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When i did forensics with my partner, we had no clue what we would have to do to get everything done within one hour. I read on here on a previous post that you should do any chromotography done first. We did that, but we underestimate how much time that we needed to spend on the post analsys of the crime. We barely got anything done with the samples collected from the crime scene, if i had any advice for anybody on doing this event in the future, LEARN THE CHEMICALS! The faster you can figure out what all the samples are ,the better off you will be. Make sure to read all the wittness statments as well and plot out a timeline of what and where everybody was durrint the crime.

Hm....
Is it really that useful to plot out a timeline? The plot isn't terribly important imo, just the chemicals and stuff each person is connected with.

wexs883198215 wrote:Hm....
Is it really that useful to plot out a timeline? The plot isn't terribly important imo, just the chemicals and stuff each person is connected with.

The analysis of the crime constitutes 30% of the overall score. I would think you have NO chance of placing without a delailed and well conceived essay.

You may want to refer to the test called "The Glass Menagerie" at science-olympiad-coaches@yahoogroups.com which requires you to accurately detail the individual suspects schedules for the last month prior to the crime. In addition, it provides you with a rare exercise in glass refraction (that many had no idea what to do with). I'm told that THE Ohio State competion focused heavily on glass refraction for the second year in a row.

With the addition of entomology a few years ago, Forensic timelines have become critical to solving many of the cases... In fact, I'd say that if you see bugs, you should immediately plan on creating a timeline, if for no other reason than to determine time of death.

I will agree that timelines do not always matter... sometimes it has to do with physical properties or abilities of the suspects (i.e. who is tall enoughto reach the window, or skinny enough to fit through the pet door, etc.), but most of the tests that I write will require a certain amount of critical thinking beyond just identifying chemicals. In the essay portion I'm not looking for regurgitation of facts already identified, I'm looking to see who can tie them together in a logical thought process.

On occassion, I have even been surprised by essays that identify a different suspect than intended, but the team was able to accurately create a logic path that led them to different suspect than I had initially set up... Needless to say, I scored their essay very high, becuase they proved their point!

jeez... that seems like a step up from crimebusters. I looked at the tests you get to run and it seems fun though!

i cant wait to do this event in div C!
i gotta redeem myself

soccer_5456 wrote:i cant wait to do this event in div C!
i gotta redeem myself

You'll have a blast. By far my favorite event. BY FAR