Forensic Science Section 2 Semester 2 of 2 Spring 2016 Course Information Instructor: Jenna Bird Telephone: 268-4233, Ext. 406 Email: jbird@frontiertutoring.com Required Textbooks: Forensic Science Today 2 nd Edition (Lawyers & Judges, 2009) Required Materials: Standard school supplies, including lined paper, pens/pencils, notebooks, binders, etc. Frontier Tutoring encourages every student to use a school planner/calendar to keep up to date with various class assignments. Meeting Time: Monday & Wednesday, 1:00 PM 2:00 PM (Classroom 114) Meeting Dates: January 11, 13, 20, 25, 27 February 1, 3, 8, 10, 17, 22, 24, 29 March 2, 7, 9, 21, 23, 28, 30 April 4, 6, 11, 13, 18, 20, 25, 27 May 2, 4
Course Summary Course Description Forensic science is the application of a wide variety of sciences to the investigation of a specific situation or crime. Students will integrate their prior knowledge of biology, chemistry, physics, anatomy, and geology into the science of crime scene investigation and medical forensics. Topics in the course include forensic law, entomology, pathology, toxicology, and anthropology in addition to the analysis of physical evidence such as fingerprints, DNA evidence, and bloodstain patterns. Lab work and case studies will provide real world, hands on experience. This course is geared for preparing students for upper level high school and college science electives by placing emphasis on critical thinking and problem solving. It also introduces students to a variety of careers in the broad-spectrum field of forensic science. Class meetings are supplemental to home-study activities. Therefore, out-of-class assignments make up the larger component of this course. It is important that students complete all assignments on time. Student Expectations Students are expected to be prepared, attend all classes, and actively participate in class discussions. In addition, students are expected to complete all assigned work on time and to the best of their ability. Students are expected to be respectful of the instructor and fellow students. If students find themselves facing challenges that are likely to adversely affect their performance in this course, please see the course instructor before or after class at the earliest opportunity. The instructor will be available by phone, email or in person to address homework questions or to discuss the course material in more detail and is more than willing to help in any way to improve the students learning experience. Supplemental academic tutoring for this course may be arranged through Frontier Tutoring; parents should call 907-268-4233 to arrange for tutoring. Assignments Over the course of the semester, homework will be given in the form of reading, worksheets, vocabulary assignments, and lab work as well as several scientific writing assignments. Unless otherwise stated by the instructor, all assignments have the due date at the top of the assignment. Assignments in bold on the below schedule are due on the day listed. If a problem in meeting homework deadlines arises, students must speak with the instructor by midnight the day before the due date. All assignments more than 2 weeks late are an automatic 0% with no opportunity for make-up. 2
Extra credit opportunities will be announced by the instructor throughout the semester. Some tests will contain extra credit questions as well. Exams There will be two exams as indicated on the course schedule, one midterm and one comprehensive final. The tests will consist of multiple choice, short answer, fill-in-the-blank, diagrams, true/false and practical application questions to test students knowledge of specific information and their broader understanding of the subject. If, for some reason, a student is unable to attend class on exam day he or she must contact the course instructor beforehand to set up another day or time for a makeup exam at the instructor s convenience. Quizzes Periodically throughout the semester the instructor will use quizzes to check the students knowledge of the subject. Advanced notice will always be given (i.e. there will never be a pop quiz). Assessment Final course letter grades will be determined using the following scale: 100%-90% = A; 89%-80% = B; 79%-70% = C; 69%-60% = D; 59%-0% = F All grades reported by Frontier Tutoring are preliminary and must be transcribed by a Family Partnership Charter School sponsor teacher for purposes of the student s FPCS transcript. 3
Lecture & Assignment Schedule Day Date Lecture Topic MON JAN 11 Introduction to Forensic Science Textbook Chapter Homework Assignment WED JAN 13 Fire and Arson 13 Case Analysis 1 MON JAN 18 MLK Jr. Holiday No Classes WED JAN 20 Chemical evidence 14 Blood type Pre-Lab MON JAN 25 Blood Type Lab 15 Blood type Write-up Due WED JAN 27 Guest Speaker MON FEB 1 Forensic Art & Digital Evidence 16 Case Analysis 2 WED FEB 3 Forensic Pathology and Death 17 MON FEB 8 Stages of Decomposition 17 Quiz 1 WED FEB 10 Forensic Toxicology 18 Case Analysis 3 MON FEB 15 President s Day No Classes WED FEB 17 Forensic Anthropology 19 Case Analysis 4 MON FEB 22 Forensic Entomology 20 WED FEB 24 Forensic Entomology Continued 20 Entomology Timeline MON FEB 29 Forensic Dentistry and Engineering 21 & 22 Quiz 2 WED MAR 2 Review 13-22 MON MAR 7 Mid-term Exam 13-22 Study Guide EC Due WED MAR 9 Forensics in Aviation 22 Case Analysis 5 SPRING BREAK No Classes MON MAR 21 Guest Speaker WED MAR 23 Guest Speaker MON MAR 28 Final Project & Essay Assigned WED MAR 30 Forensic Psychology 23 MON APR 4 Profiling, Psychopaths, & Sociopaths 23 Quiz 3 and Essay Due 4
Day Date Lecture Topic Textbook Chapter WED APR 6 Sociopaths Continued 23 Homework Assignment MON APR 11 Crime Scenes and Final Projects 24 WED APR 13 Final Project MON APR 18 Final Project Final Project Overview Due WED APR 20 Crime Scene Investigation Final Project Due Day 1 MON APR 25 Crime Scene Investigation Final Project Due Day 2 WED APR 27 Review 13-18 MON MAY 2 Review 19-24 WED MAY 4 Final Exam 13-24 Study Guide EC Due 5
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