Course Syllabus


What does a Statement really tell us?

How to obtain a "pure" Statement.

The parts of a Statement

• People
• Objects
• Activities/Actions
• Locations
• Time

Important parts of speech

• Pronouns
• Missing pronouns
• The missing "I"
• Lower case "I"

Other important information typically found in statements

• The five pronominal ways to avoid commitment
• Characters
  • Order of appearance
  • Proper social introduction
• Basic rules for analysis
• The pronoun "we" in partnership and conspiracy
• Possessive pronouns
• Nouns (Language change reflects reality)
• Verbs and tense

The importance of the unimportant: unessential information

Missing information

Words that demonstrate a lack of commitment

Balance of the statement

Alibi statements

The one third rule

A quick look at perspective

Some basic rules for analysis

Total belief in the statement

Consistency of language

Reflection of reality

The statement should flow smoothly

The four ways to say the same sentence

1. Pronouns
2. People in the statement
3. Connection changes
4. Changes in tense
5. Objective times
6. Changes in usage
7. Inner completeness
8. out of sequence

The four most important points

a. Pronouns
b. Connections
c. Change in language.
d. Objective vs. subjective time


Analyzing the statement: Putting it all together

PRACTICE STATEMENTS

Case #1 - Street Robbery
Case #1 - Observations
Case #2 - Drive-by shooting
Case #2 - Observations
Case #3 - Theft from auto
Case #3 - Observations
Case #4 - Threatening letters
Case #4 - Observations
Case #5 - Missing Person
Case #5 - Observations

Analysis conclusion

Further explanation of this conclusion

A vs. The and Her vs. My

Observations on Articles and Possessive Pronouns

Bonus Information - just something to think about
The word "Both" when used with "We"

Using "Memory Links" to determine the validity of a statement.

The Writer's "Personal Perspective"

Statements / Class Email assignment

Case #1
Statements # 1 - 2
Statement # 1
Statement # 2

Case #2
Statement # 3

Case #3
Statements # 4 -5
Statement #4
Statement #5


Case #4
Statement #6


Part 1

Bonus Statement #6


Part 2

Statement #6

In Part 1 of Bonus Statement #6, the issues are as follows.

Statement Structure Percentages

The first trivial issue

The Main issue

The second trivial issue

Line Counts

Word Counts

Said vs. Told


Part 2 of Statement #6
Use of "WE" in a violent crime

Bonus Statement #7

Bonus Statement #7
Marked-up using our F.A.S.T. macro

Bonus Statement #8

Bonus Statement #8 Marked-Up

Bonus Statement #9 Said / Told

Statement #9 Said / Told Marked-up

Unintentional information

Unintentional information marked up

Bonus Statement #10 Wal-Mart Practicum