Course Syllabus

Forensics_Syllabus.docx

Forensic Science: 2020-2021

Ms. Treviño

Room 326

 

Contact Information: 

  • Email: jennifer.trevino@redoakisd.org
  • Phone: 972-617-3535 ext: 6326
  • Conference: 4th period (11:10 am -11:50 am)
  • Zoom Meeting ID: 893 295 6970
  • Remind code: @ trevinofo

 

Course Description:

Forensic Science is a course that introduces students to the application of science to connect a violation of law to a specific criminal, criminal act, or behavior and victim. Students will learn terminology and procedures related to the search and examination of physical evidence in criminal cases as they are performed in a typical crime laboratory. Using scientific methods, students will collect and analyze evidence such as fingerprints, bodily fluids, hairs, fibers, paint, glass, and cartridge cases. Students will also learn the history and the legal aspects as they relate to each discipline of forensic science.

 Materials: 

  • 1 pair of safety goggles (not required, but you may want your own pair)
  • Chromebook/ laptop (assigned by district)
  • Scientific (or Graphing) Calculator
  • Pencils/Pens
  • Colored pencils
  • Folder
  • Spiral/Notebook for taking notes
  • Loose leaf paper

 

Classroom Policies and/or Procedures:

  1. Respect everyone and everything in the classroom.
  2. Be prepared - All are expected to arrive on time with the proper materials needed for the day's activities.
  3. Be in the right place, at the right time, doing the right thing, with the right materials.
  4. No eating or drinking in the classroom/lab.
  5. Follow all school policies and procedures reflected in the Student Handbook.
  6. Attendance is vital in receiving credit. Regardless of grade, you must be here 90% of the time.
    1. Virtual learners must check in daily.
  7. Follow all prescribed safety procedures during labs including wearing provided safety equipment. Prior to working on lab experiments, students must successfully complete a Lab Safety Contract.  
    1. The Lab Safety Contract is on Canvas under the Module section.
  8. Students are to be attentive and actively engaged in their learning.
  9. If your grade for the six weeks is below an 80, I recommend you attend tutoring. Tutoring will be available in person, virtually, and by appointment.
  10. Six weeks grades are established by the following calculation: 50% tests/projects, 50% classwork. 
  11. If you are absent for any reason, you will be given 5 days to turned in the missing assignment. Make up assignments will be in Canvas. If you know you will be absent, make sure to look in Canvas for the assignment you will miss.
  12. Students are not to use cell phones for anything in class other than educational purposes. Students will be subject to having cell phones taken if they are used for recreational purposes.

 

Lab Equipment: 

If lab equipment is broken due to carelessness or willful destruction, the student must pay for replacement cost in addition to any disciplinary actions.

Tutoring:

Tutoring will usually be available face to face and virtually Monday through Thursday from 4:10pm – 4:40pm or by appointment.

 

Major Concepts:

 

  • Role of Forensic Science in the Criminal Justice System
  • Searching & Documenting a Crime Scene
  • Collecting & Processing Evidence
  • Glass, Paint, Hair, Fiber, & Textile Evidence Analysis                
  • Fingerprints
  • Impressions & Tool Marks
  • Firearms and Ballistics
  • Counterfeiting, Forgery, & Handwriting Analysis
  • Serology & Blood Analysis
  • DNA Analysis
  • Toxicology, Drugs, & Alcohol
  • Death Investigations
  • Anthropology

 

 

Academic Dishonesty:

Students found to have engaged in academic dishonesty shall be subject to grade penalties on assignments or tests and disciplinary penalties in accordance with the Student Code of Conduct. Academic dishonesty includes cheating or copying the work of another student, allowing others to cheat or copy from you, unapproved use of technology including cell phones, plagiarism, and unauthorized communication between students during an examination. The determination that a student has engaged in academic dishonesty shall be based on the judgment of the classroom teacher or another supervising professional employee, taking into consideration written materials, observation, or information from students.

  • For major assignments such as tests, projects or quizzes, the student will receive a zero at that time but will be given the opportunity on a date and time to be determined by the teacher to complete an alternative assignment for a grade no higher than a 70.
  • For daily work a student will receive a zero with no opportunity to make up the assignment.

Cheating and plagiarizing includes both the person doing the cheating or plagiarizing and will also include the person that they copied or plagiarized from if it is determined that this person allowed it to take place.