Unpersuasive?
• A closing paragraph that summarizes your main conclusion about the subject of the documentary.

Assume your audience is a typical University of Illinois student, but not a student in Physics 280. Begin each paragraph with a strong topic sentence and omit any information that is not essential for addressing the points listed above. Make your paragraphs clear, concise, and to the point. Avoid repetition and unnecessary words, especially adjectives and adverbs, and use active voice.

The Student Handbook provides complete guidance on how to format and submit an extra-credit essay and how the score you earn on an extra-credit essay is counted in computing your total course score. Be sure to review the writing assignment submission checklist in the Handbook before you submit your essay!

In order to receive credit for your essay, you must place it in the 280 Homework Box by 1:55 p.m. on Tuesday, May 3rd.