Forensic Science Book Assignment

Forensic Science

Mystery Book Project

Winter Term 2007-2008

 

1. Pick and read one book from the following categories:

  • Fictional Mystery Novel that contains Forensic Science
  • Non Fiction work of real scientific discovery, invention, stories or scientific concept that has to do with Forensic Science.

 

Suggested Authors Include:
  • Baden, Michael—medical examiner topics
  • Bass, Bill—anthropology (Body Farm)
  • Cornwell, Patricia—fictional mysteries based sometimes on real events
  • Craig, Emily—forensic anthropology
  • Deaver, Jeffery—any forensic mysteries (Lincoln Rhyme Stories)
  • Lee, Henry—Criminalist, any of his books would be terrific
  • Patterson, James—any of his forensic mysteries
  • Ramsland, Katherine—any of her forensic science books
  • Reichs, Kathy—any of her books, fiction and non fiction
  • Rose, Malcolm—any forensic mysteries
  • Rouceche, Berton—The Medical Detectives
  • You pick one!  Just check in with Beth

 

Places to Get Your Books Include:
  • Beth’s stash
  • Your local library
  • Your local bookstore (Pat from the Village Bookstore in Bellow’s Falls—one of our community service sites—will be happy to help you!)

 

2. Your job is to chunk the book into 13 easy-to-read sections, so that you are automatically giving yourself a reading homework assignment for each night.  Use the chart below to help yourself chunk the book into manageable sections (there are already some assignments listed to help).

 

3. You have to complete the following assignments regarding your book:

  • two dialectic responses on the reading (see requirements below)
  • a final “Evidence Box” (see requirements below)

 

Week One Mystery Reading Assignments

Day One

Tues. 11-27

Homework: Chose and obtain your mystery novel and chunk it into 13 readable sections and read the first chunk (due 11-28).  NOTE: The whole project with Evidence Box and Presentation due date is Thursday, 12/13.

Day Two

Wed. 11-28

Hand in your Book Information Sheet (see last page).

 

Day Three

Thurs. 11-29

 

Day Four

Fri. 11-30

Work on your dialectic responses, due Tuesday!

 

Week Two Mystery Reading Assignments

Day One

Mon. 12-03

Hand in your two dialectic responses based on the first half of the book tomorrow!

 

 

Day Two

Tues. 12-04

Dialectic responses due!

                                         

Day Three

Wed. 12-05

 

 

Day Four

Thurs. 12-06

 

Day Five

Fri. 12-07

Describe two items that will be included in your evidence box.

 

Week Three Mystery Reading Assignments

Day One

Mon. 12-10

Put the finishing touches on your Evidence Box!

Day Two

Tues. 12-11

 

Day Three

Wed. 12-12

 

 

Day Four

Thurs. 12-13

 

Day Five

Fri. 12-14

Evidence Box Due—present to the class!

(What is due?

  •  Written 1 paragraph summary of the book,
  • Written 1 paragraph recommendation of the book (why/why not)
  •  Oral presentation that includes:
  • a) brief summary,
  • b) your opinion of the book, and
  •  c) an evidence box with a minimum of 6 items that somehow connect to the characters, plot and criminal activity highlighted in your book.

 

Forensic Science

Dialectic Response Instructions

 

For the first half of the book you will do 2 dialectic responses.  Please carefully follow the instructions below.

  • Set up your paper (or computer page) with 1/3 and 2/3 columns (see example below).
  • Chose a meaningful passage that is important to the story and topic you’re reading.
  • For each of the responses, include the quotations/passage from the text with the page number.
  • Use correct grammar and mechanics and write in complete sentences as you comment on the quotation.  You may want to cover:
    • How it applies to the topic/story,
    • How it connects to information we’ve learned about in class this far or forensic science in general,
    • Connect it to things you’ve observed in other texts, movies and world events,
    • Write at least 6-8 sentences.
  • If you’re planning on reading the book straight through in one or two sittings, please complete your responses as you go, please do not wait until you get finished the book to do them.

 

Beth’s Example

The Body Farm by Patricia Cornwell

Quotation p. 74

Dialectic Response

      “What about smothering or strangulation?” he asked.

      “The hyoid was intact.  There was no petechial hemorrhages.”

      “That’s right.  And more importantly,” I pointed out, “If someone tries to smother or strangle you, you’re going to fight like hell.  Yet there are no nose or lip injuries, no defense injuries whatsoever.”

      When Kay and another pathologist are processing the body of Emily, they used real forensic terms that I’m just beginning to get familiar with from class.  Normally, when I read terms like this, I just gloss over them but now I find myself slowing down and thinking about what they really mean.  This is an important scene because the evidence suggests that what they originally thought was cause of death is now in question.  I seriously doubt that she was strangled.  In fact, I don’t think that they processed the body thoroughly enough at this point to determine the cause of death.  It seems necessary when working with evidence that you have to problem solve with a kind of trial and error approach.  I think we are so used to crimes being solved in a 45 minute television episode that it is impossible to consider that many crimes sometimes go unsolved altogether.

 

 

Forensic Science

Dialectic Response Rubric

 

 

Requirements

Points Possible

Points Earned

General Format

2 Column format was used and the following was included:

  • rubric,
  • title of book, and
  • student name.

16

 

Text Quotations/Passages

2 quotations included:

  • 3-6 sentences long,
  • page number, and
  • connects to the topic/story in a meaningful way.

12

 

Responses

 

 

2 responses included:

  • analysis,
  • reflection,
  • insight,
  • connections to class or forensic science connections in the outside world,
  • connections to other sources (texts, movies, or world events)
  • grammatically correct

24

 

Total points earned

48

 

 

Comments:
Forensic Science

Evidence Box Requirements

As a way of sharing what you’ve read with your class in a creative and entertaining way, you will be creating and presenting an evidence box!  Please Note:

  • The pieces of evidence do not have to presented as they occur chronologically in the book.
  • They do NOT have to be actual pieces of forensic evidence, for example, they can be a pieces of ‘evidence’ of a character’s personality, hobbies, etc.

If you chose to use actual pieces of forensic evidence, do NOT bring in any real weapons or anything dangerous! (Pictures will have to do!)

 

Requirements

Points Possible

Points Earned

General Format for Presentation
  • Read a short summary of your book.

3

 
  • Each piece of evidence was presented from the evidence box as student builds the story (without giving away the ending).

3

 
  • Share a brief opinion of the book to entice your classmates (especially if it is a mystery) without giving away the ending.

3

 

Evidence Box Materials/Visual Aids

Evidence Box contained at least 6-8 pieces of evidence.

6-8

 

Each piece of evidence was cleverly made/gathered/designed and presented so that it made the book easier to understand and hard to forget!  Evidence was connected directly to the plot. (1 point per piece, extra credit beyond 8)

 

6-8

 

Evidence box itself was creatively decorated to illustrate the theme of the book.

3

 

Student prepared and handed in note cards/prompts to help remind him/her of what to say for each piece of evidence.

3

 

Content

Shows an excellent understanding of the book and felt as if I read it myself!

3

 

Time

Project was completed on time and student was well prepared.

3

 

Presentation was 5-7 minutes in length.

3

 

Presentation Quality

Presentation was obviously rehearsed.

3

 

Student spoke clearly and distinctly throughout the presentation and with proper speed and volume.

3

 

Total points earned

42-46

 

Comments:

 


Forensic Science

Mystery Book Project Information Sheet

Due Week One, Day Two

 

Title: ____________________________________________________________

 

Author:___________________________________________________________

 

Copywrite Date: ____________________________________________________

 

Number of pages:_______

 

Fiction/non fiction? _______

Main Character: ____________________________________________________

 

Why did you chose this book? __________________________________________

 

_________________________________________________________________

 

_________________________________________________________________

 

_________________________________________________________________

 

_________________________________________________________________

 

_________________________________________________________________

 

Did you complete the chunking assignment? ___________________

 

How many pages must you be reading each night? ______________