Clayborn
SYLLABUS – HONORS FORENSIC SCIENCE
2008-2009
Week
Aug 5-8
Aug 11-22
Chapter/Topics/Activities
Class Introduction; Study Skills Unit
Chapter 1 – Introduction; Definition and Scope of
Forensic Science; History; Crime Labs; Functions of
Forensic Scientists
Readings: (Casebook) – p. 301-303
Labs: “Buried Stories” Reconstructing Past
Events
“That’s My Story” – Observing,
Remembering and Recording an Event
“Deadly Picnic” – Deductive Reasoning
AHSGE-Objectives
Reading Objectives
ACOS Objectives
I-1 – Select appropriate
laboratory, glassware,
balances, time measuring
equipment and optical
instruments to conduct an
experiment
II -1 – Identify Main Idea
1 – Describe
responsibilities of
various personnel
involved in crime scene
investigations
Aug 25Sept 3
Chapter 2 – Crime Scene and Collection of Evidence;
Processing Crime Scenes
Labs: Crime Scene Evaluation
1 - Select appropriate
laboratory, glassware,
balances, time measuring
equipment and optical
instruments to conduct an
experiment
II-2 – Draw Conclusions
Sept 4-12
Chapter 3 – Physical Evidence; Common Types and
Significance
II – 2 – Draw Conclusions
Sept 15- 26
Chapter 4 – Physical Properties; Glass and Soil; Metric
System; Physical Properties
Labs: “Forces that Fracture Glass” –
Examination of Glass Fractures
“Glass Chip Tips” – Glass Identification
“The Dirt on Crime” – Evidence from the
Soil
Chapter 5 and 6 – Organic Analysis; Elements and
Compounds; Analytical Techniques; Inorganic Analysis;
Techniques
Labs – “Bleeding Mixtures” – Chromatography
of Mixtures
1 - Select appropriate
laboratory, glassware,
balances, time measuring
equipment and optical
instruments to conduct an
experiment
1 - Select appropriate
laboratory, glassware,
balances, time measuring
equipment and optical
instruments to conduct an
experiment
1 – Describe
responsibilities of
various personnel
involved in crime scene
investigations; 2 –
Explain ways to collect
and preserve evidence
from a crime scene
2 – Explain ways to
collect and preserve
evidence from a crime
scene
II – 3 – Determine Cause
and Effect
2 – Explain ways to
collect and preserve
evidence from a crime
scene
1 - Select appropriate
laboratory, glassware,
balances, time measuring
equipment and optical
instruments to conduct an
I – 3 – Follow Directions
2 – Explain ways to
collect and preserve
evidence from a crime
scene
Sept 29Oct 9
Clayborn
Oct 10- 17
Oct 20-24
SYLLABUS – HONORS FORENSIC SCIENCE
“Whose Lipstick?” – Chromatography of
Lipstick
Fall Break
Chapter 7 – The Microscope
Oct 27Nov 7
Chapter 8 – Trace Evidence; Hair; Fibers; Paint
Readings: p. 249-290
Labs: “Only your Hairdresser Knows for Sure” –
Hair Identification
“Fibers Don’t Fib” – Fiber Analysis
Nov 10-21
Chapter 9 – Drug Identification; Major Categories and
Effects; Laws; Procedures for Identification
Labs: “White Powders” – Standard Tests used
to identify unknown substances
“Animals are Super Smellers” – Drug Dogs
Nov 24-25
Review and Mock Trials
Dec 1-12
Chapter 10 – Toxicology and Pathology; Alcohol;
Determination of cause and manner of death; Role of
pathologist
Readings: p. 22-40, 271-248
Labs: “Time of Death” – Forensic Entomology
2008-2009
experiment
1 - Select appropriate
laboratory, glassware,
balances, time measuring
equipment and optical
instruments to conduct an
experiment
1 - Select appropriate
laboratory, glassware,
balances, time measuring
equipment and optical
instruments to conduct an
experiment ; 11 – Classify
animals according to type of
skeletal structure, method of
fertilization and reproduction,
body symmetry, body
coverings, and locomotion
1 - Select appropriate
laboratory, glassware,
balances, time measuring
equipment and optical
instruments to conduct an
experiment;
All
I-3 – Follow directions
2 – Explain ways to
collect and preserve
evidence from a crime
scene
III – 3 – Understand
figurative language
2 – Explain ways to
collect and preserve
evidence from a crime
scene
IV – 2 – Preview and
predict
8 – Describe general
categories of drugs and
poison and their effects
on humans
All
All
1 - Select appropriate
laboratory, glassware,
balances, time measuring
equipment and optical
instruments to conduct an
experiment; 5 – Identify cells,
tissues, organs, organ systems,
organisms, populations,
communities, and ecosystems
as levels of organization in the
IV – 1 – Determine
Meaning of words
8 – Describe general
categories of drugs and
poison and their effects
on humans; 6 –
Describe the
decomposition process
Clayborn
SYLLABUS – HONORS FORENSIC SCIENCE
Dec 15 -19
Review and Mid-term Exam
Dec 22 –
Jan 6
Jan 7-16
Winter Break
Jan 20- Feb
13
Chapter 12 and 13 – Forensic Serology; Nature of
Blood; Blood Stains; Principles of Heredity; DNA Typing
and Use
Readings: p. 55-69; 197-216
Labs: “What Types are You?” – Lesson on
Inheritance of Blood Types
“Give it a Test” – Testing for Presence of Blood
“Falling Blood Drops” – Blood-drop Analysis
“Incriminating Evidence” – DNA Gel
Electrophoresis
Feb 17-27
Chapter 14 – Fingerprints; History; Principles and
Classification
Readings: p. 90-121
Labs: “Pointing out Perpetrators” –
Identification of Fingerprints
“Print Patterns” – Classification of Fingerprints
“The Thief who wore Lipstick” – Lip Print
Patterns
(no text) Physical Anthropology and Odontology; Race,
age, gender, stature, dental evidence
Readings: p. 122-155; 166-196
Labs: “The Teeth Will Tell: - Dental Forensics
“Your Bones have a Message” – Forensic
Anthropology
“Making no Bones about it” – Skeletal Evidence
“Digging up the Past” – Forensic Archeology
biosphere
All since beginning of term
1 - Select appropriate
laboratory, glassware,
balances, time measuring
equipment and optical
instruments to conduct an
experiment; 5 – Identify cells,
tissues, organs, organ systems,
organisms, populations,
communities, and ecosystems
as levels of organization in the
biosphere
1 - Select appropriate
laboratory, glassware,
balances, time measuring
equipment and optical
instruments to conduct an
experiment; 7 – Apply
Mendel’s laws to determine
phenotypic and genotypic
probabilities of offspring; 8 –
Identify the structure and
function of DNA, RNA, and
protein
1 - Select appropriate
laboratory, glassware,
balances, time measuring
equipment and optical
instruments to conduct an
experiment; 5 – Identify cells,
tissues, organs, organ systems,
organisms, populations,
communities, and ecosystems
as levels of organization in the
2008-2009
All since beginning of
term
All since beginning of
term
III – 1 – Recognize logic
and arguments
6 – Describe the
decomposition process;
7 – Identify the
importance of skeletal
remains in forensics
IV – 3 – Discern
organizational patterns
4- Describe
presumptive and
confirmatory tests; 5 –
Describe the
importance of genetic
information to
forensics; 9 – Use laws
of physics to explain
forensic evidence
I -1 – Identify supporting
details
2 – Explain ways to
collect and preserve
evidence from a crime
scene
Clayborn
March 2-20
March 2327
March 30April 9
April 13 24
SYLLABUS – HONORS FORENSIC SCIENCE
Chapter 11 and 15 – Explosions; Impressions; Firearms;
Toolmarks; Ballistics
Readings: p. 3-21; 70-89
Labs: “Making your Mark” – Toolmarks
“Tracking on” – Lab on Tire Track Evaluation
“If the Shoe Fits” – Making and Evaluating Shoe
Print Impressions
Spring Break
Chapter 16 – Document and Voice Examination;
Handwriting; printing and typewriting
Readings: p. 41-51, 291-300
Labs: “Who wrote This?” – Document forgery
“Typewriter Personality” – Typewriter
comparison
(No Text) Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
Readings: p. 156-165
Project Presentations
April 27 –
May 8
Classic and Recent Cases Research Project
May 11-15
Chapter 17 – Contemporary Issues; Ethical; Careers;
Internet
Mock Trials and Practical
Review and Final Exams
May 18 -22
May 26-28
biosphere
1 - Select appropriate
laboratory, glassware,
balances, time measuring
equipment and optical
instruments to conduct an
experiment
2008-2009
I-2 – Determine
sequence of events
3 – Distinguish between
class and individual
characteristics of
firearms
1 - Select appropriate
laboratory, glassware,
balances, time measuring
equipment and optical
instruments to conduct an
experiment
1 - Select appropriate
laboratory, glassware,
balances, time measuring
equipment and optical
instruments to conduct an
experiment
All
II-5 Recognize summary
statements
10 – Describe
techniques used to
determine the validity
of documents
IV-4 – Demonstrate
reference material usage
10 – describe
techniques used to
determine the validity
of documents
All
All
All
II – 4 Propaganda, fact
from opinion
All
All since midterm
All
All
All since midterm
All
All since midterm