Honors Forensic Science Zebulon B.

Vance High School

Ms. Erica Shade- Classroom G207
E-mail: ericad.shade@cms.k12.nc.us

Phone: (704) 900-1846.

Website: shadessciencepage@weebly.com
Available for Conferences:
Monday and Wednesday: 1:00 pm. To 2:00 pm.
Hello! I am Ms. Shade and I am incredibly excited to work with you this semester! It is my sincerest hope that
come the end of the semester, you will be thinking, speaking, and performing like scientists!
Course Description:
1. First Things First: What is Forensics?
In this innovative and investigative course, you will use scientific skills and processes in order to investigate the
role of a forensic scientist and to explore the solution of various crimes. Throughout the semester, you will learn
and become familiar with the skills, equipment and technology needed to analyze crime evidence and research the
importance of physical evidence in order to interpret the sequence of events at a crime scene. In addition, you will
learn how to apply knowledge of evidence and testing in order to interpret and evaluate the forensic results of
documented criminal cases.
2. Big Goals:
By the end of the semester, I expect that:
- 100% of students will achieve 80% mastery in every core objective
- 100% of students will achieve 90% mastery on scientific vocabulary quizzes
- 100% of students will take responsibility over their own education.
- 100% of students will have a clearer picture of what they want to do after graduation.
3. What is Expected of Me?
My expectations of you are very simple and can be summed up in one word: mutual R-E-S-P-E-C-T and put forth
your very best effort.
4. What Will I Need for Class?
- Binder
- Loose leaf paper, college ruled (for taking in-class notes)
- Writing utensils (mechanical pencils or blue/black ink pens)
- Index cards or create a Quizlet
- Tab Dividers
5. What Will I Learn This Semester?
Quarter 1 and Quarter 2
Unit 1: Processing the Crime Scene
Unit 8: DNA Analysis
Unit 2: Forensic Pathology
Unit 3: Forensic Anthropology

Unit 9: Document Analysis

Unit 10: Arson and Explosives

Unit 4: Crime Scene Analysis (pt 1)

Unit 5: Hair & Fibers

Unit 11: Firearm Identification & Ballistics

Unit 12: Other Impressions

Unit 6: Toxicology & Drug Analysis

Unit 13: Blood & Blood Splatter

Expectations:
In my classroom students will be expected to adhere to school and classroom behavior policies at all times. This
includes the following, but is not limited to:

Be respectful, responsible for your own learning and an active participant.

No Cell phone Use (unless otherwise instructed for classwork)
Try, try, try, try again
Our classroom will be a place where each of you will be expected to RESPECT yourself, your teacher, and your
classmates. We are a team and will engage in many activities in class that will require teamwork efforts. In order to
have learning that implements fun, interactive activities, we must all work together to achieve our learning goals. I
challenge each of you to work hard and be a part of this exciting adventure we are about to embark on together!
Bell Schedule
Block 1: 7:15 - 8:55
Block 2: 9:00 10:30
Block 3: 10:35 12:35
A Lunch: 10:35
B Lunch: 11:15
C Lunch: 12:10
Block 4: 12:40 2:15

Mid-progress report dates

Quarter 1. September 27-28
Quarter 2 .December 5-6
Quarter 4 .February 27-28
Quarter 5 .May 17-18
Report card dates
Quarter 1. November 10
Quarter 2 .February 3
Quarter 3 .April 19
Quarter 4 . June 9 *Mailed

Evaluation
The course projects, presentations, and examinations will be evaluated throughout each quarter. In addition,
students will be expected to participate in all class activities. Participation will be graded by binder checks for
work that is to be completed in class such as warm ups and participation in group discussions and activities.
Grading Policy
Grading Scale
A
B
C
D
F

90-100
80-89
70-79
60-69
Below 60

(Percentages set by CMS)

Grading Weights
Formal Assessments: 70%
Exams (Unit Exams, Mideterm, Final), Projects, Labs
Informal Assessments: 30% Participation (Classwork),
Homework, Quizzes

Retests and Mastery

(set by CMS)
Students who fail to score at least
79% on formal assessments (tests) will
be given a chance to RETAKE the
TEST ONCE. Students MUST
attend tutoring or provide supplied
make up work prior to retesting. The
maximum score for the retest is an
80%.

Homework

10% 10%
Quizzes Unit Exams
10%
10%

Midterm/Final

20%
Participation

Labs40%

Tracking
Data tracking is very important to
success how can you know where
youre going if you dont know
where you started?
I do track overall mastery on each
objective we cover in class and I
expect you to do the same. More
information will be provided soon!

7. Just So Were ClearPolicies and Procedures

Homework Policy
The purpose of homework is to ensure you have enough practice to be successful. Homework will be posted
on the board daily. Please place homework in the in-block-bin as you enter the classroom each day. Some
homework will be collected and corrected, while other homework will only be checked for completeness. Please
note, homework needs to be in the bin before the bell rings. If homework is not in before the bell, it will be counted
as late and will not receive full credit.
Late Work: It is very important for students to get work in on time, but sometimes situations arise that make it
difficult. I always accept late work, however, students will lose a maximum of 10 points off of their grade per day
that the assignment is late. On the 5th day the assignment will receive a maximum grade of 50% in the Gradebook.

If the student is absent, it is his/her responsibility to get their work from a peer or come to me.
Tutoring: Tutoring outside of normal school hours will be offered on an as needed basis per my availability. I
will often build time into the class period to re-loop and tutor during independent practice.
Tardy Policy:
The Vancy tardy policy is upheld and enforced in this class.
Absence Policy: what to do if you MUST miss class
If you are absent, it is YOUR RESPONSIBILITY to make up the work you missed. You can find missed work on
the absent wall by date. Be sure to get missed notes from a classmate. After 5 days the work will be removed from
the wall and reset for the next week
Cheating Policy:
CHEATING WILL NOT BE TOLERATED! This included copying class or homework from classmates/lab group
members. You are encouraged to collaborate with your group members but copying is cheating.
If you are caught cheating you will receive no credit for the assignment and your parent will be contacted.
Subsequent infractions will result in an administrative referral.
Cheaters never win and winners never prosper!
Class Procedures:
**abbreviated, subject to change
PROCEDURE
SPECIFIC STEPS
- Class begins the moment you enter the door, not at the bell.
Entering the
- Pick up handouts on the table upon entering.
classroom
- Walk silently to your seat and immediately begin your Do Now
- Escort only

Bathroom

Expectations for
Talking

Absent Wall

Exiting the
classroom

When working independently, there will be no talking.

12 inch voices during partner/group work.
Academic voice during presentations.
For all group work, conversations must be on task and related to the current
assignment or task.

Raise hands and wait to be called on for any questions or if you need to get out of your
seat for any reason. Each individual deserves to be heard so only one person speaks at a
time.
- If you missed a day please check the Absent Wall at the END of class or during
scheduled breaks in class.
- The Wall is organized by date
- You will have until Friday to turn missing work in, after Friday all assignments
will be removed and reset to the upcoming week
- The bell does not dismiss you, I do
- In order for the class to leave on time, the classroom must be clean and all
materials must be put away. All students should be at their desks.
- Give Ms. Shade a fist bump as you exit!
- Place question, comment, or concern notes in the box
- Also put assignments in the bin for grading

8. A Few Final Things

Binder Checks. Binder checks will be completed at random intervals throughout the semester. The purpose of this
is twofold: first, I want to make sure that you are keeping a well-organized and complete binder. Successfully
doing so will make studying for your tests a lot easier. Second, to help you be prepared for post-Vance life
keeping a neat and orderly binder is an important skill to have in college!
I will look for:
Syllabus in the front of your notebook.
Completed table of contents
All assignments COMPLETED and in APPROPRIATE LOCATION.
Be sure to keep all work in your binder, as you will not receive multiple copies. Binder checks will count towards
a participation grade.
Getting In Contact with Ms. Shade
- Check out the class website and your email for important class information:
- Tutoring is available after school on ______________ or you can make an appointment if you need
additional help
- If you need homework help, please use the asking rule of 3 ask three classmates before you come to me
(we will start a GroupMe)
o If you are absolutely stumped, you can schedule a tutoring session or call me at (704) 900-1846.
Please note that I will only accept calls from 3-7:30pm.
o If you do call, please use the following script:
Good evening Ms. Shade, this is (first and last name) calling from your (what block?) class. I have asked
(friend 1), (friend 2), (friend 3) for help on (assignment, question number) and I am still stumped. Can
you help me?

Early Release Days

October 12
January 13
March 1
April 26

Fall Break

Winter Break

Spring Break

November
23-25

December 22January 2

April
10-14

Vance High School

Honor Code 2015- 2016
Cheating: A student will not lie or cheat.
Violating the rules of honesty by using unauthorized assistance, aids, or other material, such as but not limited to
plagiarism, copying another students test or assignment, text messaging, using formulas in calculators, cheat sheets,
cell phones, iPods, etc., in the carrying out of an academic assignment. Students are expected to follow the rules set
by the individual course instructor as presented in a course syllabus, verbal directions, or posted rules (CMS Student
Rights & Responsibilities Handbook).
Plagiarism:
Plagiarism is the use of another persons work (this could be his or her words, products or ideas) for personal
advantage, without proper acknowledgement of the original work, and with the intention of passing it off as ones
own work. Plagiarism may occur deliberately (with the intention to deceive) or accidentally (due to poor
referencing). It encompasses copying material from a book, copying and pasting information from the World Wide
Web, receiving help from unauthorized sources on coursework [. . .] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plagiarism)
Forgery:
The intent to mislead others by falsifying a signature in an academic matter (CMS
Student Rights & Responsibilities Handbook).
Staff member (major violation)
Parental (minor violation)

Major Violations: (NOT the result of misunderstandings blatant intent to deceive.)

First Offense:
Conference with student and notification of occurrence to parent/guardian
Student will receive a zero on the assignment with no opportunity for make-up/redo
No opportunity for extra-credit in that course for the remainder of the quarter (per discretion of the teacher)
Referral to Administration
Second Offense:
All the above for First Offense
One (1) day ISS/OSS (per discretion of Administration)
No participation in extra-curricular activities for two consecutive semesters
Third and Consecutive Offenses:
All the above for First Offense
Three (3) days ISS/OSS (per discretion of Administration)

Minor Violations:
(Unintentional beyond a reasonable doubt.)
First Offense:
Conference with student and notification of occurrence to parent/guardian
Student will receive a zero on the assignment with opportunity for make-up/redo left to the discretion of the
instructor.
Second et. al.
Treat as a first major offense and continue levels of consequences in Major Violation category.
Examples of Major Violations
Examples of Minor Violations
Use of cheat sheets
Forgery of parent/guardians signature
Forgery of staff members signature
Sentences or phrases without proper citation
Plagiarism of portions of essays (either by BLOG,
Refusal to sign Honor Code
purchased essay, or email, etc.)
Providing answers or discussing the contents of a test
Copying homework/lab assignments
with another student
Use of electronic devices to communicate answers, i.e.
iPods, phones, calculators, etc.
Taking pictures of assessments with a camera phone
Messaging someone with transfer of information by
ANY means

We strive for EXCELLENCE, not perfection!

Please return this page to Ms. Shade

We have read and understand the policies set forth in the class syllabus by Ms. Shade and agree to adhere
to them. We fully understand that communication with Ms. Shade is welcomed and encouraged should
any situation arise. We also agree to help make this, the BEST year EVER!
Student Name _________________________

Block ___ Signature_____________________ Date____

Parent Name _____________________________ Signature _________________________ Date _____

Parent Name _____________________________ Signature _________________________ Date _____

(h/c) Phone (_____) ______-_________ Email: _________________________@_____________.com

(w) Phone (_____) ______-_________ Email: _________________________@_____________.com
Student allergies: ____________________________________________
Dear Ms. Shade,
I would like you to know

Honor Pledge:
As a member of the Vance community, I commit myself to act honestly, responsibly, and above all, with honor and
integrity in all areas of student life. I am accountable for all that I say and write. I am responsible for the academic
integrity of my work. I pledge that I will not misrepresent my work nor give or receive unauthorized aid per my
instructors classification. I am respectful of school property and the property of others (albeit written, verbal,
photographic, etc.). I will not tolerate a lack of respect for these values.
I have read and understand the Vance Honor Code, and I will not cheat on any assignment.
_____________________________________________________________________________
Student Signature
ID#
Date

_____________________________________________________________________________
Parent/Guardian Signature
Date