Introduction to Forensic Science
Course Description
Forensics is a one-semester investigative science and technology course.
Students will learn how to observe, collect, analyze and evaluate evidence found at crime scenes. Some of the
many topics covered are fingerprint analysis, hair and fiber comparison, serology and crime scene analysis.
Forensics is a demanding, fast-paced course covering a new topic of evidence nearly every week. The
culmination of the course will include the analysis of a crime scene.
We will have a lab or activity nearly every class.
Forensics is largely lab and project-based. You are “allowed” 5 excused absences from this class during the
semester. Exceeding 5 absences can lead to a force-drop from Forensics. If you tend to be a student who is
absent a lot, this is not the class for you. It is nearly impossible to often miss the lead-in and procedure for lab
investigations, and still be successful in this course.
Please expect the following “regular” weekly events*:
Mondays- Current Topics/Events in Forensics Presentations
Tuesdays- Quiz
Wednesdays- Puzzlers (extra credit)
Thursdays- Puzzlers (extra credit)
Fridays- Forensic Files
*Plan accordingly (for quizzes/Current Topics Presentations)- the schedule remains even in the event of a snow
day, etc
Grading:
We work on a POINT BASIS. All submitted items are worth a designated number of points, which you will be
informed of ahead of time.
Following are the general point values for commonly assigned products:
Homework: 10 points (Current Topics presentations = 20 pts)
Quizzes: 50 Points
Labs: Vary due to depth, 10-100 Points
Tests: 100 Points
Projects: Variable
Tests/Quizzes: All Quizzes and Tests are announced
Quizzes are scheduled for WHENEVER class meets on a Tuesday.
Missed quizzes must be made up
Failed Quizzes can be retaken within 1 week of the quiz being returned. Please see me when you are ready to
retake a quiz. The old and new quiz grades will be averaged.
Failed Tests cannot be retaken (unless such IEP accommodations exist)
Laboratory expectations:
Please adhere to all laboratory safety precautions and rules. I will accept nothing less than full compliance. This
means (for example) that if I ask you to wear eye protection, you will wear goggles over your eyes for the entirety
of the lab etc.
Please hand in all labs on time. Most labs will be worth 100 points. Five points will be deducted for each
academic calendar day a lab is late (maximum deduction = 25%). Neatness, accuracy, and completeness are
necessary.
Absences/Tardies:
If you are absent from class, you are REQUIRED to see me on the next academic day that you are in school,
even if we do not have Science that day. Please do not wait until our next class together to see what you have
missed. You are responsible for obtaining class notes from a classmate before the next class, completing the
homework that is due, and taking the next Tuesday quiz. If you miss a Tuesday Quiz, you should take the quiz
make-up that you will find in the Learning Lab.
STUDENTS INVOLVED IN ATHLETICS OR ACTIVITIES THAT CAUSE THEM TO MISS CLASS ARE
REQUIRED TO KEEP UP WITH ALL CLASSWORK AND NOTES. BEING INVOLVED IN EXTRA-CURRICULAR
ACTIVITES IS VERY IMPORTANT, BUT IT IS ALSO A PRIVILEGE. IF A STUDENT IS NOT MAINTAINING A
RESPONSIBLE STANDING IN THIS CLASS, THEIR COACH AND ACTIVITIES DIRECTOR WILL BE NOTIFIED.
Hall Pass:
The hall pass is for trips to the bathroom, the water fountain or your locker only—Please respect this! Sign our on
the clipboard, take the pass, and go.
If you need to go anywhere else (nurse, main office, etc), please write yourself a paper pass (on a scrap of paper)
and bring it to me for a signature. These trips often take longer, so please do not monopolize the bathroom pass
for them. You must return the pass to me, signed by the teacher or nurse that you went to see. I will not issue
passes to the cafeteria or to use the telephone (unless it is a true emergency), and you may not take the wooden
hall pass for such trips.
iPods/Cell Phones:
When you’re in this classroom, I want you tuned in to what we are doing together, or the activity at hand Please
turn off cell phones before entering my classroom, and store them in your backpacks.
Academic Honesty:
Students who copy another person’s work without properly giving credit to that person are understood to be
claiming the work as their own and therefore plagiarizing. Students who copy another’s work or students who
allow their work to be copied are considered to be cheating. Internet purchases or copying of full or partial
information using technology and not properly giving credit is considered plagiarism. The following actions will
occur for students who are discovered cheating or plagiarizing:
1. The grade for the assignment will be a zero (0), the student must meet with an Administrator, and a note
is placed in the student’s internal record.
2. Parents or guardians will be notified. All teachers who have the student in their class will be notified.
3. A second offense will result in suspension from school in addition to a zero (0) on the assignment.
Late homework assignments can only earn a maximum grade of 50%.
Late projects and labs lose 5% per academic day (penalty maximum = 25%).