St.

Louis College of Bulanao

Purok 6, Bulanao, Tabuk City, Kalinga 3800

TITLE/TOPIC
QUESTIONED DOCUMENT EXAMINATION

LESSON 4
TERMINOLOGIES RELATED TO HANDWRITING IDENTIFICATION AND EXAMINATION

I. INTRODUCTION

This course covers the scientific methods of identification and examination of questionable
documents, handwriting examination, detection of forgery, falsification and counterfeiting of documents
which stress the procedures of restoring and deciphering erasures and obliterations; examination of
documents by means of visible light, ultra-violet light and ultra-red radiation and colored powders;
recognition and selection of standards; and examination of questionable typewriting, computerized
documents and other forms of modern printing.

II. LEARNING OUTCOMES

At the end of the lesson, the students will be able to:

 Identify the different elements of handwriting and stroke
 Understand the terminologies relevant in handwriting analysis and examination
 Illustrate and describe the different characteristics in handwriting and stroke structures.

III. COURSE CONTENT

1. Alignment – The relation of the parts of the whole of writing or line of individual letters in
words to the baseline.
2. Angular form – sharp, straight strokes that are made by stopping the one and changing
direction before continuing.
3. Arcade forms – forms that look like arches; rounded on top and open at the bottom.
4. Bow - the part of the letter or character of signature or handwriting which formed like a bow
of an arrow or simply a curved stroke aligned in a vertical direction.
5. Collation – side by side comparison
6. Comparison – The act of setting two or more items side by side to weigh their identifying
qualities
7. Dextral
8. Disguised writing – A writer may deliberately try to alter his usual writing habits of hiding his
identity.
9. Down strokes – the movement of the pen toward the writer
10. Form – the writer’s chosen writing style.
11. Garland forms – A cup-like connected form that is open at the top and rounded on the bottom.
12. Gestalt – “complete”, “whole”
13. Graphoanalysis – the study of handwriting based on the tow fundamental strokes, the curve
and the straight strokes.
14. Graphometry – analysis and comparison and measurement
15. Graphology – the art of determining character disposition and amplitude of a person from
the study of handwriting.
16. Hand lettering – any disconnected style of writing in which each letter is written separately.
17. Left handed writing
18. Letter Space – the amount of space left between letters.
19. Line Direction – it is the movement of the baseline.
20. Line Quality – the overall character of the ink lines from the beginning to the ending strokes.
21. Line Space – the amount of space left between lines.
22. Manuscript writing – a disconnected form of script or semi-script writing.

E.GRAMAJE/R. SIBATON/D.BALILING
 23. Margin- The amount of space left around the writing on all four sides.
24. Movement
MOVEMENTS IN HANDWRITING
● Finger Movement – The thumb, the first, the second and slightly the third finger are in
actual motion.
● Hand Movement – Produced by the movement or action of the whole hand with the wrist
as the center of attraction.
● Forearm Movement – the movement of the shoulder, hand and arm with the support of the
table.
25. Whole-arm Movement – action of the entire arm without resting.
Natural Writing – any specimen of writing executed normally without any attempt to
control or alter its identifying habits and its usual quality and execution.
26. Natural Variation – these are normal or usual deviations found between repeated specimens of
any individual handwriting.
27. Pen emphasis – the act of intermittently forcing the pen against the paper surfaces.
28. Pen Hold – the place where the writer grasps the barrel of the pen and the angle at which he
holds it.
29. Pen position – relationship between the pen point and the paper. The orientation of the
writing instrument.
30. Pen pressure – the average force with which the pen contacts the paper.
31. Print Script – A creative combination of printing and cursive writing
32. Proportion and Ratio - the relation between the tall and the short letter
33. Quality – the distinct and peculiar characters. Also, quality is used in describing handwriting to
refer to any identifying factor that is related to the writing movement itself.
34. Rhythm – the element of writing movement, which is marked by regular or periodic
recurrences. It may be classed as smooth, intermittent, or jerky in its quality; the flourishing
succession of motion which are recorded in a written record.
35. Shading – is the widening of the ink strokes due to the addHed pressure on a flexible pen point
or to the use of a stub pen.
36. Significant Writing Habit – any characteristic of handwriting that is sufficiently
uncommon and well-fixed to serve as a fundamental point in the identification.
37. Simplification – eliminating extra or superfluous strokes from the copybook form.
38. Size –
39. Skill – relative degrees or ability or skill and a specimen of handwriting usually contains
evidence of the writer’s proficiency; degree, ability, or skill of a write proficiency.
40. Slope/Slant – the angle or inclination of the axis of the letters relative to the baseline.
41. Speed of writing – the personal pace at which the writer’s pen moves across the paper.
42. Thread form – an indefinite connective form that looks flat and wavy
43. Variation – the act or process of changing
44. Word Space – the amount of space between words.
45. Writing Conditions – circumstances which the writing was prepared and factors influencing
the writer’s ability to write at the time of execution.
46. Writing Habits – any repeated element in one’s handwriting.
47. Writing impulse – the result of the pen touching down on the paper and moving across the
page, until it is raised from the paper.
48. Wrong-Handed Writing – any writing executed with the opposite hand that normally used;
a.k.a as “with the awkward hand”.
49. Reprographic examination – refers to examination of documents which include photocopies,
facsimile, photographs and the like.
50. Rubric or embellishment – refers to the additional unnecessary strokes to legibly of letter
forms or writings but incorporated in writing for decorative or ornamental purposes.
TERMINOLOGIES CONCERNING STROKE CHARACTERISTICS

1. ARC - a curved formed inside the top curve of loop/as in small letter “h”, “m”, “n”, “p”.
2. ARCH – any arcade form in the body of a letter found in small letters which contain arches.
3. ASCENDER – is the top portion of a letter or upper loop.

E.GRAMAJE/R. SIBATON/D.BALILING
 4. APEX – the uppermpoint of a character.
5. BASELINE – maybe actually on a ruled paper, it might be imaginary alignment of writing. It is
ruled or imaginary line upon which the writing rests.
6. BEADED – preliminary embellished initial stroke which usually occurs in capital letters.
7. BEARD – is the rudimentary initial up stroke of a letter.
8. BLUNT – the beginning and ending stroke of a letter (without hesitation).
9. BOWL – a fully rounded oval or circular form on a letter complete into “o”.
10. BUCKLE/BUCKLENOT – a loop made as a flourished which is added to the letters, as a small
letter “k and a” or in capital letter “A”, “K”, “I”.
11. CACOGRAPHY – a bad writing
12. CALLIGRAPHY – the art of beautiful writing
13. CONNECTING STROKE – a line joining two adjacent characters
14. CROSS STROKE – a stroke that crosses another portion of the character and is attached at
either end.
15. CROSSBAR – a stroke that intersects other portions of the character at both ends.
16. DESCENDER – opposite of ascender, the lower portion of a letter.
17. DIACRITIC – “t” crossing and dots of the letter “I” and “j”. The matters of the Indian script
are also known as diacritic signs.
18. DRAG STROKE – a stroke resulting from incomplete lifting of the pen.
19. ENDING/TERMINATE STROKE OF TOE – the end of a letter.
20. EYE/EYELET/EYELOOP – a small loop or curve formed inside the letters.
21. FOOT – the lower part which rest on the base line.
22. HABITS – any repeated elements or details, which may serve to individuals writing.
23. HESITATION – the irregular thickening of ink which is found when writing slows down or
stop while the pen take a stock of at the position.
24. HIATUS/PEN JUMP – A gap occurring between continuous strokes without lifting the pen.
Such as occurrence usually occurs due to speed. It may be regarded also as special form of pen
lift.
25. HOOK – it is a minute curve or an ankle which often occurs at the end of the terminal strokes/it
is also sometimes occur at the beginning of an initial strokes.
26. HUMP – the rounded outside of the top of the bend stroke or curve in small letter.
27. INDENTATION – latent or visible impressions in paper or other media.
28. KNOB – the extra deposit of ink in the initial and terminal stroke due to the slow withdrawal of
the pen from the paper (usually applicable to fountain pen.
29. LIGATURE/CONNECTION – the stroke which connects two stroke of letter.
30. LONG LETTER – those letters with both upper and lower loops.
31. OVAL – the portion of the letter which is oval in shape.
32. PATCHING – retouching or going back over a defective portion of a written stroke. Careful is
common defect on forgeries.
33. PEN LIFT – an interruption in a stroke caused by removing the writing instrument from
the paper.
34. RETRACE/RETRACING – any part of a stroke which is super imposed upon the original
stroke. Example; vertical strokes of the letters “d”, “t” while coming downward from the top to
bottom will have a retracing strokes.
35. SHOULDER – outside portion of the top curve seen in small letters.
36. SPUR – a short initial or terminal stroke.
37. STAFF – any major long downward stroke of a letter that is long stroke of the letter.
38. STEM OR SHANK – the upright long downward stroke that is the trunk or stalk,
normally seen in capital letters.
39. TICK/HITCH – any short stroke, which usually occurs at the top of the letters.
40. TREMOR – a writing weakness portrayed irregular shaky strokes is described as writing
tremor
41. Tremor of Fraud – The characteristics of tremor of fraud are inequality in movement at any
place in any stroke or line, with strokes too strong and vigorous combined with weak, hesitating
strokes, interruptions in movement in movement, unequal distribution of ink on upward or
varying pen pressure.

E.GRAMAJE/R. SIBATON/D.BALILING
 42. Tremor of age, or of extreme weakness
43. WHIRL – the long upward stroke of the ascender.
44. BULBS – a small circular enclosure.
45. FEATHERING – spreading of ink in the paper.
46. GRADUATED OR EXPLOSIVE SHADING – when the shading in a letter gradually
increases or decreases, it is called shading. If it is irregular, it is called “explosive” shading.

IV. ASSESSMENT
GENERAL INSTRUCTION: Read each question very carefully. Answer legibly, clearly and concisely.
Students who are residing in Tabuk should submit it personally to the CJJE OFFICE on March 4, 2022
(or you may submit it earlier). Should you have any questions or clarifications, you may message us
through our messenger account (EZRA RIZLE L. GRAMAJE).

I. APPLICATION.
A. Read and Understand page 9 of your Laboratory Manual. Answer Activity 4 (page 11-14) of
the same manual.
B. Read and Understand page 14-16 of your Laboratory Manual. Answer Activity 5 (page 17-
19) of the same manual.

V. REFERENCES
 Koppenhaver, Katherine. (2007). Forensic document examination: Principles and practice.
10.1007/978-1-59745-301-1.
 Michael, Allen. Foundations of Forensic Document Analysis: Theory and Practice. Wiley
Blackwell, 2016.
 Osborn, Albert S. Questioned Documents, a Study of Questioned Documents with an Outline of
Methods by Which the Facts May Be Discovered and Shown, by Albert S. Osborn, ... With an
Introduction by Professor John H. Wigmore, .. N.Y., 1910.
 SWGDOC Terminology Relating to the Examination of Questioned Documents

St. Louis College of Bulanao

Purok 6, Bulanao, Tabuk City, Kalinga 3800

E.GRAMAJE/R. SIBATON/D.BALILING
 This module is a requirement of the St. Louis College of Bulanao in response to the
implementation of the Blended Learning way of Instruction.

This Learning Material is a property of the College of Criminal Justice Education – St.
Louis College of Bulanao, Tabuk City. It aims to improve students’ performance specifically in
the Criminology Education.

Date of Development : January, 2021

Resource Location : Bulanao, Tabuk City
Learning Area :FORENSIC 13 (Questioned Document
Examination)
Learning Resource Type : Module 4

General Instruction/s:

The module covers Terminologies related to handwriting identification and examination and
terminologies concerning stroke characteristics. Series of activities will encourage you to explore
and learn about the topic. Through this module, the following instruction/s should be followed.

1. This module is exclusively for SLCB students only.

2. Reproduction and use of this module for any purpose is strictly prohibited, unless with
the written permission from SLCB.
3. You may use this module for any acceptable purposes.

St. Louis College of Bulanao

Purok 6, Bulanao, Tabuk City, Kalinga 3800

TITLE/TOPIC
QUESTIONED DOCUMENT EXAMINATION

LESSON 5
Characteristics of Handwriting

I. INTRODUCTION
E.GRAMAJE/R. SIBATON/D.BALILING
 This course covers the scientific methods of identification and examination of questionable
documents, handwriting examination, detection of forgery, falsification and counterfeiting of documents
which stress the procedures of restoring and deciphering erasures and obliterations; examination of
documents by means of visible light, ultra-violet light and ultra-red radiation and colored powders;
recognition and selection of standards; and examination of questionable typewriting, computerized
documents and other forms of modern printing.

II. LEARNING OUTCOMES

At the end of the lesson, the students will be able to:

 Differentiate the various characteristics appearing in our handwriting
 Understand the importance of individual characteristics in handwriting analysis
III. COURSE CONTENT
A. TYPES OF CHARACTERISTICS
1. General Characteristics – these characteristics refer to those habits which are part of
basic writing system.
2. National Characteristics – these refer to the extent that writing system within a
country share common features and induce class characteristics in the writing of its people,
different from other countries.
3. Accidental Characteristics – these are isolated, brief or temporary digression from
normal writing practices observed in writing standards.
4. Individual Characteristics – these are characteristics which are the result of the writer’s
muscular control, coordination, age, health, nervous, temperament, frequency, personality
and character.
 Permanent
 Common or usual
 Occasional
 Rare
B. POINTS IN IDENTIFICATION
1. Writing movement
2. Form and design of letters
3. Muscular control and motor control
 Loose Writing
 Restrained Writing
4. Motor coordination
5. Shading
6. Alignment
7. Pen Pressure
8. Connection
9. Pen Hold
10. Skill
11. Rhythm
12. Disconnections or pen lifts between letters
13. Speed
14. Slant as a writing habits

E.GRAMAJE/R. SIBATON/D.BALILING
 15. Proportion of letters as an individual characteristics or habit
16. Quality of strokes/Line quality
17. Variation

Note: Please read page 14-16 of your laboratory manual to further understand the discussion above.
Some points of identification were defined in the said manual.

IV. REFERENCES
 Koppenhaver, Katherine. (2007). Forensic document examination: Principles and practice.
10.1007/978-1-59745-301-1.
 Michael, Allen. Foundations of Forensic Document Analysis: Theory and Practice. Wiley
Blackwell, 2016.
 Osborn, Albert S. Questioned Documents, a Study of Questioned Documents with an Outline of
Methods by Which the Facts May Be Discovered and Shown, by Albert S. Osborn, ... With an
Introduction by Professor John H. Wigmore, .. N.Y., 1910.
 SWGDOC Terminology Relating to the Examination of Questioned Documents

St. Louis College of Bulanao

Purok 6, Bulanao, Tabuk City, Kalinga 3800

This module is a requirement of the St. Louis College of Bulanao in response to the
implementation of the Blended Learning way of Instruction.

This Learning Material is a property of the College of Criminal Justice Education – St.
Louis College of Bulanao, Tabuk City. It aims to improve students’ performance specifically in
the Criminology Education.

E.GRAMAJE/R. SIBATON/D.BALILING
Date of Development : March, 2021
Resource Location : Bulanao, Tabuk City
Learning Area :FORENSIC 13 (Questioned Document
Examination)
Learning Resource Type : Module 5

General Instruction/s:

The module covers the characteristics of handwriting, points in identification and types of
characteristics. Series of activities will encourage you to explore and learn about the topic.
Through this module, the following instruction/s should be followed.

1. This module is exclusively for SLCB students only.

2. Reproduction and use of this module for any purpose is strictly prohibited, unless with
the written permission from SLCB.
3. You may use this module for any acceptable purposes.

E.GRAMAJE/R. SIBATON/D.BALILING
E.GRAMAJE/R. SIBATON/D.BALILING