Forensics & Criminal Behavior


Spring Quarter Assignments

Be certain to check the schedule page to find specific assignment due dates.

Criminal Justice Debates ...There will be debates on the Wednesdays of weeks five and nine.  In week five we will debate “Should the death penalty be abolished?” and “Should DNA samples from all convicted felons be kept in a national DNA database?”  For week nine we will debate “Should repeat sex offenders be chemically castrated?” and “Should juveniles charged with first degree murder be tried as adults?”  Each student will research both sides and prepare for two debates, one for week five and one for week nine. (Assignment Description)

Topic Sign-up (week 1)
Annotated bibliography for debate topic # 1 (week 5)
Organized arguments for debate topic # 1(week 5)
Observer response form (week 5)(form)
Annotated bibliography for debate topic # 2 (week 9)
Organized arguments for debate topic # 2(week 9)
Observer response form (week 9)(form)

From the Seminar ...During spring quarter we will be reading, reflecting on, and discussing several texts in our exploration of the criminal justice system. Seminar is a cornerstone of your Evergreen education. To get the most out of this experience, you must complete your readings and assignments well before seminar and bring a copy of that week’s readings to class. An assignment will be due for at each seminar meeting.   Some of the readings can be found on reserve in the library. (Assignment Guidelines)

Seminar Week 1: “O.J. Simpson (1994):  When money met science.” (closed reserve)
Seminar Week 2: Proof Positive by Phillip Margolin
Seminar Week 3: True Blue by Randy Sutton
Seminar Week 8: Courtroom 302 by Steve Bogira
Seminar Week 9: Going up the River:  Travels in a Prison Nation by Joseph Hallinan
Seminar Week 10: Preventing Violence by James Gilligan

From the Field Trips and Guest Speakers ...A great deal of the class meetings this quarter are field trips and presentations by guest speakers.  Because of the wealth of experience these experts in the field will bring to our program, these meetings are rich with learning opportunities.  To encourage you to get the most out of these lectures and field trips, we are requiring that you take the time to think about and write responses to each session.  You will need to take detailed notes during the lectures and field trips because your responses need to have direct quotes from the presentations as well as citations from program reading materials.  We want to encourage you to explore areas that provoke your interest and most encourage your individual learning.  You can investigate topics in your reflection log that are most interesting to you, but at a minimum you need to address the following questions:

Your reflection log needs to be typed.  Your entries should be filed chronologically.  Each entry should be at least a page long.  Your reflection log will be collected by your seminar instructor. Field trips may have an additional component to be included with your log.

Submission # 1 (week 4)
Submission # 2 (week 7)
Submission # 3 (week 9)
Prison Field Trip Reflection Assignment
Prison Field Trip Alternate Assignment (for those who did not go on the trip)
Submission # 4 (week 10)
 


Additional Items...Use the links below to find out more information about each assignment.

See the schedule page for assigned text readings
Homework Assignments from Criminal Justice Text (week 3)(week 6)
Peer Teaching (week 2, 3, 4, 6 & 7)(updated assignment)
Exam on the Criminal Justice System (week 8)
End of Program Exit Survey (week 10)
Completed Program Portfolio, Self Evaluations, Faculty Evaluations
(Portfolio Requirements: Rebecca, Sharon, Toska)

Crime Scene Project (16-credit only) ...This project combines forensic science and a variety of social science disciplines.  Student teams of 4-6 people will: (1) Invent a murder scene scenario including characters, backgrounds, and all the details. In addition, each member of the team is a suspect/witness to the crime. (2) Determine the evidence and props needed for the scene such as items to plant, personal items to enable criminal investigative analysis, medical examiner reports, etc. (3) Set-up the scene and plant evidence. (4) Investigate another team’s scene. (5) Be interviewed by the investigating team, while in character. (6) Interview and collect evidence from suspects and witnesses. (7) Complete laboratory analysis of all evidence. (8) Present  their case solution to the jury. (Assignment Description)( Lab Safety Manual)

There are a variety of things due for this project. Please see the "Assignment Description" for component descriptions and due dates.(Assignment Description)

Evaluation form for week three
Evaluation form for week five
Evaluation form for week seven
Evaluation form for week ten
Form for the Medical Examiner Report (female victim) (male victim)
Jury Form for week ten presentations

CSI: Evergreen at the Science Carnival (16-credit only) ...Each crime scene group will develop a lab-based or library-based presentation for students at Evergreen’s annual Science Carnival June 1st and 2nd (Friday and Saturday).  Your presentation will be either 20 or 50 minutes in length and will be given to a variety of age groups including elementary, middle, and high school students as well as members of the Olympia community.  Week 2 you will decide on a topic, week 3 you will choose a title and decide on other details of your presentation, week 5 you will practice in the lab, and week 9 will be your final presentations.

Workshop/Presentation Title, Outline, Supply List (week 3)
Workshop/Presentation Practice(week 5)
Revised Workshop/Presentation Plan and Supply List (week 5, end of day)
Presentations (week 9)


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Winter Quarter Assignments

Be certain to check the schedule page to find specific assignment due dates.

From the Persuasive Essay / Research Assignment ...You will use evidence from academic literature to argue persuasively about a controversial topic in criminology and forensic science. We are expecting You to spend a minimum of six hours each week engaged in research for your persuasive argument assignment.  If you find you are spending less than 6 hours a week on your research, you should increase your work efforts.  (Assignment Description)

Research Portfolio: (week 3)(week 8)
Copies of your Research Portfolio (week 5)
Thesis Statement and Seminar Participation(week 5)
Three Copies of your Intermediate Draft of the Persuasive Essay (week 6)
Peer Review of Intermediate Drafts (week 6)
Final Draft Persuasive Essay (week 8)

From the Seminar ...During winter quarter we will be reading, reflecting on, and discussing several texts in our exploration of forensic science and the sociology of race, class, gender, and crime. Seminar is a cornerstone of your Evergreen education. To get the most out of this experience, you must complete your readings and assignments well before seminar and bring a copy of that week’s readings to class. An assignment will be due every week during seminar.  These assignments vary week to week, although all assignments involve reading an entire text or a selection of text. Be sure to read each assignment description carefully. (Assignment descriptions are linked below.) Some of the readings can be found on reserve in the library.

Seminar Week 1: Death's Acre
Seminar Week 2: Barak et al. (2007) on social class
Seminar Week 3: Barak et al. (2007) on race
Seminar Week 4:The Search and Messerschmidt “’Boys will be Boys’ Differently”
Seminar Week 5: Persuasive argument seminar on research question
Seminar Week 6: Blanche on the Lam
Seminar Week 7: Barak et al. (2007) on intersections
Seminar Week 8: Profiling Violent Crimes:  An Investigative Tool
Seminar Week 9: Barak et al. (2007) “Conclusion” and “The Death of Innocents”

From the Laboratory...Hands-on laboratory work is essential to achieve an understanding of Forensic Science. In the process of working in the lab you will learn how to maintain a scientific laboratory notebook. (Laboratory Notebook Handout, checklist ) All experiments will be posted to the web and it is your responsibility to print out, read, and bring a copy to your lab session. (Lab Safety Manual)

Lab summary sheet/questions from Bucket Dig (week 1)
Lab notebook copies from Bucket Dig (week 2)
Lab summary sheet/questions from Revisiting Trace Evidence (week 2)
Lab notebook copies from Revisiting Trace Evidence (week 3)
Lab summary sheet/questions from Revisiting Hair Analysis and Blood ID(week 3)
Lab notebook copies from Revisiting Hair Analysis and Blood ID(week 4)
Lab summary sheet/questions from Evidence Collection Techniques (week 4)
Lab notebook copies from Evidence Collection Techniques (week 5)
Lab summary sheet/questions from Impressions and FTIR (week 6)
Lab notebook copies from Impressions and FTIR (week 7)
Lab summary sheet/questions from Fiber Analysis (week7)
Lab notebook copies from Fiber Analysis (week 8)
Lab summary sheet/questions from Firearms Analysis(week 9)
Lab notebook copies from Firearms Analysis (week 10)

Crime Scene Investigation ...You and two partners will investigate a crime using the forensic science and profiling tools you have acquired throughout the fall and winter quarters.  Your team will collect evidence at the scene, examine it in the lab, and attempt to solve the crime using both forensic science and profiling information. Your team will sign up or be assigned either a Thursday or a Friday during week 4, 5, or 6 to complete your crime scene evidence collection.  This will be a full day event.  (We will establish this schedule soon, so that those of you who work will be able to arrange with your employers to have your investigation day off from work.) (Assignment Description) There are additional readings associated with this assignment, be sure to look at the schedule closely.

Crime Scene Investigation (week 4, 5, or 6)

PACKET ONE:
(a) copies of 5 most revealing crime scene photos(week 5, 6, or 7)
(b) Individual observation/supposition exercise (week 5, 6, or 7)
(c) Team written introductory profile of victim and offender (week 5, 6, or 7)
(d) Crime classification type and number (week 5, 6, or 7)
(e) Criminal investigative analysis (week 5, 6, or 7)
(f) Suspect list and explanations (week 5, 6, or 7)
(g) List of Questions for the lead detective or the Medical Examiner(week 5, 6 or 7)
(c) List of Search Warrants (week 5, 6, or 7)


Evidence Analysis in the Laboratory (week 8)

PACKET TWO:
(a) Crime Scene Investigation Brief (week 9)[form to fill in]
(b) Profiling Critique (week 9)
(c) Crime scene photos, sketches, notes, evidence log (week 9)
(b) Lab notebook photocopies from all team members (week 9)


EVALUATION PACKET
evaluations: self, team members, assignment(week 9)[form to fill in]


Presentation (week 9)




Self-Selected Activity ...The material explored in this program can be disturbing. It is important to your faculty that you have a release activity. This outlet will be self-selected on the first day of class. This activity log IS NOT A JOURNAL: It is a log of what you did, who you did it with, and the frequency/duration of your activity. The self-selected activity assessment is a one-paragraph self-assessment of your activity choice: How is it helping you? If it is not, what do you need to change to get the most out of your time?

Self-Selected Activity Log and Assessment (week 4)(week 10)

Sociological Fieldwork ...You will actively examine how our society constructs criminality through race, class, and gender-based lenses through two field research assignments.  These observations will help you put into practice what you learn in the program lectures and readings.  Your assignments must be completed before you come to class, as they will form the basis of our activities that day.

Content Analysis Fieldwork Assignment (week 4)
Norm Violation Fieldwork Assignment (week 7)(workshop handout)

Additional Items...Use the links below to find out more information about each assignment.

See the schedule page for assigned text readings
Guest Speaker Questions (week 3)(week 9)
Time of Death Assignment from Corpse (week 2)
Percentage worksheet on race and imprisonment (week 3)
Case Study Quizzes (unannounced)
Forensic Midterm (week 5) (review sheet)
Comprehensive Final Exam (week 10)(criminology review)(forensics review)
Completed Winter Quarter Program Portfolio (Rebecca)(Sharon)(Toska)(week 10)




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Fall Quarter Assignments

Be certain to check the schedule page to find specific assignment due dates.

From the Research Project ...This group project is designed to provide you the opportunity to: improve your library research knowledge and skills; learn how to maintain a research portfolio; create an annotated bibliography; design a professional poster display of your work; present your work to peers. (Research Project Handout)

Research Question (week 2)
Research Portfolio (week 3)(week 5)(week 7)(week 10)
Annotated Bibliography (week 10)
Draft Research Poster (week 9)
Research Poster Presentations (week 10)
Research Summary (week 10)
Team evaluation (week 10)

From the Seminar ...During fall quarter we will be reading, reflecting, and discussing several texts in our exploration of the sociology of murder and forensic science. Each week's assignment description can be found on the links below. Reading the appropriate text is a part of each seminar assignment.

Seminar Week 1: CSI and the courtroom
Seminar Week 2: Post Mortem
Seminar Week 3: The Lure and the Law, Killers and Victims
Seminar Week 4: Explaining Murder
Seminar Week 5: Peer Teaching Strategy
Seminar Week 6: Going Nowhere Fast
Seminar Week 7: Coffin Dancer
Seminar Week 8: The Anatomy of Motive
Seminar Week 9: The Gift of Fear

From the Laboratory...Hands-on laboratory work is essential to achieve an understanding of Forensic Science. In the process of working in the lab you will learn how to maintain a scientific laboratory notebook. (Laboratory Notebook Handout, checklist ) All experiments will be posted to the web and it is your responsibility to print out, read, and bring a copy to your lab session. (Lab Safety Manual)

Lab notebook copies from Microscopy Lab (week 3)
Touch the glass (by Monday of week 4)
Lab notebook copies from Finger Print Lab Part 1 & 2 (week 5)
Lab notebook copies from Glass Analysis (week 6)
Lab notebook copies from Blood Analysis (week 7)
Lab notebook copies from Hair Analysis (week 8)
Lab notebook copies from Ink Analysis (week 9)

Lab notebook copies from Fiber Analysis (week 10)

Critical Thinking...Throughout the quarter there will be a variety of assignments designed to challenge your deductive reasoning and buff-up your quantitative and symbolic reasoning skills. Often these assignments follow-up on material from program workshops or are preparatory for future work.

Conversions and Ocular Calibrations (week 2)
Who Dun it Mystery I (week 3)
Rates & Percentages(week 4)
Conversion Revisited(week 5)
Graphing (week 6)
Who Dun it Mystery II (week 7)
Critical Thinking Review (week 8)

Self-Selected Activity ...The material explored in this program can be disturbing. It is important to your faculty that you have a release activity. This outlet will be self-selected and groups will be established on the first day of class. This activity log IS NOT A JOURNAL: It is a log of what you did, who you did it with, and the frequency/duration of your activity. The self-selected activity evaluation is a one-paragraph self-assessment of your activity choice: How is it helping you? If it is not, what do you need to change to get the most out of your time?

Self-Selected Activity Sign-up (week 1)
Self-Selected Activity Log (week 4)(week 7)(week 10)
Self-Selected Activity Evaluation (week 4)

Additional Items...Use the links below to find out more information about each assignment.

See the schedule page for assigned text readings
Guest Speaker Questions (week 3)(week 6)(week 9)(week 10)
Peer Teaching Lesson Plans/ Handouts/ Feedback forms (week 6)
Peer Teaching Concluding Exercises (week 6)
Potato Massacre Part 1 (week 6)
In class Forensic Quiz (10-23-06)
Potato Massacre Part 2 (week 10)
Crime Scene Observations (completed by monday of week 5)
Profiling from Crime Scene: Exercise & Follow-up (week 9)
Crime Scene Analysis Part 1 and Part 2 (week 10)
Final Exam--PRACTICE EXAM--(week 9)
(Actual Exam for W07 new members)

Created by Rebecca Sunderman (sundermr@evergreen.edu) .....Last Updated on 5-29-07

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