Handwriting

Learning Intention: Identify patterns in handwriting and evaluate if it can give insite into psychology. 

Learning Tasks

The handwriting is just one part of Clue #1 - Threating Note to Mr Burns. The other things that can be analyzed are ink and paper type.

Mr Burns got this threatening note and we're trying to figure out who sent it. One of the ways to do that, not only matching the handwriting of various suspects to the evidence but also identify if there is any insight into the psychology of the person that wrote it. 

But before we look at the evidence, let's learn how to identify patterns in handwriting and what that could be about the psychology. 

1. Watch the first ~6 minutes of the WIRED Former FBI Agent Explains Criminal Profiling (What is Criminal Profiling chapter) to understand how psychology can be used to solve a crime.

2. Watch the Criminal Minds Clip on Handwriting.

3. Learn how to process handwriting and get some insight into your own psyche by writing the following statement in your normal handwriting.

"I just don't understand it," said Klaus, which was not something he said very often. Violet nodded in agreement, and then said something she didn't say very frequently either. "It's a puzzle I'm not sure we can solve." "Pietrisycamollaviadelrechiotemexity," Sunny said." (Passage taken from Lemony Snicket's "A Series of Unfortunate Events.)

4. Analyze your handwriting with the following PowerPoint and what it says about you. 

5. Compare the threating note Mr Burns received against the handwriting samples. 

6. Then draw conclusions in your detective book. You should think about want the other related analysis to this clue can tell us (ink and paper) and if it's a useful clue in solving who tried to murder Mr Burns.