Dear True Crime-Loving Teacher,

If you are in the AP Language and Composition group on Facebook, you have probably seen the many manifestations of The Murder of Allen Ripley activity. The basic premise is that students come in to find the room transformed into a crime scene. Then, they are tasked with solving the murder. It’s a great activity to practice synthesis and line of reasoning! (MAD Shout-Out to Patti Snowden, who created and posted the assignment). 

Seeing all the cool posts and reactions, I was immediately sold. As a true crime fanatic… you know, the type that falls asleep to Forensic Files every night and squeals at every new crime docuseries on Netflix… I was so excited to try this out with my class. We are jumping into our next topic unit on gun violence, so it seemed like a great way to hook them. (Again - all credit to Patti Snowden. I just tweaked an already awesome learning experience).

For our version of this activity, we used two days. One day for students to act as law enforcement and study the crime scene, witness testimonies, and synthesize information to create an arrest warrant. The next day, they were handed another group’s warrant and asked to act as prosecutors or defense lawyers, composing a compelling opening argument. We use standards-based grading, so we decided to assess their opening argument on Evidence and Commentary. Here is how we describe proficiency for these opening arguments:

• Proficient = Provides specific evidence from the case file to refute or support the conviction in regards to motive, means, and opportunity - AND - explains how some of the evidences refutes or supports the conviction.
  
• Mastery = Provides specific evidence from the case file to refute or support the conviction in regards to motive, means, and opportunity - AND - consistently explains how the evidences refutes or supports the conviction.

Now… if you haven’t figured it out yet, I am admittedly super “extra” when it comes to planning lessons like this. So in addition to the activity designed so wonderfully by Snowden, I added a few more curveballs and added bonuses. Here are some ideas (and materials) that you can take to your own classroom!

SETUP

• We adopted the premise of Law and Order since our variation encompasses both. Naturally, that meant that my colleague and I definitely had to make another intro video. (We did this for our gamification unit to much apathy, so we were determined to outdo ourselves).

• Students were then allowed to visit the crime scene, to which we added a few things…
  
  • A black hat, very similar to that worn by “The Hustler,” one of the interviewed suspects.
    
  • An email from Mr. Ripley to his daughter, Emma’s, psychiatrist insisting that she not be released from the mental health facility.
    
  • A pill bottle (which is part of the suggested props) with a partially removed label. All students can read is the name “Ripley…” which can implicate any of the four family members. 
    
  • Divorce papers on the desk.
    

• Each time was given the case file. Included in our version is…
  
  • An actual U.S. District Court Arrest Warrant to fill out.
    
  • A more detailed Arrest Warrant graphic organizer. 
    
  • Investigation notes (which is directly from Snowden’s document).
    
  • Photos of the witnesses and suspects interviewed. (We used staff from our school).
    
  • Chatterbox videos that use those images and a recording of the testimony to create a video of their testimony.
    
    • HIGHLY RECOMMEND. I can’t share them here to spare my colleagues the embarrassment, but they are hilarious!
      
  • The transcripts of each interview (from Snowden’s activity)
    
  • A “Processed Evidence Report” about the pistol found at the scene.
    
  • A text message from Annie to her husband explaining why she won’t be home at her usual time.
    
  • A text message from the neighborhood watch warning about suspicious people in the area and reported burglaries. 
    
  • A letter Emma wrote to her psychiatrist thanking them for the care.
    
  • The email to Emma’s doctor from Mr. Ripley.
    
  • The first page of the divorce papers.
    

LESSON
​Day 1: Law 
The first day, students are practicing synthesis and critical thinking. They treat the case file like the sources for Question 1 on the exam and make connections to defend claims about motive, opportunity, and means of operation.

• Show students the intro video - which at the end, asks if students can solve the crime.
  
• Put students into groups (we did 4-5 and assigned them randomly). 
  
• Give each investigation team a case file.
  
• By the end of the period, they were to submit the actual US Court Arrest Warrant and the Arrest Warrant graphic organizer.
  

​Day 2: Order
The second day, students are practicing on-demand persuasive writing. They are also encouraged to engage in counterargument. This practice will help with both Question 1 and 3 on the exam.

• Before class, we reviewed the arrest warrants and selected the most successful. We made two copies of each, labeling one “DEFENSE” and one “PROSECUTION.” 
  
• At the start of class, get students back into their teams from the day before and give them a case file.
  
• Then, hand out an arrest warrant.
  
• By the end of the period, they were to submit an opening argument as either the prosecution or the defense lawyer.
  
  • Remind them that an opening argument is not unlike a persuasive essay.
    

Overall, I'd say it was an overwhelming success. In the afternoon of Day 1, I had students coming to class saying such gems as:
"I heard English was actually fun today!" (Eye roll.) 
"I'm excited to solve a murder!"
"Who DIED?"

And after the first day, they were asking if they could put the suspects on trial. (Had it been a more convenient time - not a couple days before the big music trip to Chicago - I would have added a full mock trial.) The fact that they were so excited about argument and reasoning is such a credit to Snowden and her great activity! 

​If you haven't already, I STRONGLY recommend you implement this in your classroom. Have a great week, all!