Grant County Schools
Grant County High School
Forensics Course Syllabus
Teacher Name
Room
School Year
Mr. Cann
114
2013-2014
COURSE DESCRIPTION AND OBJECTIVES
Forensics is designed as an introduction and survey to the skills, techniques, and technologies used in
the modern crime scene investigations. Students will be reviewing case studies, history of forensics,
analyzing data, understanding legal aspects of forensic investigations, and implementing skills and
techniques into practice. There WILL be times in which some images and content may be disturbing to
students. Parental/Guardian permission will be sought for certain labs, activities, videos, and lessons.
BASIC INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS
· Text: Criminalistics: An Introduction to Forensic Science Saferstein. Prentice-Hall. 2001
SUPPLEMENTAL INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS
· Case Study of Forensics.
SUPPLIES NEEDED BY STUDENTS
 Composition Notebook: lined or quadrille acceptable. Loose leaf not acceptable for laboratory
use. Required daily.
 3 Ring Binder with 5 subject tabs for separation. Required daily
 Writing Utensils: pen (black or blue only please) or pencil acceptable. Pencil preferred.
Required daily.
 Metric Ruler (clear, plastic rulers preferred)
 2 Pocket Folders with middle binder.
 Highlighters: highly recommended.
LABORATORY WORK
Meaningful laboratory work is important in fulfilling the requirements of an introductory course of
laboratory science and in preparing a student for possible future courses in college. Hands on
learning and putting skills to practice will allow for a more fun and rigorous learning environment.
Lab work will be completed in group settings.
EXAMINATION FORMAT
Exams will contain approximately 20 multiple choice questions, 10 short answer questions, and a
possible open ended constructed response question.
GRADING POLICY
60%
30%
10%
Tests, Quizzes & other Performance Based Assessments
Labs, Case Analysis, and Class work
Homework
Grade Distribution
92.5 –100.0 % A
84.5 – 92.4 % B
74.5 - 84.4 % C
67.5 – 74.4 % D
< 67.5 %
F
PACING OF FORENSICS
Units
Introduction to Class
Unit 1: Forensic Science
History
Unit 2: The Search
Unit3: The Hard Evidence
Unit 4: Organic vs Inorganic
Unit 5: Hair and Fiber
Unit 6: Drugs
Unit 7: Alcohol
Unit 8: Blood
Unit 9: Arson and Explosions
Unit 10: Fingerprinting
Unit 11: Ballistics
Unit 12: Documentation
Unit 13: Criminal Psychology
Topics Covered
Lab Safety, expectations
Approximate Duration
1 week
Forensic history, services, and processes.
1 week
Searching, recording, collecting evidence, legal
considerations.
Analysis of hardscapes: glass, soil, surroundings.
Analysis of organic substances vs inorganic
substances, chromatography, separation techniques,
spectrometers.
Analysis of hair and fibers
Processes of collecting illegal substances,
evaluating suspects under the influence of drugs,
drug testing.
Evaluating suspects under the influence of alcohol,
alcohol toxicology.
Collecting and examining blood, blood types, DNA
sequencing, splatter patterns.
Arson investigations and techniques, fire spreading,
accelerants, explosion signatures.
Fingerprint patterns, analysis, accuracy.
Ballistic analysis, damage, projectile motion and
tracking.
Documentation verification, handwriting analysis
Infamous criminals, insanity, case studies
2 weeks
2 weeks
1 week
1 week
1 week
1 week
2 weeks
1 week
2 weeks
1 week
1 week
1 week
CLASS ASSESSMENTS
· Students will receive assessments in the form of quizzes, tests, projects, lab write-ups, etc.
· Unit tests are usually given after the completion of a chapter in the textbook, but the tests may
include information from more than one chapter.
· Students will complete daily learning targets or objectives that are Next Generation Science
Standards based. Students will be assessed on a 4 point scale ranging from distinguished to novice
based on rubrics provided during the daily objectives. Students may reattempt daily objectives if
necessary to reach a distinguished level, but all unit objectives must be complete prior to unit
assessment.
· In addition to the above described assessments, a comprehensive final exam will be administered
at the close of each semester.
LABS
· Labs provide students with hands-on learning that promote scientific inquiry and can be very
enjoyable. The scientific community is dependent on collaboration between peers. To this end, you
will be working with at least one lab partner as you gather data in the laboratory. You will also find
it very useful to work together after the lab has been completed.
· I will not tolerate any inappropriate behavior in the lab.
· Behavior that endangers the safety of others will not be tolerated.
· Intentional damage to equipment will result in disciplinary referrals.
· Lab safety will be reviewed at the beginning of the year. Students will be required to sign a safety
contract that must also be endorsed by their guardians.
· Serious violations or repeat offenses in the lab may result in a zero for all labs for the remainder of
the quarter or semester as the teacher deems appropriate.
· Most labs can be made up upon return. Some labs, however, cannot be made up if you are absent.
If this is the case, you will receive an alternate assignment that you must do in order to receive an
excused grade for a lab.
HOMEWORK POLICY
· Homework is a constructive tool in the learning process when geared to the needs and abilities of
students. Purposeful assignments not only enhance student achievement but also develop selfdiscipline and associated good working habits. Homework provided will be planned and organized;
will be purposeful to the students; and will be evaluated and returned to students in a timely
manner. Successful homework completion and study will enable students to master chemical
principles and to develop powerful problem-solving skills.
· Homework may be assigned for one or more of the following purposes:
 Practice, Preparation, Extension, and/or Creativity
· It is assumed that students will spend at least three hours a week in unsupervised individual
study.
· You should keep a folder/binder of all returned assignments until after the semester grade is
issued. This is your evidence to refute any errors that may arise in evaluating your grade for the
class. Please contact me as soon as possible if you suspect errors in your grade.
MAKE UP POLICY
Illness/Unforeseen Event
· If you are absent due to illness or some other unforeseen event, you will receive an opportunity to
make up missing work, however appropriate due dates will be assigned.
· If you are sick for more than one day, you should call the school and get a homework request
from all of your teachers.
· You must talk with me the day of your return in order to receive your missing assignments.
· Tests or quizzes missed while absent must be made up on the day of your return.
· If you miss an assignment that is based upon classroom participation, you might not be able to
make this up. If this is the case, please talk to me about it.
RETAKE POLICY
· Students may retake tests or quizzes but must be completed outside of class time (before school,
after school, enrichment, etc.). You will receive an alternate assessment that tests the same
concepts. Questions may or may not be used from the original test.
HALL PASSES
· It is recommended that you leave the room only in dire emergencies. There will be a check in and
checkout procedure each and every time you need to leave class and students are only permitted to
be out of class for 5 minutes.
TARDIES
· Tardiness is an undesirable behavior in all academic settings. Students are expected to be in the
classroom before the bell rings and ready to learn.
· Consequences of being tardy may be the forfeiture of taking a quiz or receiving other assignments
given at the beginning of class.
· Being tardy three times will result in disciplinary referral to administration.
CONTENT WRITING
All students will be required to write extensively during the course of the year. Students will be
completing various types of literacy assessments. Students may be given designated time to use the
computers to complete certain tasks, but outside computer use may be required.
TECHNOLOGY
· If emergencies exist, please contact the school office, not individual cell phones. Students may be
allowed to call home from the classroom phone. See school policy.
· Use of cell phones, tablets, computers and laptops is subject to school policy and code of conduct.
· Calculators are scientific/mathematics tools that can be very useful in the school setting. Games
on calculators are, however, unacceptable. Repeat offenders will have their parents contacted.
DRESS CODE
· I will strictly enforce the school dress code. LEARN IT!
· Laboratory dress code will be strictly enforced during lab activities. (see lab rules and procedures)
ENRICHMENT
Once each five week, students will be placed with me to work on enriching their content studies and
to intervene on their struggles. Students are expected to follow all expectations presented in the
guidelines.
FOOD/DRINK
· No food, gum, or candy is acceptable in the any science classroom.
· Water bottles are acceptable in class, provided they have lids and are kept out of the way.
· Absolutely NO food or drink is allowed during labs. This includes water bottles.
TEACHER WEBSITE and INFINITE CAMPUS
Completing homework assignments in a college level science class takes dedication and a sufficient
amount of time. I have elected to use the teacher web sites provided on the Grant County High
School web site as well as Infinite Campus. Students and parents can see what assignments are due
and coming up.
GETTING HELP
· I have an afterschool and before school calendar of availability on my front classroom door.
· I’m usually available a half-hour before and a half-hour after school most days.
· I’m available often during my planning period, but this is not recommended.
· I will conduct after school tutoring and help at least once a week (as needed by students).
· If you cannot find me during these times, drop a note or write a message on the white board.
TEACHER CONTACT INFORMATION
Please try to contact me by any of the following means if you have any questions or unresolved
issues. The best way to contact me is via email:
· e-mail: justin.cann@grant.kyschools.us
· webpage: http://www.grant.kyschools.us/CannJustin.aspx
· phone (859) 824-9739
· Twitter: @CannJustin