What’s on your floor? (CRJ180 Forensic Science)

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Due Date: 11:59 pm EST, Sunday of Unit 4
Points: 100

Overview:

What types of trace evidence can be found in your home? For this assignment you are
going to collect what is on your floor and examine it to determine what could be done
with it if it was evidence recovered at a crime scene.

Instructions:

• Find an area in your home where there is trace evidence. This includes hairs,

fibers, soil, glass and paint. Look for dust bunnies in a corner, vacuum up a

portion of a rug, or sweep up an area.

• Look at the hairs, fibers and soil, etc. that are present in this trace evidence

sample.

• Where in your house can you collect samples of known items for comparison?

Should you collect hair from your dog? Cat? Your own head? Did you find fibers

like those in items of clothing you wear? Is there dirt present which could come

from your yard?

• Make a list of the items you found and the “known” samples you could compare

them to.

• Write a short answer to the question: How could this trace evidence assist in an

investigation?

Requirements:

• Submit a Word document in APA format.

• Maximum three pages in length, excluding the Title and Reference pages.

• At least two resources.

Be sure to read the criteria below by which your work will be evaluated before
you write and again after you write.

CRJ180 – Introduction to Forensics

What’s on Your Floor?

Evaluation Rubric for What’s on Your Floor? Assignment

CRITERIA Deficient Needs
Improvement

Proficient Exemplary

0 – 17 points 18 – 23 points 24 – 29 points 30 points

Samples List of
household
items not
clearly listed or
incomplete and
not accurately
compared.

List of
household
items
somewhat
clearly listed
and somewhat
accurately
compared.

List of
household
items mostly
clearly listed
and mostly
accurately
compared.

List of
household
items clearly
listed and
accurately
compared.

0 – 20 points 21 – 27 points 28 – 34 points 35 points

Trace
Evidence
(short answer
question)

Does not cover
the assigned
topic;
assertions are
not supported
by evidence;
paper is
seriously
lacking in
content and
detail.

Does not do an
adequate job of
covering the
assigned topic;
assertions are
weakly
supported by
evidence.

Sufficient
coverage of the
topics; most
assertions are
supported by
evidence.

Provides in-
depth coverage
of the topics,
assertions are
clearly
supported by
evidence.

0 – 5 points 6 – 7 points 8 – 9 points 10 points

Resources 0 resources 1 resource 2 resources More than 2
resources

Paper Length More than 3
pages

n/a n/a 3 pages or less

0 – 8 points 9 – 11 points 12 – 14 points 15 points

Clear and
Professional
Writing and
APA Format

Errors impede
professional
presentation;
guidelines not
followed.

Significant erro
rs that do not
impede
professional
presentation.

Few errors that
do not impede
professional
presentation.

Writing and
format are
clear,
professional,
APA compliant,
and error free.