Forensic Science Syllabus
Forensic Science: Dual Credit
Teacher: Sean Moore Location: Room 306 Email: [email protected]
Course Overview
This course covers introductory science processes using the content of forensics as a vehicle to establish an appreciation of the scientific method, critical thinking and problem solving. The basic processes of observing, collecting data, classifying, comparing, analyzing and forming hypotheses will be addressed using the concepts of forensics.
Units We Will Cover
Classroom Expectation
Maintain a SAFE and CLEAN environment.
Be PROACTIVE.
Engage your 4 P’s (soft skills)
No HORSE PLAYING during lab activities.
Any kind of HATE SPEECH (hate speech is speech which attacks a person or group on the basis of attributes such as race, religion, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, or gender) is unacceptable at any time.
Consequences
1st time: Warning
2nd time: A meeting with your teacher.
3rd time: C-Form
Grading System
Worksheets: 45%
Homework: 10%
Crime Report: 20%
Group Project: 5%
Midterm Exam: 10%
Final Exam 10%
Calculating semester grades:
1st Semester: 50%
2nd Semester: 50%
Full year: 100%
Late classwork and homework:
* One day late: 10% of the total grade will be deducted
* Three days late: 50% of the total grade will be deducted
* Five days (or more) late: Grade will be zero (0).
* Those who did not hand in assignments on time will receive a grade of 1 point for the assignment. Students will have five school days to complete their missing work. Once they complete the assignment, they will receive a deduction of a specific percentage pending how late it was submitted.
* Tests and quizzes cannot be made-up unless the student has an excused absence(s).
* If a student is tardy (unexcused), s/he cannot make up the daily warm-up assignment as well as any portion of a quiz, test, or assignment given during the time the student was absent from class.
* Assignments will NOT be accepted five days after the due date.
* Note: Unique and special circumstances may allow students to make up a quiz, test, and/or assignments based on the consideration and discretion of the teacher and/or administrator.
Writing Prompts (Discussion board): You will have an occasional weekly discussion board in Schoology. The teacher will post a question in the discussion board at the beginning of the week. You have until Wednesday to make a post and will have until Friday at 11:59pm to comment on two students’ posts in Schoology.
I expect you to conduct yourself in a proper manner (act like an adult). Do not participate in any of the following behaviors:
- Writing vulgar comments or any type of vulgar language. If you do, your post will be deleted and you will get a 0.
- Writing hateful comments to other classmates.
- Posting any inappropriate pictures. Any student that does this may lose credit for his/her assignment and the parents will be notified.
- Writing in ALL CAPS.
All written communication should contain correct grammar and sentence structure. Writing in “slang” or abbreviated words, such as when texting to friends, is not an acceptable format to email an instructor or post in high school.
Please do email me if you become sensitive or upset with any comments from each other.
Crime report:
The crime report will be due at the end of the first semester and be graded as the final exam. The majority of the 1st semester will be spent solving a crime and typing your crime lab report. This crime report will be graded separately by the instructor Tara Holaday and by the RIT professor Ms. Camille Ouellette to receive credits. More details will be provided in class. The crime report is worth 20% of the course grade.
Exams:
There will be two critical exams this year. Both will be closed-book and closed-notes. If you need to miss an exam, inform the instructor BY EMAIL before the exam. Alternative assignments will be determined on a case-by-case basis. Each exam is worth 15% of the course grade.
Portfolio:
You are expected to keep all your course materials, including assignments, notes, articles, lab activities, and tests in your Schoology.
Group Presentations: Students will select a well-known crime and present to their classmates, applying vocabulary and concepts we have learned in class. More details will be given during class.
Communication: Communication in the classroom, Schoology, and in all emails will be based on mutual respect. The instructor will facilitate communication and students are expected to communicate clearly to the best of their abilities.
Classroom Expectations: It is expected that everyone, instructor and students, will be respectful of each other at all times, both inside and outside of class. This includes paying attention when someone else is talking, putting away your phone during class, and being an active learner.
Videos: Media literacy is a vital component of this course and some of the video clips shown/television shows and movies analyzed will involve dramatic representation of criminal acts, crime scenes, and their investigation.
Lab Reports:
Lab reports are due 1 week after the lab experiment. (See the agenda for due dates). Any incomplete lab reports (missing parts of the lab) will be graded as is. Any late lab reports will receive 25% off for each week that it is late. A lab report submitted the day after it is due is considered 1 week late. Labs submitted 4 weeks after the due date will be scored as a zero. Your instructor will provide feedback on your lab report and will return your graded lab to you. If a redo is required (applies to labs #1 - #5 ONLY), you will submit your redo to the dropbox.
Absence Policy
* Per student handbook, missed assignments and/or tests/quizzes can be made up if the student has an excused absence. (See Grading Policy for more information).
* Students cannot make up work and/or tests/quizzes for unexcused absences.
* The student is responsible for communicating with the teacher regarding missed work and lectures/activities.
* Refer to the student handbook regarding the time allowed to make up and submit missed work.
* I will not offer opportunities for students to do extra credit assignments.
Supplies:
* Bring paper and pencil to class.
* Bring your iPad or Laptop & Charger (charge your iPad/laptop overnight).
Follow all Laboratory Safety Rules
* First offense = NO TOLERANCE, if you break a lab safety rule, you will sit out for the rest of the lab and receive a zero on your lab for an incomplete lab. If the violation is serious, you may be suspended from labs for a given amount of time to be determined by the teacher and principal (depending on the seriousness of the violation).
Lab Fee
* We encourage you to help contribute the cost of disposable lab materials and supplies used throughout the year. We gently ask for a $10.00 lab fee that will go directly toward science department funding.
Go to the restroom before or after class
* This is high school, and my students are now learning how to be adults. Class time is valuable, and I expect my students to go to the bathroom during the transitional time between classes, not during my class. I understand that sometimes going to the bathroom is an urgent matter, and I will grant permission at my own discretion.
Food and Drinks in the Classroom
* Students may eat and drink during class IF they agree to maintain their areas clean and dispose of trash appropriately. This is a privilege and may be revoked at any time by the teacher.
* Sunflower seeds are NOT permitted in class at any time.
* If a student spills something that stains or damages property (such as red Kool-Aid), the student will be responsible for paying for the cleaning costs and/or damages.
* Students are strongly encouraged to bring reusable water bottles to class.
Educational Trips
* The purpose of educational trips in this course are designed for two reasons: 1) to enhance the hands-on learning experiences and make real-world connections of content-based instruction from the classroom to the world and 2) as a motivation tool to reward students for positive reinforcement of learning.
*If a field trip is intended to enhance learning, students may not opt-out of participating. These educational trips are to be regarded to be the same as a regular class, thus the aforementioned absence policy & grade policy will apply. Note that the Academic Intervention Program (AIP) has specific rules regarding field trips for students who are placed in the program.
* For field trips designed to be reward activities (which are also linked to current learning), the teacher has the authority to make the determination of who can and cannot attend based on a clear set of individual and/or group goals that have been/have admission fees.
* Students will be required to actively work on a given/ assigned task(s) during class time if s/he misses any trip activity for any reason. The teacher will determine the location for the student to attend class and task(s) to be completed during that time.
not been met. Students are allowed to opt-out of these trips, but they must write a report to the teacher that includes the reason(s) s/he does not want to participate. Students are responsible for paying for his/her own meals/drinks and any other costs.
Copying/Cheating/Plagiarizing:
If two or more people turn in homework that has been COPIED from each of their grades will automatically be dropped to 0% for that assignment. You MAY work together in a group, but the answers must be IN YOUR OWN WORDS.
If I catch you CHEATING during a test, your grade will automatically be zero (0%) and a discipline report will be filled out. There will be no chance for make-up.
Plagiarizing is saying someone else’s work is yours. It is the same thing as lying or stealing. Students caught plagiarizing will be written up with the discipline to follow (usually ISS or a suspension). Plagiarizing includes cutting and pasting information directly from the internet. The grade for said “work” will be a zero (0%) with no chance of making it up. If you need help citing sources or are concerned about a specific assignment, please see me and I will help you!
Electronic Device:
Do not start using laptops/iPads when not prompted to and stay on task when using laptops/iPads.
1st Offense: Verbal Warning.
2nd Offense: A meeting with me in the hallway.
3rd Offense: Class C Form plus 30 minutes after school.
Contract:
I have read and understood the syllabus for this Forensic Science course. I understand how to contact the teacher if I have any questions or concerns.The contract will be available for students and parents to sign through Schoology.
(Note: Refusal to sign the syllabus does not mean you opt-out of following the requirements for this course )
CONTACT ME:
I am available most Mondays, Wednesday, and Thursday immediately after school. If you are in need of additional tutoring, I will be happy to set up something with you and/or your parents (if you are a day student). My email address is [email protected]. Please contact me if you have any problems or questions.
Thanks! I am looking forward to an EXCITING and FUN year of Forensic Science!