1. Introduction to TV Crime Drama
Lesson Aims:
To investigate the TV Crime Genre as
an introduction to the Yr 11 Exam
To understand the conventions of TV
Crime Dramas
To identify and analyse the
conventions of TV Crime Drama in an
episode of Lie to Me

2. TV Crime Drama Challenge
Task One:
You are needed urgently at a
crime scene to help solve the case
of the Barbee Doll Killer.
You should take your partner with you
and look closely at all the clues and
evidence to help solve the case.
You only have 20mins to complete the
investigation so must be focused and
look carefully at all the evidence
http://hiddenclue.co.uk/
Good Luck!!
http://www.dextergame.com/
If you are a bit more
of a rookie- try this challenge instead-but
watch out you need to be quick!!

3. ler? ???
the kil
Wh o is

4. Introduction to TV Crime Drama
In your books brainstorm the following:
40%
25% Yr 10 TV Crime
Coursework Drama
Exam What will I need to
know for the Exam?
35% Yr 11
Practical
production
coursework

5. Introduction to TV Crime Drama
Who are the target
Why are they audiences?
popular?
How are the storylines
What are the structured? How are the
conventional, props, What will I need to audience involved?
setting and mise en know for the Exam?
scene?
Who are the key
characters and how
are they
represented?

6. Introduction to TV Crime Drama
Task:
Using the card sort, decide
What do we expect which of these are
To see in the TV Crime Drama conventions of TV Crime
Genre? Drama?
Can you add your own?

7. rs
The ar tne
murd e P
er w e ctiv
eapo
n e Det
An
inte ens
usp ts
rvie
wr n flict
/s
V sho
oom Co hot
s PO
ra s
Av ca me
icti d c op
m or s tr icte h ero
usp Res the
ect
g
An lig htin rook
ie
inv
est Dim T he
iga t
For t ion men
ens u nish ab
ic e
vid ea nd p The L
enc Crim t
e
cho logis
sy
FBI agents T he p
Ingredients of a TV Crime Drama

8. An essential part of the TV Crime Genre is the
narrative structure
This is the way that episodes are structured to create mystery and suspense.
There are often pieces of a puzzle that we as the audience are required
to put together:
A conventional TV Crime Drama has these key pieces of the puzzle:
Opening teaser- This is where the mystery is set up for the episode/case that keeps us
guessing
Quest/investigation- the following of a case to piece together the clues
Enigma codes- clues that keep the audience guessing and move the story forward
Conflict- this drives the story-also known as binary opposites- good Vs Evil, Law Vs
Crime
Resolution- Closure is brought at the end where usually good triumphs over evil

9. Lie to Me- Series 2 Ep1
As part of our first case study we are going to look
at an episode of US TV Crime Drama, Lie to Me
The central character is Dr Cal Lightman a
psychologist who helps the FBI with cases as
he has an extraordinary talent of reading facial
expressions to tell when people are lying.
In this episode you need to look out for and
identify the conventions that we discussed earlier.
You should also plot the narrative structure and
consider how many of the conventional narrative
devices are used?

10. Lie to Me- Series 2 Ep1
In your books you must answer the following exam
question:
A Grade:
To what extent is Lie to Me a conventional TV Crime
Drama?
With reference to characters/locations/setting/props
and narrative. Give specific evidence for each point
C Grade:
How many ingredients of a typical TV Crime Drama
are there in Lie to Me and how does it appeal to the
target audience.

11. Extension tasks
Scheduling is also important in TV Crime
Dramas, select one of the following
worksheets to complete on scheduling:
Researching Alibi
Head of ITV Scheduling Task