Forensics Syllabus

Instructor: Mr.Otteson Room: 150 E-Mail:

School Website:
-To access Sharp School, just click on the login link at the top right of the page. This is where you will find information about our daily assignments, project rubrics, and weekly lesson plans.
-To find my faculty webpage, mouse over the “High School” tab, then “Faculty Web Pages” just click on my name to find a digital version of this syllabus and other info & pictures etc.

Textbook:None!

Course Description:Forensics is a lab-based course, meaning that most assignments are labs & assessments are in a similar form. Instead of tests there are unknowns to solve. This course is designed for students to learn by doing. We try to imitate what real CSI would have to do to analyze a variety of different evidence types.

Course Goals:

  • Learn to think deductively through a scenario & come to a logical conclusion.
  • Properly collect or analyze forensic evidence.
  • Relate data to probably solutions.
  • Learn how to use some technology & techniques that aid in collection or analysis of forensic evidence.

Grading:

Grading is done by total points (No weighted grades). Grading Scale is listed below.

A A- B+ B B- C+ C C- D+ D D- F (Grades)

9590878480777470686665(%’s)

  • Gone/Absent- Excused absences will get 2 days to get their missing work to me. Same goes for missing a test/lab, you only have 2 days to get the test/lab done or it will be a ZERO!
  • You are responsible for getting your own work when you are gone.
  • Late Work- I accept late assignments, but they will be reduced y 20%-50% depending on how late the assignment is turned in. After each quarter late work is no longer accepted.
  • Cheating/Plagiarism- Cheating on a test or assignment will result in a ZERO for all parties involved. Suspicious actions that could be interpreted as cheating will still result in a ZERO!
  • Progress Reports- I provide progress reports regularly throughout each quarter. Use this information to make-up missing work & remind me to update work.

Classroom Rules/Expectations:

  • Respect- This means respect for me, peers, property, and whatever else you can think of.
  • Attitude- Keep a positive attitude in my classroom. One bad attitude can wreck the entire atmosphere in a classroom; bring a good attitude with you!

Discipline!

  • I have two basic ways to discipline in my classroom, depending on severity.
  • Severe- If you do something really horrible… You will be written-up. I call your parents & inform Dr.Slaba, you receive whatever amount of detention he determines.
  • Moderate- I handle this myself. I may still inform your parents, but I give you my own discipline and there is no official record of the event. You will simply have to clean my fish tank (Outside of classroom hours).

Still Need More Help?

  • If you need to make-up a test or you just want to work on a project outside of class time, I am here from (At Least) 7:30-3:30.
  • If you want to come by during your study hall be sure to ask me before-hand and get a PASS!
  • E-mail me if you are at home and just have a quick question, I get them like texts so I should be prompt!

Keys for Success in Forensics:

  • Don’t be afraid to ASK A QUESTION! Too many students who are struggling won’t admit it. Forensics is complicated, you SHOULD have a few questions ;)
  • Slow Down! Take your time doing the labs & especially on the unknowns. These are where MOST of your grade comes from, be sure you are accurate.
  • Work with your partners! Help each other out, don’t work against one another.

CSI Episodes:

  • We watch about 1-2 episodes (Per unit) of CSI, Criminal Minds, Dexter, Bones, or something similar to help us visualize the processes of collection, analysis & reporting evidence.

Forensics Final:

  • The final is a crime scene you and your group will be gathering evidence to figure out.
  • You will be asked to re-use many of the techniques you learned throughout the class.
  • I suggest keeping all the labs and info you collect throughout the course, it may be helpful on the final!

Concepts Covered: For more information on this go to my web page and open up the curriculum map.

  • Crime Scene Investigation, Sketching, Tire Tracking
  • Document Forgery, Anthropology (Bones), Blood
  • DNA & Trace, Fingerprints, Ballistics
  • Drugs & Poisons, Tool Marks, Entomology, Criminal Mind