Devil’s Advocate Preparation

TASK:

• You are required to identify areas to cross-examine from your own work.
  PURPOSE:
• Analyze and review your own report and work product and determine areas of cross-examination
  possibilities.
  GRADING RUBRIC:
  Skills 10 9 8 7 Score
  Devil’s
  Advocate
  Preparation Language is clear
  and relevant Most language is
  clear and relevant Few parts of the
  contract are
  clear/relevant The language is not
  clear
  Required
  Elements All of the required
  elements are
  clearly visible,
  organized and well
  placed Most of the
  required elements
  are clearly visible,
  organized and well
  placed Few of the required
  elements are clearly
  visible, organized
  and well placed.
  May be missing
  elements Missing most or all
  of the required
  elements
  Content Spelling
  Grammar
  Punctuation Excellent spelling,
  grammar,
  punctuation, and
  original content 1-2 spelling,
  grammar, or
  punctuation errors
  with original
  content 3-5 spelling,
  grammar, or
  punctuation errors
  with original content Multiple spelling,
  grammar, or
  punctuation errors
  Some content is
  copy/paste
  ORIGIN

1. List 3 areas on which you expect to be cross examined on the issue of your origin location. This
   question seeks some specific questions that you expect to be asked, based on your origin opinion.
   Do not write a general question such as: “Why did you exclude the other portions of the room?”
   Rather, write a more detailed question such as:
   “If the living room went to flashover, could that explain why there was a hole in the
   floor?”
   “If you were told that the fire department extinguished the living room last, would that
   explain why the hole in the floor was so much larger than the hole in the dining
   room?”
   If you start to think like the attorney who will cross examine you, then you will be much
   better prepared for any questions you will face.
   CAUSE
2. List 3 areas on which you expect to be cross examined on the issue of your determination of cause within your area of origin. Be very specific in identifying these 3 areas.
   Again, make sure your questions are specific. For example, “If you discovered that the
   lab analysis was not reliable, and that the “accelerant” evidence could not be used in
   court, what other proof do you have that would be sufficient to support your conclusion
   that the cause was arson?”