Use of newspapers, news magazines, and similar periodicals must be kept to a minimum, and will be acceptable only as sources for supplementary information.
References like “Wikipedia,” “Psychology Today,” and “Court TV” are not primary sources, are not peer reviewed , and are not appropriate references for scholarly writing .
While dissertations are closely supervised by a dissertation committee made up of scholars, they are still considered student work. Dissertations are often included in scholarly writing, although they are used sparingly.
Research Paper Topics
Choose one of the following topics relevant to evidence and procedures:
1. Documentation, collection, and preservation of DNA evidence
2. Discuss the role of the first officer of the scene. How can his/her actions impact investigation?
3. The pros and cons of relying on modus operandi and signature in a serial homicide investigation.
4. Discuss bitemark examinations, document examinations, and microscopic hair examinations and exactly why each is now considered “junk science”.
5. Discuss the impact of visual aids in the courtroom and how they assist in explaining forensic science to the jury. Provide examples drawing from specific forensic disciplines such as fingerprint analysis or ballistics.
6. Discuss the different methods of documenting and searching a crime scene. What are the pros and cons of relying on 3D imaging systems?
Remember that statistics, studies and case examples add depth to your writing.
The paper should be of high quality, free of spelling and grammatical errors, and of original work. Plagiarism will not be permitted and occurrences of it will result in the procedures outlined in the “Student Handbook.”
IMPORTANT NOTE: Once you have submitted the assignment it is automatically run through Turnitin.com (plagiarism checker). You MUST be below a 20% match to other sources.
