Graduation Presentation Outline

Introduction
I. Attention Grabber: I was twelve when I was first exposed to Forensics. It was my first episode
of Forensic Files that captivated my interest for Forensics. The math, the science, and the critical
thinking skills were all aspects of Forensics that I loved. Most importantly, I enjoyed the idea that
I could apply those aspects to help take a burden off of a victim’s shoulders. As I got older, I
realized that just like any other career, Forensics has issues.
II. Thesis Statement: Despite the fact that forensic science has become the most vital way of
identifying criminals, it is the contamination of evidence, underuse of technology, and the
misapplications of results that make this an unreliable process.
III. Preview Statement: Today I will walk my senior board everything I learned from my junior
year, service learning experience, and my product.
Body:
I. Junior Year
A. Topic of research Paper
1. My topic was related to my career of Forensic Biology
2. I narrowed down the topic of Forensic Biology to focus on the contamination of
DNA evidence from bodily fluids.
B. Why Choose this Particular Focus
1. I wanted to find problems in my career field in order to help me prepare for when
I enter the career field and these problems directly affect me.
2. It is also good to know about what your career field proposes in terms of
problems.
C. Interesting Findings
1. Sixty percent of DNA evidence is invalid in the court of law as a result of
contamination of DNA.
2. The case of Thorsten Schwark-- Schwark, a pathologist at the University
Hospital in Holstein, found that contamination of DNA evidence was becoming a
major problem. As a result, he placed six cadaver on a morgue bed and swabbed
for their DNA. When the results came back, it was found that four out of the six
cadavers tested had become contaminated with DNA from another crime.
3. The case of Dr. Schneeberger-- Dr. Schneeberger was accused of raping one of
his female patients. When he found out that he was a suspect, he manipulated his
own DNA. To do this, he implanted a drain and a blood clotting device and then
use another man’s blood and stuck it up his arm. When the technician came to
draw his blood, they were not pulling his blood, but the other man’s blood. The
case closed, saying he was not guilty. It was later opened when another DNA test
 was required. This time he was guilty because he forgot to change the blood
clotting device and they found him guilty.
II. Service Learning Experience
A. Everything Done During Service Learning Experience
1. How: In order to complete the service learning, I needed contacts of forensics
scientists. I went to Mrs. Simmons in the career center explaining her my project.
She gave me the email of one of the forensic programs CPCC offers who then
gave me Dale Callan’s email. I emailed Dale Callan, explaining him my project
and the goals of the project. He then asked for me to meet him at the Huntersville
campus.
2. Where: My service learning took place of the CPCC Huntersville campus.
3. Why: I chose to go with Dale Callan because he actually worked in the field of
Forensics and he would be able to mentor me throughout the course of the
project. In addition, Dale Callan would be able to give me more contacts of
people that would be able to assist in the project.
4. When: My service hours took place over the course of my junior year and part of
my senior year. Dale Callan and I set up certain days of the week where I could
drive up to Huntersville and learn different aspects of my project. We usually did
once a week for about an hour or two per session until I met all of my required
hours. Dale Callan even asked me to come work with in the summer of July 2019
to work and observe with FBI agents and learn more advanced topics.
5. What: While completing my service hours, I learned anything from how to
package evidence, how evidence can become contaminated, and many other
topics that are involved in Forensic Biology.
III. The Product
A. Everything Done to Complete the Product Requirement
1. What: In order to complete my product, I constructed a presentation. In this
presentation I discussed how DNA from bodily fluids can become contaminated.
In order to rectify that problem, I proposed my own alternative. My alternative
what to extract DNA from hair. I explained how DNA is used in identifying
criminals from hair. In addition I explained why DHA from hair is more reliable
that DNA from bodily fluids.
2. Where: I presented my product presentation to science teachers and students at
Providence High School.
3. When: My presentation took place on February 28, 2019 at 3:30 pm.
4. Why: I wanted to find an alternative because it is important when it comes time
to find potential suspects. If DNA from bodily fluids become contaminated the
majority of time and an innocent person gets locked up and the guilty person
 goes free, it is unfair and now there is another loose criminal that no one can
control.
5. How: In order to complete my product, I had to email the Forensic teacher at
Providence High School, Dr. Krahn. In the email, I told about why I am
passionate about forensics, some references of teachers that assisted me in the
project, and told him what I want to accomplish in my product. We had a pre-
presentation meeting so that I could explain in more detail the goal of my project
and he could actually meet me.
Conclusion
I. From my presentation, I have walked you through everything I have done in my junior year, what
I have learned from my service learning, and what I completed for my product. Overall, the
experience of my junior and senior year were phenomenal. There is just not enough time to
explain everything I learned in addition to the topic of my paper and all of the skills I have gained
by completing the project.
II. From everything I learned, I plan on majoring in Forensic Biology. In addition, I want to double
minor in Forensic Chemistry and Criminal Justice. I aspire to be a DNA analyst for a state crime
lab and eventually hope to work for the FBI.