Forensic Science Class Guidelines

Instructor: Elizabeth Looper

elooper@mckinneyisd.net

EXPECTATIONS OF THE STUDENT:

Students taking Forensic Science must be able to read and comprehend at a high
school reading level, and have a working knowledge of Algebra 2 and pre-calculus.
Students must be self-disciplined and devote time outside of class to excel.
Disciplinary issues will be handled as stated in the student handbook. Following
all safety rules at all times is necessary while in the lab! If continuous problems
occur, consequences will follow.
A conference with parents/guardians may be
necessary.
Attendance is extremely important for students. You will miss valuable explanations
and lab activities with your peers if you miss class. Students who attend class
make better grades than those who do not attend regularly.
Get to know your Google drive. All assignments, notes, test reviews, extra credit
assignments will be found there. Know you HAC password to be able to check your
grades at least once a week.
TOPICS: Working a Crime Scene, Legal Systems, Trace Evidence, Fingerprints,
Impressions, Serology, DNA, Blood Spatter, Ballistics, Handwriting, Serial Killers,
Death, Entomology, and more!
TEXTBOOK:
The textbook for the course is Forensic Science: Fundamentals and Investigations,
(Bertino, Anthony, Bertino, Patricia 2016). Textbooks are printed in the
classroom and also available on google drive.
GRADING CATEGORIES:
Formative 30%
Formative assessments are designed to assess student learning throughout the
grading period. This category will include homework, quizzes, labs, daily
work, and notebooks. Notebooks will be graded in sections (1 notebook check
will have multiple grades).
Summative ..70%
Summative assessments are cumulative and designed to assess mastery throughout
the grading period. This will include major tests and projects.
NOTEBOOKS: Your notes and daily work will be compiled in a notebook that will be
graded at the end of each unit. YOU ARE ONLY ALLOWED ONE LATE NOTEBOOK and ONE
REDO NOTEBOOK GRADE PER SEMESTER. The deadline for the one late or redo
notebook per semester is the end of the following unit. For example, if you do
not turn in or need to redo your Unit5 Notebook, the deadline would be the Unit
6 test day.
ASSIGNMENTS:
Homework: Homework will be assigned as needed. If you do not keep up with your
homework, not only will it pile up, but you will not know if you understand the
material in time to do well on quizzes.
Laboratory Activities: You will be required to participate in every lab. Compliance
with all safety rules is expected at all times. Failure to comply with safety
rules will result in removal from lab, detention, and/or office referral.
Absences will require virtual labs to be made up online.

QUIZZES: You should expect one to three quizzes every unit. Quizzes are my way of
keeping track of your progress since this class builds upon previous knowledge.
It your responsibility to talk to me before getting the quiz if you feel you
should be exempt from taking the quiz due to absences.
TESTS: After the first test, all tests can contain cumulative material since
forensic science builds upon previous content. It is your responsibility to
talk to the teacher before getting the test if you feel you should be exempt
from taking the test due to absences.
MAKEUP WORK FROM ABSENCES:
Tests and assignments can be made up during after school tutoring hours.
tests will be different from the original

Make-up

RETAKES
If you are redoing your notebook for a better grade, you must redo the
assignments during tutoring time. Notebooks may not be redone at home. Only
ONE notebook redo is allowed per semester.
If you would like to retake any TEST, you may do so for up to an 80 during the
posted retake & makeup hours.
LATE WORK:
If an assignment is not turned in at the time it is due, 15 points will be deducted
for every day that it is late.
TUTORING:
Tutoring is available from 2:45 3:30 pm Tuesdays during the fall semester.
Additional times may be offered at the request of the student. Tutoring in the
spring will be by request only.
REQUIRED MATERIALS:
Pencils
Spiral notebook dedicated to this class only
Calculator that can perform scientific notation. (this may be checked out from
the library)
Please bring one of the following for class use: Box of tissues, Hand
sanitizer, Roll of paper towels
ACADEMIC DISHONESTY:
Working together and sharing ideas is often encouraged in this class. Written work
is expected to be individual and original (significantly different from another
students work, the textbook, internet source, etc.). Free responses on labs must
still be significantly different from anyone else, including your lab partner. If
you allow cheating to occur off your work, you will be subject to the same
consequence as the cheater.
The normal consequences will be no credit earned for
that assignment.
Proper test or quiz behavior is expected (eyes on own paper, stay in seat, no
sharing of calculators, all papers put away where they cannot be seen, no
electronics, etc.) Again, the normal consequence for improper behavior will be no
credit earned for that test or quiz.
Cell phones are not allowed on your body
during exams. If a cell phone is seen on your person during or after an exam or a
quiz, you will have your phone confiscated, turned in to the assistant principal and
you will be required to take a makeup for the assignment during tutoring hours.
There is no flexibility in or exceptions to this policy

FORENSIC SCIENCE
CLASSROOM GUIDELINES SIGNATURE
I understand the expectations for Forensic Science apply to me. I will live
up to the expectations set every time I am in class. I understand:
I will be required to keep a notebook that will be graded;
There is a limit to the number of late/redo notebooks I can turn in;
Every day an assignment is not turned in, 15 points will be deducted;
There are no quiz retakes; and
Test retakes are up to 80%
____________________________________
Student Name (printed)

___________________________________
Student Signature

I have read and discussed the Forensic Science classroom guidelines with my
son/daughter. I understand that parental support is critical for student
success in school, and I will make every effort to support the teacher.
____________________________________
Parent/Guardian Name (printed)

___________________________________
Parent/Guardian Signature

Please help me to contact you by making sure the school has your current email address and phone numbers. The best way to contact me is by e-mail.
Thank you,

Elizabeth Looper

Please bring the following materials:

MATERIALS Required:
Pencils
Spiral Notebook
Scientific notation calculator (this may be checked out from the
library)
Choose one of the following to bring in addition to the above required
materials:
Box of tissues
Hand sanitizer
Roll of paper towels