Mountain View College

GEOLOGY 1401

UNIT 3 ACTIVITY

Handwriting Analysis

In the past, forensic document examiners collected handwriting samples and compared them by First, let's start with some of your own handwriting. Using white notebook paper, write out the following paragraph in your natural style:

It was a dark and stormy morning. We quickly arrived at the scene of the crime at 4:30

a.m. and saw the suspect fleeing into the trees. Inside the house, a window was broken and a picture was askew. As lightning cracked overhead, we looked behind the frame to find the safe was empty.

When document examiners look at a writing sample, they look for specific features like slant, crossings, alignment, and connections. Look closely at your sample and write down a few words or a brief sentence of observation about each feature:

1)Slant: What is the slant of your writing? Does it slant right, left, or not at all?

2. Crossings and dots: Do you cross your t’s in a distinctive way? Dot your i’s? Describe them.
3. Alignment: Does your writing curve upward or downward horizontally, or does it go straight across the page?
4. Connections: Which letters run together? Which are separate?
5. Spacing: Are your spaces between words large or small? How about between

letters?

6. Relative height: How tall are your c’s relative to your t’s? What other height ratios do you observe?
7. Pressure: Do you press down hard when you write? Does the pressure vary? How?
8. Unique features: Do any of your letters show unique or unusual features?

Now that you’ve analyzed your own handwriting, try comparing it to a friend’s or a family member’s. Have your partner write out the same paragraph that you wrote, preferably on the same surface and using the same pen or pencil and paper.

1. How is your writing similar to your partner’s? How is it different? Pick at least three points from the list above to compare. (three to five sentences)

2. Why is it important for your partner to use the same surface, pen/pencil, and paper as you did? (one to two sentences)

3. Try writing the first sentence of the paragraph with a different kind of pen/pencil or on a different surface. Compare the new sample to your original. Do you notice any differences? What are they and what do you think caused them? (two to three sentences)

Insert the image of your writing and that of the other persons here