For this assignment, you should write a 2-3 page short paper on the historical
foundations of our modern understandings of law and evidence. Because you can
only tackle so much in a paper of this length, you should pick a single theme (doubt,
testimony, physical evidence, scientific expertise, testimony, legal process, etc.)
related to how we think about and treat evidence in courts today. Use at least two of
the sources we have reviewed in class to make an argument about how past
conceptions of evidence have shaped our modern understandings of law and
evidence. In other words, what vestiges of an older system can we still see in
operation today? Keep in mind that this influence can be good, bad, or neutral. We
are only seeking a better understanding of our contemporary system. Outside
research is not required. If you choose to use outside research, please use scholarly
sources and cite these sources properly.
