Unit Outline

Forensic science has long captured the public imagination as evidenced in crime dramas, documentaries, and podcasts. However, the representations do not always reflect reality. This unit introduces the emerging field of forensic studies, contrasting the fiction with the facts, exploring the forensic processes that influence police investigations, disaster victim identification, understandings of patterns of crime, and even crime prevention. It will highlight with a range of forensic disciplines and applications of forensic science and invite a critical analysis of some of the challenges of using forensic science effectively in practice. The unit is informed by scholarship on the role of science in society and framed around the tensions between science, medicine and law as alternative knowledge systems (epistemologies) in contemporary society.

Intended Learning Outcomes

As per the Assessment and Results Policy 1.3, your results will reflect your achievement against specified learning outcomes.

On completion of this unit, you will be able to:


1	Explain the role of forensic science in achieving justice.
2	Analyse the critical decision-making points in the use of forensic science in serious criminal investigations.
3	Assess the strengths and weaknesses of forensic disciplines and their use in criminal and civil investigations and court processes.
4	Communicate your ideas clearly, incorporating key elements of academic writing in criminology.

Requisites


REQUISITE TYPE	REQUISITES
Anti-requisite (mutual excl)	XBR205

Alterations as a result of student feedback

As a result of student feedback from the previous iteration of this unit, we have:

added an on-campus tutorial

adjusted the sequence of content to enhance the flow

retained the diversity of assessment tasks

Additionally, we have incorporated new content, readings and cases.

How will I be Assessed?

For more detailed assessment information please see MyLO.

Assessment schedule


ASSESSMENT TASK #	ASSESSMENT TASK NAME	DATE DUE	WEIGHT	LINKS TO INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES
Assessment Task 1:	Tutorial participation	Week 1	10 %	LO2, LO3, LO4
Assessment Task 2:	Forensic quiz	Week 4	20 %	LO1
Assessment Task 3:	Critical decision flowchart	Week 8	30 %	LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4
Assessment Task 4:	Position Paper	Week 14	40 %	LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4

Assessment details

Assessment Task 1: Tutorial participation

Task Description:

Weekly discussions and activities are designed to help you develop and apply interdisciplinary knowledge and critical thinking skills throughout the semester.

Due weekly throughout the semester.

Task Length:

Approximately 150-200 words per post

Due Date:

Week 1

Weight:

10 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Explain the role of forensic science in achieving justice.	LO2
2	Analyse the critical decision-making points in the use of forensic science in serious criminal investigations.	LO2
3	Assess the strengths and weaknesses of forensic disciplines and their use in criminal and civil investigations and court processes.	LO3
4	Communicate your ideas clearly, using evidence from unit materials.	LO4

Assessment Task 2: Forensic quiz

Task Description:

This task consists of online multiple-choice quizzes in Weeks 4 and 13. The quizzes contain 20 questions.
They are based on content from Weeks 1-3 and 9-12 respectively. Before attempting the quizzes, please ensure that you have engaged with the lectures and the set readings for these weeks.

Second quiz is due in Week 13

Task Length:

20-30 minute multiple choice online quiz (Weeks 4 and 13)

Due Date:

Week 4 (16/Aug/2024)

Weight:

20 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Identify aspects of forensic science and its use in society that influence its contribution to achieving justice. 1	LO1

Assessment Task 3: Critical decision flowchart

Task Description:

This task takes the form of a critical decision flowchart for a serious criminal case investigation and explanatory notes. Details of the case and further information about the task will be made available in MyLO.

Task Length:

A flowchart (1-2 pages) and explanatory notes of up to 1200 words.

Due Date:

Week 8 (19/Sep/2024)

Weight:

30 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Identify and justify critical decision-making points in a serious criminal investigation.	LO2
2	Discuss the role of relevant forensic disciplines at each critical decision-making point.	LO3
3	Develop a well-reasoned argument about the effectiveness of forensic science in achieving justice.	LO1
4	Present and discuss your ideas clearly.	LO4

Assessment Task 4: Position Paper

Task Description:

This task takes the form of a position paper. You will be asked to choose one topic from a range of options and present opposing arguments based on research evidence. You will be asked to take a position, which you justify using research evidence from unit readings and additional sources.

Task Length:

1500 words

Due Date:

Week 14 (31/Oct/2024)

Weight:

40 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Explain the role of forensic science generally or of a specific discipline (as relevant to the question chosen) in achieving justice.	LO1
2	Analyse the critical decision-making points in the use of forensic science in serious criminal investigations. This may include when and how forensic science/a forensic discipline would be most helpfully used.	LO2
3	Assess the strengths and weaknesses of forensic disciplines and their use in criminal and civil investigations and court processes.	LO3
4	Communicate your ideas clearly, incorporating key elements of academic writing in criminology.	LO4

How your final result is determined

To pass this unit, you need to demonstrate your attainment of each of the Intended Learning Outcomes, achieve a final unit grade of 50% or greater, and pass any hurdle tasks.

Submission of assignments

Where practicable, assignments should be submitted to an assignment submission folder in MYLO. You must submit assignments by the due date or receive a penalty (unless an extension of time has been approved by the Unit Coordinator). Students submitting any assignment in hard copy, or because of a practicum finalisation, must attach a student cover sheet and signed declaration for the submission to be accepted for marking.

Academic integrity

Academic integrity is about acting responsibly, honestly, ethically, and collegially when using, producing, and communicating information with other students and staff members.

In written work, you must correctly reference the work of others to maintain academic integrity. To find out the referencing style for this unit, see the assessment information in the MyLO site, or contact your teaching staff. For more detail about Academic Integrity, see Important Guidelines & Support.

Requests for extensions

If you are unable to submit an assessment task by the due date, you should apply for an extension.

A request for an extension should first be discussed with your Unit Coordinator or teaching support team where possible. A request for an extension must be submitted by the assessment due date, except where you can provide evidence it was not possible to do so. Typically, an application for an extension will be supported by documentary evidence: however, where it is not possible for you to provide evidence please contact your Unit Coordinator.

The Unit Coordinator must notify you of the outcome of an extension request within 3 working days of receiving the request.

Late penalties

Assignments submitted after the deadline will receive a late penalty of 5% of the original available mark for each calendar day (or part day) that the assignment is late. Late submissions will not be accepted more than 10 calendar days after the due date, or after assignments have been returned to other students on a scheduled date, whichever occurs first. Further information on Late Penalties can be found on the Assessments and Results Procedure.

Review of results and appeals

You are entitled to ask for a review of the marking and grading of your assessment task if there is an irregularity in the marking standards or an error in the process for determining the outcome of an assessment. Details on how to request a review of a mark for an assignment are outlined in the Review and Appeal of Academic Decisions Procedure.