Research Concept Map, Thesis and Detailed Plan


Flawed DNA Testing

Cocept Map







Thesis and Detailed Plan

Thesis: DNA testing has played a crucial role in being a legal tool and helped in uncovering wrongful convictions in the Criminal Justice System but it still needs some improvement.

Research Plan:

Body paragraph 1: Definition of DNA testing, its overall background info, how it was used in the early days and how it is used now
Body para 2: description of two standards to judge admissibility and its challenges.
Body para 3: detailed analysis of state and federal laws to make DNA testing a legal tool by using the Criminal Research Service document
Body para 4: Describe the importance of the emergence of Combined DNA index system
Body para 5: How DNA testing is used as a tool to exonerate convicted people and why it has been a reliable source. Heavily focus on the information provided by the U.S. Department of Justice and the National Institute of Justice website
Body para 6 and 7: Use of pathos. Use the Innocence project to speak about specific cases (Clarence Harrison and Kennedy Brewer). Use the article written by Atlantic to further support the main point. Brief mention of statistics on Unvalidated or Improper Forensic Science
Body para 8: Additional problems with DNA testing and needs of improvement. Race as a problem and corrupt people like Chemist Annie Dookhan (New York Times)
Body para 9 and 10: Possible solutions (eliminating backlogs, training professionals, grants). Use Department of Justice website and Criminal Research Service as powerful sources
Body para 11: Use another source on Anna Dookhan and transition to the conclusion using her story.



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