Topic Ideas for Paper 1
1. Sherlock wedding speech scene identifying the victim in “The Sign of Three” (clip from
1 hour 7 minutes to 1 hour 10 minutes and 51 seconds) season 3 episode 2
2. Psych episode 11 season 1 “He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not, He Loves Me, Oops He’s
Dead” (clip from 36 minutes and 45 seconds to 40 minutes)
3. Sherlock season 1 episode 1 “A Study in Pink” scene where Sherlock examines the body
(clip from 23 minutes 50 seconds to 29 minutes and 20 seconds)
Sherlock’s wedding speech in “The Sign of Three” is multimodal; the medium is film. As
Sherlock paces and tries to solve the crime, Mrs. Hudson adds commentary even though the
camera is not focused on her; this is one example of the aural element. Sherlock vaults over the
table and begins to pace the room. This gestural action shows that something is afoot. John
notices and points it out to his wife for the benefit of the audience. Visually, Mycroft’s face
appears as Sherlock is thinking; we can still see Sherlock’s face, but Mycroft’s double image
floats translucently in the air. For the linguistic element, the phrase “Mayfly Man” appears over
the guests’ heads with a question mark beside each as Sherlock searches for the Mayfly Man, the
criminal. As Sherlock narrows down his list of possible victims, the camera temporarily shows
an empty reception room with only Sherlock and the victim while in real time no one has left.
We are just seeing the spatial element as Sherlock does. This is a prime example of detective
fiction. First of all, the crime is first degree murder; although the crime has already taken place,
the victim is still living so the detective needs to figure out what the crime was as well as the
victim’s identity. The criminal is revealed at the end of the episode; at this point he is unknown.
Sherlock Holmes is the detective, as usual. We know that he is not the victim or the criminal
because we see the scene from his perspective. This also makes him the chronicler. John Watson,
the classic chronicler, is present as the groom but he is not acting as the chronicler at this time.
Wedding guests at the reception are the innocent bystanders and one of those bystanders is the
victim.
Synopsis of Psych scene:
As the scene opens, Shawn is seated across from a blonde woman at a speed dating event
where he hopes to solve the crime. He looks at the woman diagonal to him and notices her
exchanging a glance with one of the waiters, a man named Marvin who is dressed like a
leprechaun. She then asks her partner some questions about his favorite color. Shawn notices the
tan line on her ring finger; she usually wears a wedding ring; he sees the same line on Marvin’s
ring finger. He interrupts his “date’s” story, apologizes, then stands and taps on his glass to gain
the attention of everyone in the room. He begins his speech with asking to continue the
conversation with his partner afterward. Then he states that “everyone deserves someone
special.” Shawn begins to walk around the room. He tells everyone that there are two imposters
who do not have good intentions. The seated participants glance at each other nervously. Shawn
then points out Glenda and Marvin, the married couple. He then publicly exposes their crimes
and solves the case.
Shawn Spencer exposes the criminals in a scene of the Psych episode “He Loves Me” from
season one. The text is multimodal. Documents with the names and numbers that were a part of
the identity theft scam are shown for an instant, but no other written examples of the linguistic
mode are used. Shawn makes full use of gestures, from squinting his eyes when collecting clues
to pointing dramatically at the accused. Aurally, one of the clues is Glenda’s conversation. She
sits diagonally across from Shawn and asks personal questions. Visually, the camera zooms in on
the clues that Shawn notices, such as the tan lines on Glenda and Marvins’ ring fingers. Also,
warmer coloring, unsteady filming and close ups show the flashbacks to the original crime.
Shawn utilizes floor space to gain his audiences’ attention. His spatial placement also makes it
possible for him to block off Glenda’s escape. This piece is detective fiction. The crimes are
identity theft and accidental murder. Although the murder was not premeditated, the criminals
did intend to harm the victim by temporarily kidnapping him and permanently stealing his
identity. Marvin and his wife Glenda are the criminals. Consulting psychic detective Shawn
Spencer is on the case with the police present to make an arrest. Aside from Glenda and Marvin,
all attendees of the weekly speed dating event were innocent bystanders. There is no clear
chronicler, unless Shawn himself decides to tell the story.
-
Shawn is a comic character who can fit into any social situation and relate to people;
everyone likes him but most also think he is an idiot. He does know how to get people
talking; we can see this when he enters the speed dating event and jumps right in.
Spencer sees the clues and finally figures out what is going on. The two criminals have
tan lines on their ring fingers showing that they are married and therefore don’t belong.
He stands, calls everyone’s attention to himself, and begins the big reveal where he
confronts the criminals in front of witnesses. He then explains the crime, complete with
flashbacks.
“A Study in Pink” from the BBC television show Sherlock is a multimodal piece of
detective fiction; the scene focused on here is when Sherlock examines the body of the third
victim. The first mode, gestural, is shown when Sherlock rudely shuts the door in Anderson’s
face. Sherlock also touches the dead woman’s coat, holding up his gloved and rubbing his
fingers together to show us the audience that under her collar is wet and that her umbrella is dry;
showing written words on the screen, the linguistic mode is used to inform us about the
differences between the wet coat and dry umbrella. Also, this mode shows us what Sherlock is
deducing and what he types into his phone. Another linguistic element is the word “rache”
scraped onto the floorboards. Aurally, John praises Sherlock’s work. Each visual clue is
highlighted when the camera zooms in; this technique also counts as the spatial mode. All the
pieces are present for detective fiction. The crime is the murder of the woman in pink; other
similar murders by this particular serial killer are briefly mentioned in this scene. At this time,
the criminal is unknown. The bystanders for this immediate scene are Detective Lestrade and his
forensics team but for the actual crime there was no one present besides the victim and the killer.
The citizens of London could be considered innocent bystanders because that group of people are
the ones the police are trying to protect. The detective is Sherlock Holmes and the chronicler is
John Watson.
-
Sherlock is a sociopath; he is extremely awkward with other people and is always saying
the wrong thing. He is also brilliant. This scene shows Sherlock examining a body for a
case. It is the first time he has brought his new friend Watson along, so their interaction is
significant especially in comparison to how Sherlock interacts with Detective Lestrade
and Anderson. Sherlock walks in, clears the room, and begins to work. We see his
thoughts on the case with words on the screen showing his calculations. He discovers
using clues that the dead woman is a serial adulterer on a weekend trip from Cardiff.
Weather clues- the umbrella dry and the coat wet. A suitcase is missing. The victim’s
jewelry is regularly cleaned but not her wedding ring, the inside of it is shiny because she
takes it off a lot.

Comparing characters: Both are irritating, both are very effective. Both are allied with
and/or hired by the police as consultants. Both use clues that no one else notices, using
the same detecting methods. Although they use different approaches, both are effectiveor is one more effective than the other? Compare how different detectives’ personalities
affect their work and effectiveness.