The Terms-Part 1
The Terms-Part 2
Characteristics of Mysteries
Suspense-builders
The Hardest Category EVER...Potpourri
100
When a witness lies on the stand or deliberately conceals information relevant to the case at hand, he is committing this offense.
What is perjury?
100
This is the technique used by lawyers to question opposing counsel’s witness.
What is cross-examination?
100
Generally, the protagonist of a mystery is one of these.
What is a detective?
100
This technique is used when the main character is on his/her own.
What is isolation?
100
This is the difference between the two D.A.'s. Be specific.
-A Defense Attorney represents the accused in a legal proceeding since every person accused of a crime has the right to counsel under the Constitution’s Sixth Amendment. -A District Attorney is employed by the government, and it is her job to represent the interests of the State against people accused of committing crimes.
200
This is a written, sworn statement in which the writer swears that the information stated therein is true.
What is an affidavit?
200
When a criminal coordinates the elements of his crime before carrying it out, the prosecutor would argue that the crime was THIS.
What is premeditated?
200
This technique is used when the author deliberately leads the reader toward a false conclusion.
What is a red herring?
200
When the main character needs to seek out something missing, the writer is using this technique
What is loss?
200
The difference between prison and jail.
-Supposed criminals are kept in jail if they are awaiting trial or committed a “lesser crime.” -Criminals are sent to State or Federal facilities known as prisons if they are convicted of a felony.
300
This is what the accused may provide to prove that he was somewhere else at the time the alleged crime was committed.
What is an alibi?
300
When a witness gives information that supports the statements made by either the victim or the accused, he does THIS to the person’s testimony.
What is corroborates it?
300
This characteristic of mystery is non-negotiable. Without it, there would literally be no mystery.
What is a crime committed or a puzzle to be solved?
300
Typically, main characters have plenty of these; as readers, we read to find out whether they will bring about the character's demise.
What are flaws?
300
This is the difference between an M.O. and an M.E.
An M.O. is a pattern or typical method used by a perpetrator to carry out his/her crime. The responsibilities of the Medical Examiner include confirming and certifying the death of an individual; he/she may also conduct or order an investigation into the manner or cause of death and investigate or confirm the identity of an unknown person.
400
When members of a jury cannot agree whether the accused is guilty or innocent, the jury is referred to as this.
What is a hung jury?
400
Introduced in court, this requires an inference to connect it to a conclusion of fact.
What is circumstantial evidence?
400
This type of information is meant to share information with readers as the narrator discovers it.
What are overt clues?
400
Even when a mystery's main character is actually a criminal, he/she is almost always given one of these as a way to create tension.
What is a challenge or test?
400
These people rely on this science to aid in their evidence collection and processing.
Crime Scene Investigators use forensics to determine reliability of evidence which helps to lead to/eliminate suspects.
500
This is the science of mechanics that deals with the flight, behavior, and effects of projectiles (generally bullets in a criminal case).
What is ballistics?
500
The pre-trial hearing in which the accused either pleads guilty or not guilty is known as THIS.
What is the arraignment?
500
In a mystery, these are deliberately left by the author so that readers can fill-in-the-blanks.
What are inference gaps?
500
Sometimes this element is not on the main character's side. Readers feel the suspense as it slips away.
What is time?
500
This is the primary difference between a first- or second-degree murder.
What is the "special circumstances"? Under NY law, Second Degree Murder: Any premeditated murder or felony murder that does NOT involve special circumstances. First Degree Murder: Not only is the murder premeditated, but it also involves special circumstances, such as -murder of a police officer, judge, fireman or witness to a crime... -multiple murders... -torture or especially heinous murders.
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