Gwendolyn Steslicke

Observation One
Thursday, September 17, 2015
Figured World: Large social structure that has specific rules and conventions for
appropriate behavior. Many communities of practices.

Elementary is a modern take of Sherlock Holmes. Sherlock is a man who just got out of rehab,
and now has a sober companion that his dad paid for him, her name is Dr. Watson. This show is
set in New York City and Sherlock assists the New York City Police Department solving crimes.
Sherlock was a former consultant to Scotland Yard, before being relocated to New York City.
New York Police Department is their place of business. Since Sherlock works in NYC, it is
always noisy and crowded. Usually in the NYPD building there is many things happening at
once, in one part of the building someone is being interrogated and in another part someone is
being locked up. Sherlock solves various crimes from art thefts to murders, he finds the smallest
clues any regular person would look over. When it comes to rules and conventions Sherlock gets
away with some things he shouldnt just because he is so good at his job. Other detectives were
skeptical about the way he conducts an investigation, but they let it slide because of how well he
does his job. Sherlock communicates by all types of ways for example, texts, calls, emails, and
letters. As Sherlock and Watson continue their crime solving they get some enemies along the
way, interfering with their personal lives and friends lives as well. After Sherlock is done with
his rehab in NYC he decides to offer Watson a job as his apprentice, which she takes. I plan to
observe the way Sherlock sees the world around him and to observe how he and Watson use
their critical thinking and observations to take down the criminal.

Commented [GS1]: I really like your explanation of

what you are studying. I have never watched
Elementary so it gave me a good background on what I
needed to know. But in the title of the page, I think you
should write what you are observing so people know
before they start reading. Brianna

Actors: Person that fulfils a specific role or function within the community, fulfils a purpose
in the show/book etc.
Sherlock Holmes- Is the major protagonist in this show. Sherlock is a genius mastermind,
solving things that no one would ever notice. He is not the best people person, he delivers the
truth even if you dont want to hear about it.
Joan Watson- The other main protagonist in this show. She is Sherlocks sober companion,
she watches over him and make sure he does not relapse. As time goes on she is more interested
in the detective side of things and starts to be an apprentice of Sherlock and his special deduction
skills.
Captain Gregson- In charge of the police department, he hired Sherlock to be a consultant
on cases.
Detective Bell- Detective under Captain Gregson, is on every case that Sherlock is on also.
The best detective Captain Gregson has.
Sherlocks father- Ultimately in charge of Sherlock. He plays for everything, his rehab, his
house, Watson. Even though he pays for everything he doesnt talk/see his son ever, merely puts
him to the side like he is not important.
Artifacts: Physical objects, emotions, and ideas that have cultural significance within a
figured world and communities of practice.
Sherlocks intelligence: Is why people watch the show. His crazy way of observation and
thinking

Commented [GS2]: I would go into more detail about

Sherlock's Intelligence. I know that it has to be
important but the description isn't very detailed. I would
like to know more as reader about Sherlock's
Intelligence since its the only artifact. :) -Brianna

Communities of Practice: Groups of people who share the same interest, or have the same job
within the figured world of New York crime scenes. They come together to gain knowledge
and make themselves better at that particular task. Group of three or more
Sober Support Group- consisting of Sherlock, Watson, and Sherlocks father. They
support Sherlock in his road to recovery, even though Watson more than his father they
still care.
NYPD- Sherlock, Watson, Captain Gregson, and Detective Bell. They all come together
to solve the hardest crimes in New York. Captain Gregson and Detective Bell go to
Sherlock for his insight even if it might sound crazy.
Domain: Shared interest or goals, its the focus of the community, the actors of the community
come together to learn from each other.
Sherlocks intelligence: Watson, Detective Bell, and Captain Gregson try and
understand how Sherlocks brain works, but they just cant crack it. The way he thinks is
remarkable, yet totally insane.

Commented [GS3]: Within all of your definitions I

would suggest trying to include at least two examples
of each. It would help the reader to better understand
the show. The examples you did include are very good,
just try to find at least one more for each definition :) Morgan
Commented [GS4R3]:

Practices of the community: Learning networks, activities to develop their practice skills.
Linking the smallest forms of evidence together: Sherlock uses his remarkable skills to
put together the smallest evidence to catch a culprit. From carefully observing the crime
scenes, questioning families, people related to crimes, and talking it out and pinning all the
information with Watson, all come together to form a practice of the community.
Literacy Practices: ways of communication that is written and/or spoken
Texting- The act of Sherlock texting Captain Gregson and Detective Bell while they
interrogate a suspect to when Sherlock texts Watson crazy acronyms is all forms of literary
practices.
Elementary season 1 episode 2: While you were sleeping
1:00 The show starts off by Sherlock and Watson sitting in a support group meeting listening
to a man tell how grateful he is for the support. The meetings are mandatory for Sherlock to
continue a normal life. Sherlock stares blankly into space while everyone else is clapping.
Watson ask if he is okay then gently touches his shoulder AMYGDALA Sherlock shouts while
standing up. He looks at his watch sees that its 6:00 and walks out while everyone stares. Later
on while walking down the street Sherlock tells Watson that he hypnotized himself so he
wouldnt have to listen to the sob stories.
5:00- Sherlock gets a call from captain Gregson needing his help on a case. As Sherlock and
Watson walks in theres a man on the floor by the steps dead with a bullet hole in the head.
Detective Bell says its a burglary gone wrong. As Sherlock takes a look around Watson says
shes going to wait in the hall. Sherlock doesnt understand why she gets uneasy when she has
worked on cadavers in medical school, Watson replies yeah because its the same thing?. After
looking around for maybe a minute Sherlock says it is a burglary and homicide, two separate
crimes. Detective Bell looks at Sherlock like he is crazy and asks him how? He knows a woman
killed him because he could smell the leftover scent of women's deodorant by the chair. A man
came and took his belongings and an armoire (a big chest/cabinet). He deducts that his neighbor
took his belongings, he breaks in and sees the armoire.

Commented [GS5]: For your actual definitions, such

as Practices of the community and literacy practices, I
think you could expand more on each definition. What
you have to define them is good but I feel like you
could define them more to help the reader better
understand. Most readers wouldn't know what these
two words mean so work on expanding your definitions
:) -Morgan
Commented [GS6]: Really like your description of
"texting" but I know there has to be more within the
show. From your observations, I can tell that there is
face to face talking so that could be something that you
use. Also, normally police officers use radios to talk
back and fourth so maybe you could put that in. :) Brianna

9:00- neighbor in the interrogation room talking about how he was dead when he saw his
neighbor and he took the armoire because times have been tough for him and it would give him
money. Sherlock is mad because he knows he didnt kill the man but captain Gregson wont
listen to him. Neighbor says he saw a strange woman coming down the stairs as he was arriving
to the scene, and says he can describe her. Detective is furious because he thinks he is just trying
to get himself out of jail by describing a fictional person.
11:00- scene change. Watson meets old boyfriend at a restaurant. They talk about his work, he
works for the DA. He asks about her job and she answers shortly saying good, fine great, and
thats all she talks about her client. He talks about how he is worried for her and that her parents
are worried also, he suggest she should call them. She gets upset saying she doesnt need a
lecture from them. Hes confused how she isnt going back to being a surgeon and why she is
babysitting drug addicts. She gets upset saying why they dont understand that she is good at her
job now.
13:00- Detective called Sherlock saying he found the sketch girl and he needs to get to St. Isidora
Hospital. The girl that the neighbor described is in the hospital, in a coma, she tried to kill herself
three days prior. Detective gets snappy with Sherlock saying he was wrong and will take it from
there. Sherlock stays there to observe her thinking that her coma is fake. Watson proves that the
coma is real. He finds out that she has a twin. He goes finds her twin but finds out that their
fraternal twins.
16:00- Watson finds a old violin of Sherlocks, she suggest that he should start playing again to
help with post rehab satiability and relieve stress. He said playing takes up too much thinking
space so he forgot. Watsons says you cant just un-learn something you have done for years. Her
phone rings, he tells her its probably her ex and she should get it. While Watson is on the phone
Sherlock puts the violin in a bucket and lights it on fire. He says yes that is a good stress reliever
I felt like jimmy Hendrix. She rushes to find a blanket to put over the fire and put it out.
Sherlocks phone rings captain Gregson again, new murder.
20:00- Captain Gregson said it was the same gun from the first shooting. Sherlock smells the
same deodorant from the first murder also. The Captain thinks there is no connection from the
murders but he is wrong. Sherlock points out they both have the same rare genetic disorder:
clouding of the corneas. He comes the realization that they are half siblings. The next day the
labs come back and confirms his hypothesis of them being related.
25:00- Sherlock, Watson, captain Gregson, and detective Bell find out that the two people
murdered are related to the twins. They found out that they hired a PI to look into the other
siblings just in case one of the half siblings takes it to court. They all go back to see the twin not
in a coma questioning her trying to see if she is the murder. They claimed that she tried to
murder her sister so she could get all the money her father left for them.
Observation 2
Season 1, Episode 3: Child Predator
1:00 Brooklyn 2005 boy named Adam walks out of his house. A old car drives by and a man
calls his name saying hed give him a ride to school just hop in. balloons in the back of the car
saying congrats, thank you etc. what are those for theyre for your parents, get in Ill explain.

2:00 Fast forward to present day Sherlock in the middle of the floor with pictures all around him
all relating to the balloon man saying that there has been another kidnapping last night done by
the balloon man. Watson asks how he knows. The police scanner it was called in about midnight
and that captain Gregson will be calling him in about 15 minutes about the case phone rings or
sooner Sherlock says.
4:00 They show up to the house and the parents are about to go on TV to plead for their daughter
back. Sherlock tries to stop the camera man but he just wont listen. He finds a spray paint can
and sprays the camera lens saying you must not go on T.V. she will be killed sooner. He says if
you want to get your girl back you must do everything I say.
7:00 Sherlock takes a look around finds out that the father is lying about going out to buy a bottle
of wine he is meeting his ex-mistress down the street. The father tries to deny it but Sherlock
gives him all the facts saying he know him and his wife were separated. By the two lemon
juicers the two sets of salt and pepper shakers and the mail that was forwarded from the hotel he
stayed at. In fact he bought the bottle a few days or weeks ago determined by the stamp price on
the bottle. Sherlock would like to talk to her to see if he saw the kidnappers car.
9:00 While talking to the ex-mistress she is so upset knowing shes the reason the man took her
and she also said that a van hit her. Dark brown van. Sherlock said at 9:30 because he heard
police sirens that the kidnapper thought was for him but in fact for a public dispute. Note the
vine being broken by the girl, the kidnapper usually chloroforms his victims but with this girl he
was being sloppy. He grabbed the girl took her and threw in the van rushing off while running
through a stop sign hitting cars because he was panicked
12:00 While looking at the street to try and find clues to help find the kidnapper Sherlock sees a
car with many parking tickets but yet it was moved a couple inches. The car had brown, blue,
and white skid marks on it. Sherlock calls Detective Bell to him saying they are looking for a
police van that has been auctioned off and painted brown.
13:00 They get a hit for the van. They are following it closely. The driver of the van makes them.
Trying to lose them all the sudden many undercover cop cars come out of nowhere and surround
the vehicle. The man tries to run but the detective pushes him to the ground, saying it cant be
the guy who kidnapped Adam he would be in 6 grade if he kidnapped Adam. Sherlock says of
course its not the man who took Adam, it is Adam judging by his birthmark.
th

15:00 Detective Bell interrogates Adam, but Adam wont say a word. Sherlock is behind the
glass talking to Watson about how this is the crime of the century. Watson points out that in
some cases the kidnapper takes care of the child like a father, so if the kid is ever found the child
doesnt want to give their kidnapper up and maybe thats why Adam fled from the police.
Watson talks about how maybe some of his other victims are still alive since Adam is still alive
but Sherlock disagrees. Sherlock says that Adam was special and victims two and third were the
only bodies found, once he got a taste for killing he never turned away. Adam still wont talk,
Sherlock says he should talk to him because he thinks he can get through to him. Captain
Gregson is hesitant because Sherlock isnt the most delicate person in the world. Sherlock is

Commented [GS7]: I would try to reword this part of

your observation. Its hard to understand what exactly is
going on in the first 2 sentences. Explain what you
mean when you say "they get hit for the van." -Morgan

aware of that but still wants to talk to him and says he wants to help the life of the little girl is at
stake and wants to help in anyway he can to save her. Sherlock also states that Adam is
traumatized and maybe even brainwashed and the only reason Adam is in the Police Department
is because of him. Sherlock asks for ten minutes, Captain Gregson grumbles for a minute gets in
the elevator, dramatically points at Sherlock and says you got five.
16:00 Sherlock enters the interrogation room introducing himself, telling him he is the only one
that he will talk to. Sherlock tries to talk to him explaining why he wont give up his kidnapper.
Saying that even though he abused you, he was good to you he feed you, he clothed you, he
taught you how to drive, and he loved you. Sherlock tells Adam how he can relate a little talking
about his time in boarding school and how a cool kid would beat him up and how eventually
Sherlock gave gratitude towards him because he got noticed from his bully. Adam begins to talk
about how his captor takes care of him, brings him doughnuts every morning, and he doesnt
need to but he does. Captain Gregson goes into the room saying no more questions he lawyered
up. Through via telepathy Sherlock asks, no his parents are here and they lawyered up
21:00 Captain Gregson, Sherlock, Watson, Detective Bell, Adams parents, and their lawyer is all
in a meeting room talking about a deal they proposed with the DA (district attorney) stating that
any murder he has assisted with his kidnapper, he gets immunity (he cant get tried for those
murders) for exchange of everything about the kidnapper, the murders, and where the other
bodies are buried. The lawyer said that they might hear back from the DA in the morning,
Detective bell states that it might be too late for the girl by morning. Sherlock motions Captain
Gregson to talk with him outside, Sherlock talks about how his kidnapper brought home
doughnuts every morning, so that means he worked nights. Captain Gregson was skeptical if he
could run on that information and Sherlock affirmed him he could.
24:00 Sherlock and Watson are at home now with the boxes about the balloon man. Holmes asks
if he worked nights is really enough to identify him, Sherlock says no but its a start. Sherlock
stayed up all night to try and identify him. It's morning time and Watson is sleeping on the table,
Sherlock screams her name to wake her while he is on the phone with a newspaper business.
Sherlock found evidence that he changed jobs between victims. The FBI conducted a theory that
he was an exterminator because victims 1-3 all had their houses fumigated before the children
got abducted. Sherlock thinks that the kidnapper changed jobs in-between victims three and four
to a night newspaper delivery guy for the Investors Post. Victim fours parents had a subscription
to the newspaper, as do the most recent victim, victims five, six, and seven do not have a
subscription, but their neighbors do. The Newspaper finally takes Sherlock off hold and gives
them the name of the recent victim newspaper guy, he compares the names of the men who
worked as an exterminator and one shows up, Samuel Abbott.
26:00 The police find Samuels Abbotts house that he listed on his drivers license, it was his
mothers house, but his mother died six months ago. The police go through a window and find
the apartment. They put a camera under the door to check for explosives, boom they break down
the door. CLEAR, CLEAR, CLEAR, CLEAR the team yells as they search the rooms of the
apartment. Sherlock, Watson, and Captain Gregson sit in a surveillance van near the apartment.
Sherlock points to a room and says to go look at it. The police enter one of the rooms and there is
a bundle of balloons saying congrats, and good job on them to tell the police good job for finding

Commented [GS8]: I really like how you emphasized

the tone of what was happening in this episode. By
including "CLEAR" in all caps it gets the point across to
the reader that this was an intense part of the show. I
would suggest trying to do this more throughout your
observations to help the reader get the point. -Morgan

his house, attached to the ribbons there is a flash drive. On the flash drive it's Samuel Abbott
saying if they dont release his son back to him by noon tomorrow you can make it seven
people he has killed.
Season 1 episode 4: Rat Race
1:00 Watson walks into the police station, alone, she asks if she can talk to captain Gregson
privately. She paces his office frantically saying he hasnt got in contact with her in the past
three hours. Captain Gregson tries to calm her down saying he is probably just chasing someone
in the subway. Watson makes it clear that he is never supposed to be unreachable and apart for
more than two hours. Watson tries to explain that they live together but they arent together,
together. Captain Gregson makes it clear if she doesnt tell him the whole story he wont be
able to help. She finally omits she is Sherlocks sober companion, and the only reason she is
telling him that is because she is scared he might have relapsed. Cut seen. You see Sherlock
passed out, in handcuffs and his feet zip tied.
5:00 Flashback to two days earlier, Watson is out having lunch with a friend, and suddenly her
lunch with a friend turned into a blind date. Watson gets a text will all text acronyms from
Sherlock, only a ten year old could decipher the letter meanings. Sherlock texts her again saying
he needs her it's important, but in abbreviated letter form. When Watson gets to the apartment
Sherlock deducts that she meet a man, all by seeing that she put her hair up, he has studied her
and he knows that she thinks its more flattering when she puts her hair up. Sherlock tells her he
has a mysterious meeting with an investment firm, and he doesnt know how long its going to
talk ergo why he summoned her to come.
6:00 Sherlock sits at the table around of many board members of the firm, Watson sits to the side
by the window. Sherlock demises finance businesses because they steal peoples money and
bankrupt our country. Sherlock is short with them, liking the power he has over these people.
They want him to find their COO (runs a conference call with their institutional investors, the
ones with a lot of money), Peter Talbott. Peter didnt show up for the conference call so they had
to reschedule, if they dont reschedule soon people will start to whisper and the company will
lose millions. He said he will take the case if they pay him twelve times the amount he usually
gets paid for. Sherlock and Watson looks at Peter's office, they find a prostitute catalogue. They
find his fake expense log on his computer that he pays for the prostitutes.

Commented [GS9]: I am not sure was COO. I like that

you explain what it does but I think you should put in
there was COO means because a lot of people
probably don't know. It was just help with the better
understanding while reading the observations. -Brianna

9:00 Sherlock asks Martin Rydell to one of the most expensive restaurant in the city so he seems
rich. Sherlock told Rydell over the phone that he wanted to start a private executive account with
him, he lied to him so that he could talk about the hookers he helped Peter with. Rydell told
Sherlock and Watson that he has a side apartment in Tribeca that Peter and he share for the
hookers. They walk into the apartment and see Peter slumped down in a chair, rubber band tied
around his arm and a needle stuck in his arm. Sherlock stares blankly out the window, for heroin
was one of the drugs that landed him in rehab and might cause him to relapse just by looking at
this sight.
14:00 Sherlock looks around the apartment and states that this is a murder, not an OD (overdose). This apartment is pristine, heroin is used to dull the senses, surly a COO in charge of a
million dollar company wouldnt be using, plus there are no tracks on his arm, Sherlock states.

Commented [GS10]: I like how you included the

definition of OD. By doing this the reader will better
understand the context of the show. Although most
people know what OD means, those who don't will
understand it better now.

Sherlock thinks that there are small traces of heroin in the salad Peter was eating to knock him
out, the killer dragged him to the chair and shot him up with the deadly dose.
17:00 While questioning the wife of Peter, Sherlock butts in and asks her about her whereabouts
two nights ago between six and midnight, she was at a silent auction for Habitat of Humanity.
She was shocked that he started using heroin, but she said she wasnt that surprised because he
has been overwhelmed since they named him COO. She says that her husband thought the last
COO dropped dead because of the stress with that job. Sherlock butts in again asking how he
died, she said he was allergic to peanuts and a restaurant used the wrong kind oil in his lunch, the
previous October.
18:00 Sherlock is on the phone speaking mandarin. He is talking to the chef of the pre-successor
of the COO his name was Gary. Gary had a special arrangement with the chef to avoid peanuts
while he prepared his meal, and swears that someone put the oil in the food after the food was
done and sent to Gary.
21:00 Watson comes back from a date to find pictures spread all over the wall, Sherlock says its
all the people in that corporation that has died in the last ten years. Sherlocks phone goes off and
its a text from the lab and it says there were trace amount of heroin in the salad. He states that he
is going to try and set up another meeting with the company to try and find out if there is a
murder among their staff.
24:00 At the meeting Sherlock shows four unusual deaths that has happened throughout the ten
years. He says there is a sociopath in their company, not crimes of passion, but crimes of
opportunity. Sherlock asks for the files they have to find an employee that worked in Denver
2003, Dallas 2005, and New York since 2009. The person who originally hired Sherlock, Jim
Fowkes is the only person in that room who has worked in those places in that time. The man
goes crazy saying do you honestly believe that he would kill his way up, Sherlock says this may
be awkward but youre a damn good suspect.
27:00 Jim Fowkes came to hand Sherlock his check personally and to talk about what happened
earlier that day. He said he was next in line for COO and now that he accused him of murder that
gossip might kill his job. He shows evidence that he did not kill the first victim for he had
complications with a face lift. As Sherlock looks at the evidence he sees that his medical contact
was Donna, his secretary.
Interview
Joseph Steslicke
What is the different approaches that Sherlock does to solve the crimes?
o Well mainly he observes closely he insists the help of experts in given areas when needed
Describe how Sherlock transforms Watson into being his apprentice?
o Watson begins as Sherlock ' counselor or sober companion but becomes infatuated with the

mystery solving life and Sherlock teaches her his techniques

Discuss why you like the show Elementary?
o It is exciting, the mystery/ who done it aspect captures my interest. Well thought out plot
lines.

Tell me what stands out to you about Sherlock?

o He has tattoos, he is a recovering drug addict, playing off on the original Sherlock Holmes

character in the books, who used drugs, due to being bored, when he didnt have a case.

Tell me about the relationship between Sherlock and Watson with the NYPD?
o They work with the NYPD as consultants, unpaid.

Commented [GS11]: I like your interview. Your

questions are really good!!! But I would add more to the
interview questions so that the interviewer could
explain a little more. The interviewers answers are kind
of short in my personal opinion. Which isn't your fault
but I would ask my interviewer to be a little bit more
descriptive. -Brianna