Level: Grades 10-12

About the Author: Aaron Bawn

Duration: 4-6 hours

Overview

This lesson encourages students to analyze the forensic science crime drama as a television show genre. Students will evaluate previous knowledge of criminal investigations, how they have acquired this knowledge and the role the media plays in teaching such information. Students will develop a basic understanding of how to categorize a television show based on genre, as well as unique characteristics about forensic science crime dramas as a genre of television. Students will then research and present various topics associated with forensic science both on television and in the actual criminal justice system to obtain an understanding of the discrepancies between the two. Finally, students will use what they have learned to develop a forensic science crime drama of their own.    

Learning Outcomes

Students will demonstrate the ability to:

• understand what a forensic crime drama is
• learn how to watch and evaluate the images shown to them in forensic science crime dramas
• understand why forensic science crime dramas promote misconceptions
• learn to ask questions regarding the representation of the justice system on television

This lesson and all associated documents (handouts, overheads, backgrounders) are available in an easy-print, pdf kit version.