Draft

     Science is a key part of our everyday lives. We use science to come up with new technology, increasing production, and building on existing technology. Science is also being used as a form of entertainment. TV series use science to solve cases such as Crime Science Investigation, Law and Order, Cops, The District, and NYPD Blue. These TV series use science and reason to solve their cases. But before these TV series there was the book series similar to the modern TV series, Sherlock Holmes. Sherlock Holmes is a story about a detective that solved complicated cases.  Sherlock Holmes was able to solve the difficult cases by using his scientific methods to solve the cases.      Sherlock Holmes uses his knowledge of London and observations to solve to come up with his theories. In the beginning of the story Holmes came up with the conclusion that Watson was sending a telegram not mailing a letter (Doyle, 127). Holmes knows that the dirt on the bottom of Watson’s shoe is only found in one place in London.  That place is where people in London sent telegrams. Another observation of Sherlock Holmes is that Watson had stamps in his desks and that also helped him come up with the theory of mailing a telegram. Next time Sherlock Holmes use his know of London is figuring out that Watson’s pocket watch used to belong to Watson’s brother (Doyle, 129 – 130). First Holmes knows that in London the oldest son gets all of the valuables of the family. Then Holmes asked Watson was his brother a careless men and Watson says yes. Holmes then states,” When you observe the lower part of that watch-case  you notice that it is not only dinted in two places but it is cut and marked all over from the habit of keeping other hard objects, such as coins or keys, in the same pocket. Surely it is no great feat to assume that a man who treats a fifty-guinea watch so cavalierly must be a carless man.” (Doyle, 129).Then Holmes opens the watch and noticed that the watch had serial numbers inside of it. Holmes knows that pawn shops put serial numbers inside items that are pawned. So this observation let Holmes know that Watson’s Brother went through hard times.      Holmes’ method include the ability to get information out of people and also getting help from the citizen of London.    

5a: The Sign of Four 1-24 — Zack Long

1. I believe that Holmes is an unusual person because he is an intellegent man, and will notice clues that the average person wouldn’t see. Also, if he doesnt have a case to work on, he’ll inject morphine or cocaine into his arm.

3. Watson’s role in the story is not only being a narrorator, but being the right hand man of Sherlock Holmes.

4. Sherlock Homles’ method of solving cases is to study the physical propeties of his evidence before looking at other aspects of it. For example, when he looks at a letter, he first sees the quality of the paper to determine if it’s the kind of paper either a rich man would use or a poor man.

Signs of Four Ch1 and 2

1. The introduction starts out with the description of Holmes’ bad habit, and how his roommate feels about Holmes and his cocaine.  It seems like Watson only sees his roommate as a lazy crack addict with very little intellect. Watson even doubts Holmes’ scientific observation by calling it romantic- like a fairy tale.  Later in the chapter Watson puts Holmes’ ability to the test by asking Holmes to describe the character of Watson’s brother base off a watch.  Of course in the end, Holmes’ answer infuriates Watson.  Holmes was able to tell Watson things about his brother that relatives probably didn’t even know.  The chapter ends with the landlady telling Watson that a young lady was there to see them.
2. Mary Morstan came to Holmes asking for help with a ten year mystery.  Ten years ago Mary Morstan’s father took a year leave from work.  He traveled to England to ask Mary to come visit him at Langham Hotel.  When Mary arrived, she was informed that her father was checked-in but wasn’t in his room.  Mary waits all night for her father’s arrival, but he never returns.  Langham’s manger advised Mary to call the police.  The paper advertised Mary’s father disappearance, but her prayers went unanswered.  Four years later, May 4, 1882, Mary received a striking pearl in the mail from an unknown sender.  Afterward every year a similar pearl in a similar box was sent to her.  Recently Mary received a letter in the mail asking her to come to the Lyceum Theatre.  The suspicious sender understands Mary’s discomfort and tries to comfort her by telling her to bring two friends, anyone but the police, if she is unsure.  Holmes volunteers Watson and himself to escort Mary to the Lyceum Theatre. Mary leave anxious for the night.