Syllabus: Forensic Science

Mr. Morrow

Mr. Morrow

Classroom Expectations

UNIT 1 - Observation Skills and Crime Scene Investigation

Ch. 1. Observational Skills.

Obsertainer lab

Ch. 2. Crime Scene Investigation & Evidence Examination.
crime scene documentation lab?

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UNIT 2 – Hair and Fiber Analysis

Ch. 3. The Study of Hair.
lab - strands of evidence – hair and fiber lab (split?)

Ch. 4. A Study of Fibers and Fabrics.
lab - strands of evidence – hair and fiber lab (split?)

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UNIT 3 - Fingerprinting, Casts, and Impressions

Ch. 6. Fingerprinting.
lab – read the found prints – fingerprinting lab

Ch. 16. Casts and Impressions.

Lab – the shoe must fit – footprint analysis
lab – bad impression – bite mark analysis

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UNIT 4 - Blood & Blood Spatter

Ch. 8. Blood & Blood Spatter.
lab – patterns of murder – blood spatter lab

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UNIT 5 - DNA Profiling and Forensic Toxicology

Ch. 7. DNA Profiling.
lab – Identity crisis – DNA analysis lab

Ch. 9. Forensic Toxicology.
lab – prescription for crime – drug testing and analysis

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UNIT 6 - Handwriting Analysis

Ch. 10. Handwriting Analysis, Forgery, and Counterfeiting.
lab – an inky lead – questioned documents lab

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UNIT 7 - Death, Forensic Entomology, and Forensic Anthropology

Ch. 12. Death: Meaning, Manner, Mechanism, Cause and Time.

Lab – observe stages?

Ch. 11. Forensic Entomology
lab – insect / instar identification?

Ch. 14. Forensic Anthropology.

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UNIT 8 - Tool Marks and Ballistics

Ch. 17. Tool Marks.
lab – tool marks?

Ch. 18. Ballistics.

Lab – smoking gun – gunshot residue

Lab – shot in the dark – bullet striations

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UNIT 9 - Forensic botany and Soil (optional)

Ch. 5. Forensic Botany.– optional
Ch. 13. Soil Examination. - optional
sand lab

Ch. 15. Glass Evidence. - optional

Capstone Projects.
Project 1 Personal Evidence Portfolio.

Project 2 Mock Crime Scene Development and Processing.
Project 3 Analysis of a Forensic Science TV Show Diving.
Project 4 Forensic Dumpster Diving.
Project 5 Physical Evidence Case Studies.
Project 6 Forensic Science Career Exploration.
Project 7 Landmark Cases.
Project 8 How reliable is the Evidence.
Project 9 (new) Forensic Grave site Dig.

RULES

  1. Respect other people’s property, space, and feelings.
  2. *Listen attentively when a teacher or fellow student is speaking.
  3. *Remain seated when someone else is talking.
  4. *Raise your hand if you need to be recognized.
  5. *Do not touch another person’s property without their permission.
  6. *Comments directed toward teachers/students should always be positive.
  7. Bring all needed materials to class.
  8. All food and drink (except water) should be kept out of the classroom.
  9. Keep all personal notes and beauty accessories in your bags and out of sight.
  1. Remember that all school rules apply in the classroom.
  1. Be in your seat and ready to work when the bell rings to begin class, return to your seat to be dismissed from class.
  2. All electronics need to be turned off and put away. NO CELL PHONES!

PROCEDURES

Routines:

1.Homework will be turned into the teacher when it is called for.

2.When the bell rings you will have on your desk only those items that are needed in the classroom, all other items will be kept at your feet or under the desk.

3.Please use the pencil sharpener before class, during group work, and not during active teaching time.

4.Please throw items in the trash or recycling container before class, during group work and not during active teaching time.

5.Please do not ask to use the restroom during active teaching time. Please sign out on the appropriate sheet, which is located on the clipboard on the side table. Please complete your information in your planner before you approach me, so that I can simply initial your planner.

6.Make-up work can be provided before the start of class, following class, or after school. Class time will not be used to provide (or make arrangements for) make-up work.

7. Extra copies of assignments can be found in the designated boxes on the east wall.

8.Homework assignments and the daily agenda will be posted each day, you are responsible for seeing the homework board and knowing what will be expected the following day.

9.Raise your hand if you need to be recognized.

Communication:

1.Remember that all comments during class should be respectful (Rule #1).

2. If you need to meet for a private communication. I can schedule that before/after school.

Seat/Group Work:

1.If you need assistance, ask a neighbor, then if you still need help raise your hand and I will respond.

2.I may help at your desk or mine as the situation determines.

3.Use quiet voices for seat/group work.

4. Stay on TASK!!!!

DISCIPLINE/CONSEQUENCES

Student misbehavior that violates a school or classroom rule or impedes with orderly classroom procedures (level 1 infractions) will be handled in the following manner:

First Offense =Verbal warning.

Student/Teacher conference.

Second Offense =Student/Teacher conference.

15 minute Teacher detention after school.

Third Offense =Student/Teacher conference.

Parent/Teacher telephone conference.

30 minute Teacher detention after school.

Fourth Offense =Student/Teacher conference.

Parent/Teacher telephone conference.

Administrative referral.

Continual Offenses = Student/Teacher conference.

Administrative referral.

Parent/Teacher conference.

Level 2 or 3 infractions will be handled utilizing the procedures/guidelines in the student planner.

Please be aware that I have a zero tolerance policy for any verbal or physical behavior that physically or emotionally harms another person in the classroom. Such a behavior may result in a time-out and/or administrative referral plus a parent contact on the first offense. Examples include but are not limited to: verbal harassment, bullying, fighting, expected alcohol/drug/tobacco use.

GRADES

The grades for each quarter are composed of the following: tests, quizzes, class work, homework, and projects.

Grades are computed on a points system.

Tests:There will be at least three tests per quarter. Tests are worth approximately

80-100 points each.

Homework:Homework is assigned often. Reading assignments are considered homework. Homework assignments will be done neatly on notebook paper.

Be aware that all homework is collected the day after it is assigned, and is graded on a points system.

YOU WILL LOSE POINTS FOR ANY LATE HOMEWORK. HOWEVER, NO HOMEWORK WILL BE ACCEPTED AFTER TWO WEEKS OF THE DUE DATE! YOU WILL RECEIVE A ZERO (0)

Class Work:There are many in class activities and assignments. These are usually collected the day it is assigned and completed in class. Class work is graded on a points system.

YOU WILL LOSE POINTS FOR ANY LATE CLASS WORK. HOWEVER, NO CLASS WORK WILL BE ACCEPTED AFTER TWO WEEKS OF THE DUE DATE! YOU WILL RECEIVE A ZERO (0)

Projects:There may be one to several different projects per quarter. These are important and usually worth at about 100 points.

YOU WILL LOSE POINTS FOR ANY LATE PROJECT. HOWEVER, NO PROJECT WILL BE ACCEPTED AFTER TWO WEEKS OF THE DUE DATE! YOU WILL RECEIVE A ZERO (0).

There are “performance” projects that will be a zero if not there to be graded on the assigned date. You will know about these exceptions well before the due date.

Quizzes:A quiz may be given at any time, they will be both announced and unannounced. The point totals for quizzes will vary.

Class Participation:Being an active participant in your own educational experience is an important part of becoming a successful learner. Remember to ask questions because it will help you to understand the information better, as well as, help me to realize how well you understand the information.

Class participation will not be part of your formal grade for this class. However, I will be keeping a formal discipline record for each student daily. The areas of focus will include: Productivity, Accountability, Collaboration, Respectful/Cooperative, and Ambition.

Make-up:Get class work and homework assignments and do them. Get notes from a friend and copy them. Missed lab work and tests/quizzes need to be made up as soon as possible.

You have up to the number of days you were absent to complete any work missed without penalty to your grade.

HOWEVER, NO MISSING WORK WILL BE ACCEPTED AFTER TWO WEEKS OF THE DUE DATE! YOU WILL RECEIVE A ZERO (0) FOR ANY MISSING WORK THAT IS NOT COMPLETED IN THE APPROPRIATE TWO-WEEK PERIOD.

AND ALWAYS REMEMBER...

I AM YOUR SCIENCE TEACHER WHO WANTS YOU TO SUCCEED