Ubuntu :: External Hard Drive Device Name?

I am setting up a Linux laptop for my parents, and want to also create some backup scripts to allow them to easily back up to an external hard drive. [And for them to be able to use it, it has to be super simple.]

For security purposes (should the external drive ever get lost or stolen), I want to encrypt the entire device using TrueCrypt. That means my scripts will have to use TrueCrypt to mount the backup volume using the device name. [Right?]

Now to the actual question(s): 1) Is there a way to ensure that an external hard drive will ALWAYS be assigned the same device name when plugged in? [That would be the simplest solution for me.]

2) Alternatively, is there a way (using bash scripting) to "find" the device name of a particular external hard drive, even if it might not be known in advance.