The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes Lesson Plan

Sherlock Holmes, in the stories and in pop culture, refers to himself as a “consulting detective.” Is Sherlock different from a private investigator? Why or why not? If there is a distinction between the two, what difference does it make?

Some students might argue that Sherlock is not different from a private investigator. He works from home. He chooses his cases. He is accountable neither to a higher body nor to an institution. Other students might argue that Sherlock is different. His methods are different: private investigators often use the same methods as police officers; Sherlock does not. He relies on deduction, observation, and even science to solve his mysteries....