To do so is to forfeit their right to participate. This is very important. Students are instructed to check the number of points they want, either 5 or 15. Ballots are folded in half and passed in. During the exam I count the ballots and announce the results.
Discussion revolves around reasons students give for their choices.
If this demonstration is done often over a period of time, students begin to realize that in the long run, cooperation is a superior strategy. This can be extended to real-life situations as the nuclear arms race, population control, business practices, water conservation during a shortage, and more. Students should be encouraged to think of examples from their own school and community. The optimistic goal is for students to realize that we live in an increasingly interdependent world and that we can make the selfish choice at our own peril. Discussion can also be extended to related issues during a unit on social psychology.