In your own words, answer this unit’s discussion questions in a main post (recommended minimum 300 words), and respond to at least 2 peers’ postings (recommended minimum 75 words).
After you have reviewed the Assignment Details below, click the Launch Discussion Board link under the Assignments tab for this unit to open the Discussion Board and make your post.
Use these videos for help on how to post to the Discussion Board:
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You a supervisor for the Prometheus City arson squad. At 11:00 p.m., you leave the city for the agricultural suburbs to a large dairy farm on a suspicious fire call. Upon your arrival, you note the cows are all milling about in an adjacent pasture. The on scene local Fire Department reports the presence of over 200 dairy cows in the pasture, next to the barn, when his fire department personnel arrived. The farm has been burned to the ground, and a huge explosion was reported by neighbors. The dairy barn has two stories. The ground story is for the cows locked in stanchions (long oval devices that holds a dairy cow in the assigned stall location overnight in preparation for the first milking in the morning), and the second floor is hay storage. A silo is attached that was about one-third filled with grain at the time of the fire. The following points provide leads for how the explosion and fire occurred and why.
The weather for the past couple of days has been clear including the night of the explosion
You know that damp hay can cause a fire but not an explosive reaction of this severity
A check with the agricultural bureau representative explained that dairy cows are locked in the neck restraining stanchions in the evening to facilitate milking first thing in the morning so the dairy cows should not have gotten out of the barn prior to the explosion
Take a look at the articles about silos
You have Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosive (ATF) agents for support. They have conducted a sweep of the entire scene and found no evidence of explosives. Because of the explosion, there is a concern of arson for which you have a search warrant. While inspecting the scene, one of your arson scene investigators finds a butane soldering torch that is very charred about 100 feet from the base of the silo in the field where the cows are. You learn from the detective that the farmer has just lost his government subsidy for corn production in the ethanol program, and he is financially struggling.
Review unit materials for this assignment.
For your assignment, consider the following:
The valve position on the butane soldering torch is important
Concerning the violent explosion reported by numerous witnesses and the fact that no explosive residue was found by the ATF, consider the structure and its uses; identify 2 other sources for the explosion that may have caused the fire.
What issues regarding the livestock support the theory of arson?
Explain how the butane torch could have gotten into the field where the cows were.
What is your theory on the explosion and the motive for arson?
Discussion Board Reminders:
Must have three posts: A Main Post and two replies to peers.
First post: Either your main post or a reply to others must be posted before midnight CT (Central time) on Friday of each week.
Second and third post: Must be posted on a different day from the first post.
Connect to Content: At least one post must refer to course learning materials. See the Academic Resource on Discussion Boards for help with connecting to the content.
Engaging in Class Discussions: For more information on making the most of your class dialog, review the Academic Resource on Discussion Boards.
Grading Rubric
Assignment Criteria Proficient Descriptor Points
Quality of Main Post
30 Points
Total
Student’s main post meets or exceeds the following requirements:
Responds completely to all of parts of discussion question (7.5 points)
Communicates content information accurately and/or logically (7.5 points)
Delivers a thoughtful response demonstrating insights and reflections (7.5 points)
Connects to key content concepts and personal experiences (if applicable) (7.5 points)
/30 pts.
Response to Peers
27 Points
Total
Responds to a minimum of two peers (13.5 points per response):
Substantive response (7 points)
Furthers the conversation with peers. Examples could include (6.5 points):
Provides additional resources
Connects accurately to key concepts
Shares personal or professional experiences
Contributes new information or perspective
Presents a competing viewpoint
/27 pts.
Support from Learning Resources
9 Points
Total
At least one post references course resources or library resources. /9 pts.
Professional Writing
9 points
Response is well-organized, clear, and free of grammatical and mechanical errors.
Posts demonstrate courtesy and respect for others.
/9 pts.
Total /75 pts.
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