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Problem Solving Challenge: The Lunchroom Murder How do we come up with our opinions?

What happens when others see it differently? Terms: CLAIM: probably true (that simply means that we can be only fairly certain of our claims). EVIDENCE: evidence help to support our claim REASONING/EXPLANATION: the glue that holds an argument together. It links the evidence to the claim. It says something like This evidence supports the claim because EXAMPLE: Claim: Forks were not used in France in the fifteenth century. Evidence: Paintings of banquets from that period show no forks on the tables or people eating with them. Explanation/Reasoning: Paintings are very good indications of the customs of an age. Task: You are the detective. Youve just been called in to help with a murder mystery. This is what you know: On an otherwise uneventful Thursday afternoon, police heard a shot inside Ernies Lunchroom. They rushed in and found the scene shown in the picture. They identified the body as that of a prominent racketeer named Fannin. Ernie, who is both the owner and only employee, had only one fact to tell: the murderer had leaned against the wall while firing at point-blank range. The imprint of his hand is in clear view. The cash register has just been rung up at $8.75. This is a difficult case. Your investigative team must attempt to determine which of the people in the lunchroom killed Fannin. You will have to observe the details carefully. There is enough evidence to help you explain most of what happened. In working out the solution, consider the following questions: 1. With what hand did the shooter fire the gun? What is the evidence? What is the reasoning? The shooter fired the gun with his left hand. The picture shows a hand with the thumb facing towards the left. There are two options here. The shooter could have been leaning against the wall with his left hand backwards, or he could be left handed. Since it wouldnt be comfortable to be leaning on a hand that is flipped upside down, he must have shot with his left hand. 2. Did customers B, C, and D know each other? What is the evidence? 3. How do the four customers (A, B, C, D) differ in their habits or ways of doing things? What is the evidence? 4. To whom do the set of footprints marked X belong? How do you know? 5. Which are Ernies footsteps? X, Y, or Z? What is the evidence?

Problem Solving Challenge: The Lunchroom Murder How do we come up with our opinions? What happens when others see it differently? 6. Would footsteps show if the customers hadnt traversed the wet spaces? Evidence? 7. Where was Ernie at the time of the shooting? Evidence? Who killed Fannin? How do you know? Outline all the evidence and all of the reasoning necessary to support this claim.

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