Appendix A -Vocabulary Word Wall
The following is a comprehensive list of the word wall at it completion. This word wall will be an ongoing activity throughout the unit.
Accusation: a formal charge of wrongdoing brought against a person; an assertion that
someone is guilty of a fault or offence
Alibi: An excuse or a reason that an accused person or a person of interest uses to show
that he or she was not at the scene of the crime
Analyze: To examine methodically by separating into parts and studying their
interrelations
Anthropology: The study of people and their culture
Breakthrough: A discovery that helps solve the crime
Clue: A fact or object that gives information toward solving the crime
Contaminate: To change something so that it can no longer be used
Crime: An action that breaks the law
Deduction: The process of using a general rule to make a prediction about he future
Detective: An investigator looking for and gathering clues
Evidence: A thing or statement that helps to prove who committed the crime
Footprints: Foot impressions left behind by a person walking.
Forensic Science: the application of a broad spectrum of sciences to answer questions of
interest to the legal system
Forgery: A fake
Guilt: The fact of being responsible for the commission of an offense.
Hunch: A guess or feeling not based on facts
Inductive reasoning: reasoning from detailed facts to general principles
Inference: formation of a logical conclusion based upon an observation of fact
Magnifying glass: A hand microscope consisting of a single convex lens that is used to
produce an enlarged image
Means: To have as a purpose or an intention
Milieu: Location, timing, and unusual details of the crime
Motive: A reason explaining someone's action— can include anger, hatred, love,
or greed
Mystery: something that baffles understanding and cannot be explained
Prediction: A statement at the onset about what may happen in the future
Private Investigator: A person hired to unravel and solve a mystery
Observation: Scrutinizing or paying close attention to details and everything that happens
Opportunity: A favorable or advantageous circumstance or combination of circumstances
Red herring: A false clue that throws the investigator off track
Sidekick: A partner of the detective who usually is not as bright
Sleuth: An investigator
Suspect: Person who has a motive to have committed a crime
Theory: An assumption based on limited information or knowledge; a conjecture
Whodunit: Term used to describe a story about a crime
Witness: Person who has knowledge about a crime
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