Forensic Science Ransom Note Handwriting Analysis Activity
Overview
Apply handwriting analysis techniques to a ransom note using suspect handwriting samples to use as testimony evidence in a court case. The findings will be used to convince a jury in a trial of a person’s guilt.
Forensic Science Ransom Note Handwriting Analysis Activity
LESSON DESCRIPTION
Ransom Note Analysis
Author of the Lesson: Amy Jewett
Lesson Summary/Overview: Apply handwriting analysis techniques to a ransom note using suspect handwriting samples to use as testimony evidence in a court case. The findings will be used to convince a jury in a trial of a person’s guilt.
LESSON GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
Alignment and Objectives
Content Standards:
HS-ETS1-2 Design a solution to a complex real-world problem by breaking it down into smaller, more manageable problems that can be solved through engineering.
W.11-12.1: Write arguments to support claims in an analysis of substantive
topics or texts, using valid reasoning and relevant and sufficient evidence.
Content Objectives:
Appy handwriting techniques learned to a ransom letter to find the guilty subject.
ELP Standards:
ELP.9-12.4
An ELL can construct grade-appropriate oral and written claims and support them with reasoning and evidence.
Language (ELP) Objectives: Argumentative essay to convince a jury using handwriting evidence to prove guilt.
Supporting Academic Language
Language Functions: Argumentation
Language Modalities: Writing
Vocabulary: Document analysis, document expert, exemplar, forgery, questions document
Syntax or Sentence Structure(s): CER Sentence starters
Discourse:
LESSON PREPARATION
Considerations
Prerequisite Knowledge and Skills: Students should be able to identify and apply the 12 characteristics of handwriting to handwriting samples. Students will already be familiar with the vocabulary and will be able to use it in proper context with analyzing handwriting samples.
Instructional Materials
Resources, Materials, and Technology required or recommended for the lesson:
- suspect’s handwriting exemplars- it is recommended that you get this before teaching the unit (having students write the 4th amendment after an exam is an idea)
- 1 ransom note per student (to start assignment have students write a ransom note in disguised handwriting)
- Student handout materials (written instructions, handouts, and rubric)
- Students will work with a partner
Learning Supports
Socio-emotional supports: Chunking of material to provide breaks for students to have an achievable goal each day.
Cultural & Linguistic Responsiveness: Ask questions that relate to students
- Have you ever tried to forge your parent’s signatures to get out of PE?
- How hard do you really think it is to forge a signature?
Accessibility:
Instructional Supports
Differentiation: Students may submit written lab report or a video testimony
L1 Supports: Translation
L2 Development (by level): Sentence starters, definitions
LESSON PROCEDURES
Anticipatory Set/Motivation/Hook
Scenario: A ransom note was left for (insert teacher’s name) abducted cat. The police got a lead implicating six members of a group who were taken to the police station for questioning. The police asked each person to write down the 4th amendment. The police actually wanted a hand-writing sample from each suspect. It was important not to tell them that a handwriting sample was being collected because then the suspects might not write normally or spontaneously. When the police obtained all six handwriting samples and the ransom note, they called in a renowned handwriting expert (YOU!) to analyze the ransom notes and the six suspect notes.
Time: 5:00 minutes
Teacher Does/Students Do: Explain to students that you are being hired to solve this crime, you don’t want to end up with a hung jury. Make sure that you are convincing in your evidence of who is guilty.
Guided Instruction (Teacher-to-Student Joint Responsibility)
Time: 30 minutes
Teacher Does/Students Do:
Have students study the ransom note first. Go through the first couple of handwriting characteristics together, reminding where to find examples of each. The first handwriting characteristic is line quality, ask them is the letter flow or are they shaky?
Group Application (Student-to-Student Joint Responsibility)
Time: 60 minutes
Teacher Does/Students Do:
Students will analyze all the suspect handwriting samples and compare them to the ransom letter. They will need to analyze a minimum of 6 examples, the rest can be eliminated using a brief statement. This is time-consuming and it is important that students know they need to split up the work and to have good verbal communication with each other to find the guilty subject.
Individual Learning (Independent Practice and Application)
Time: 45 minutes
Teacher Does/Students Do:
Using each partner's findings, each student will need to write an argumentative science essay convincing a jury of who wrote the ransom letter using direct evidence from the team’s analysis.
ASSESSMENTS
Formative Assessment
data collected from handwriting analysis
Plans for Summative Assessments
Written Lab Report or Video Testimony
EXTENSIONS
Ideas for Key Assignments, Extensions, and Adaptations for Online Learning Environments:
Read about famous forgeries: https://www.history.com/news/historys-most-famous-literary-hoaxes