Ms. C.

Goff
Email: cgoff1@mcpss.com
School Phone: 251-221-3186
Forensic Science Course Syllabus 2016-17

Course Description: Forensic Science is the study and application of science to matters of law.
Prerequisites: The prerequisites for Forensic Science are as follows:
Junior or Senior status
Have taken and passed Physical Science and Biology
Signed parental consent

Course Outline:
1st Quarter
Week
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10

Topic
Crime scene responsibilities
Physical and witness evidence
Crime scene search and sketch
Fingerprint Patterns
Lifting Fingerprints
Forged Documents and counterfeiting
Hair and fiber evidence
Broken glass evidence
Tire and footprint tracks
Exam Review

2nd Quarter
Week
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19

Topic
Firearms and ballistics
Blood spatter evidence
DNA
Drugs
Poisons
Decomposition process
Skeletal remains
Arson and explosives
Exam Review

Grading System:
Grade Calculation
60% Tests
40% Labs/Class work/
Bell Ringers/Homework

Grading Scale
A = 90-100%
B = 80-89%
C = 70-79%
D = 60-69%
E = 59% or lower

Information Now (INOW):

All grades for classwork, homework, labs, activities, quizzes, and tests will be recorded on inow.mcpss.com
You should be provided with a username and password in order to login and view your grades. If you do not
know your username, you should contact Murphys office.
My Site:
Packets, Worksheets, PPTs, and video links can be found on my website:

http://thescienceboss.weebly.com/
Remind 101:
If you would like to receive text message reminders of upcoming projects, tests, etc., you may sign up on your
phone using the following information: (Both parents and students are welcome to subscribe)

Enter this number: 81010

Text this message: @FSGoff
I will use this to send out reminders of due dates, projects, and tests!
(As well as links for helpful study materials or games)

Classroom Procedures and Rules:

All school rules and policies will be enforced in my classroom. Please see the student handbook to review what
is expected of you.
Be respectful to yourself, your classmates, and me
Be careful how you present yourself. Profanity and vulgar language portrays characteristics that are
not professional or appropriate for the classroom.
Come to class on time (this means BEFORE the tardy bell rings) All tardies will be marked in the
computer. Unexcused tardies may result in a 0 on the Bell Ringer.
Listen and follow directionsits not hard, youve done it for at least 12 years now!
Be an active participant in class! Ask questions, answer questions. Email me if you need something.

Because the class is also used as a lab from time to time, food on lab days is
prohibited. Also, outside food obtained from off-campus locations is strictly
prohibited and WILL BE TAKEN UP AND THROWN AWAY! (Ex: Foosacklys, hot wings,
chili dogsany hot/smelly food item) In addition to wanting this room treated as a
lab, I do NOT want a smelly classroom and will hold you to these standards.
Behavior Consequences:
Tutoring: I will be available by appointment for tutoring or help. My planning is 5th period. Students may not
show up to my class without previously getting WRITTEN or EMAILED approval from their 5 th period teacher
and confirmed it with me. Upon request, I can stay after school on Fridays or be here before school any day
with an advance notice.
In accordance with Murphys behavior and consequences plan, I will follow the PBIS form documentation for all class
behavior issues. If you need more detail about the PBIS program, please check our website, contact me, Mr. Boyce, or
Ms. Johnson.

Attendance, Absence, and Make-Up Policies:

Come to class! You are expected to attend class daily, on time, prepared and ready to learn. We will be doing
labs/ activities frequently and it is essential that you be present for them. These labs/activities are fun and
hands on so you wont want to miss them!
If you miss a lab, you will not be able to make it up. An alternate assignment will be given.
If you are tardy without an excuse, you will receive a zero on your Bell Ringer and not be allowed to
make it up.
Being absent from class for 15 minutes or more is considered skipping. I will follow this.
A blank grade in the grade book, or one with an asterisk, indicates that it is dropped and does not need
to be made up. This would be for excused absences or field trips and is at my discretion.
I understand that absences are unavoidable at times. If you are aware of an upcoming absence, please let me
know so I can document it and see if there are any materials you can get ahead of time. In the event of any
absence, it is your responsibility to find out what you missed when you return.
A grade of 1 (incomplete) will be assigned to all missed work, including tests and

quizzes, until the work is made up.

You are responsible for all notes, classwork, and homework missed. You may go to my website (listed above)
for notes or get them from a classmate. If you are absent with a valid excuse, you will have 1 week after your
return to class to complete all missed work for full credit.
After 1 week, your grades for those assignments will be zeroes and you WILL NOT be able to make
them up. NO EXCEPTIONS.
If you cannot get your makeup work completed in one week, you did not find it important and therefore do
not deserve a grade comparable to those students who completed it in a timely manner.
If you are absent for a test or quiz, you must make it up within 1 week of your return to class unless
otherwise discussed with me.
Make-up tests will be done before school any day, after school on Fridays, during 5th period planning or by
appointment.

**Skipping is not an excused absence and will therefore result in a grade of ZERO
every single time. This includes tests, quizzes, labs, and classwork. If you skip,
you fail that classes assignments. You cannot make up the test.**
Keep in mind 15 min tardies or breaks (RR, errands, etc) out of the classroom are considered skipping and will follow
the same rules

Retesting:
If you fail a test, you will have the opportunity to retake that test. I reserve the right to make make-up tests
and quizzes differently from the regularly scheduled test/quiz. I will try to keep the difficulty similar to the
original test, but it will definitely be a different version. It is to your benefit to take tests and quizzes on the
scheduled days. Should you want to retake a test you must put, in writing, the test you wish to take and what
review or learning you did/will do to ensure an improved score. Upon approval, you will need to schedule your
retake test with me.
The higher of the 2 tests will be recorded with 70-C being the absolute highest score you can earn. You will
have 1 week after I return your original test to request a retake. If you make a grade between 61 and 69, you
may retest as well, but the same 70-C grade rule applies.

Academic Honesty:
In the first instance of cheating, any guilty person (the one copying the work and the one who offered the
work) will receive a zero for the work involved. If a student is caught cheating on a test, they will receive a
zero and will NOT BE ABLE TO RETEST. Subsequent cheating will result in disciplinary action that may lead to
suspension, expulsion, and/or the loss of credit for the class.

Use of an electronic device (cell phone, tablet, etc) during testing will result in a zero with no
possibility for retesting.
Planning and Conference Times:
I understand that individual meetings and conferences are sometimes necessary. I encourage you and your
parents to contact me if a meeting is needed, email is the preferred method. My planning period is each day
during 5th Block. I am able to meet from 1:10PM to 2:15PM during my planning period or after school. You or
your parents are also welcome to schedule a meeting or conference with me via e-mail or phone call. I am
always willing to make myself available if needed!
If parents or guardians show up during school hours without scheduling a meeting, there is no guarantee that I
will be able to stop what I am doing to see them. Please try to call or email at least 1-2 days before hand and
set up a time that works for the both of us.
Fees:
This course involves several labs and activities that give the students hands on experience in the field of
Forensic Science. In order to purchase the supplies necessary for our labs and activities, we ask that each
student turn in a lab fee of $10.00 to cover the cost. It is much appreciated and will be used solely for
educational purposes.

Permission to Take this Course:

Please understand that Forensics can talk about uncomfortable subjects such as murder, sexual abuse, child
abuse, drugs, weapons, and more. For this reason, it is a course intended for junior and senior students only.
At times, we will show pictures or watch videos of crime scenes. Sometimes, there are violent scenes or
graphic content of a sexual nature.

Please sign below acknowledging the course content and allowing your child to participate in this course

__________________________________________________________
Last Name

First Name

___________
Block

Forensic Science Release/Acknowledgement Form:

I/We have read the above syllabus and understand the expectations of the class. I understand the content matter
and both myself and my parent/guardian approves of my participation. By signing below, we are accepting the
challenges and responsibilities of this Forensic Science course:

_______________________________________________________________________
Parent/Guardian Signature
Date

________________________________________________________________________
Student Signature
Date

Parent/Guardian/Emergency Contact Information:

Name: ___________________________________
Phone: __________________________________
Email: ___________________________________

I prefer to be contacted by:

Phone

Email

It is okay to text me if I do not answer my phone: Yes

No

Alternate contact number/person: ___________________________________________________