Syllabus

AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE 2

DFST 2

Sierra College, Department of Deaf Studies

Instructor Information:

Instructor: M. Richard Horrell-Schmitz

Office: Tuesdays/Thursdays 8:30-9 or by appointment

Email: rhorrell-schmitz@sierracollege.edu

m.richard.horrell@tmo.blackberry.net (for urgent needs)

Meeting Days/Times:

Days/Times: T/TH 6:35 – 8:35 PM

Location: Roseville Gateway Rm. 611

Course Description:

Students will continue to expand vocabulary and improve upon skills acquired in ASL 1. Expansion of conversational range will include talking about other people and activities, giving directions, and making requests. Students will also develop discourse skills appropriate for establishing connections with Deaf acquaintances and handling a variety of interruptions.

Prerequisite:

DFST 1 or equivalent transfer class or experience level

Required Materials:

Regular access to the internet in order to utilize www.lifeprint.com/richard--the class website.

Recommended Resource:

Mikos, Ken, et. al. Signing Naturally: Student Workbook Level 1 (and accompanying DVD).

Dawn Sign Press: San Diego (1993).

Class Participation/Communication Policy:

ASL, as is the case with any foreign language, requires a significant amount of participation. Participation is more than showing up. It means a student is prepared, engaged in classroom exercises and discussions, and assignments, and is adhering to the policies of the classroom and of the college at large. Each class meeting is worth five (5) points for participation. Five (5) points may seem paltry, but it adds up very quickly so get all of those points!

This course is a total immersion course, thus, there will not be any class time when any spoken communication will be permitted. All communication between students, students and instructor, and students and any other guest/visitor to the class will be in ASL. Your level of engagement in this class will be reflected by your grades on all the quizzes.

Using spoken English in class will be considered cheating and students caught doing so will be give a zero for the day and, if it continues, may be dismissed from class.

Assignments and Examinations:

Participation = 150 points

6 Quiz Assignments at 25 points each                        = 150 points
Research Paper                                                = 150 points
Expressive Final                                             = 275 points
Receptive Final                                               = 275 points
Total points                                                     = 1000

Research Paper:

In lieu of a midterm examination, one research paper will be required. The paper shall address a single cultural/linguistic/educational aspect of ASL of the student’s choosing, as approved by instructor. The research paper will be no fewer than two full pages and no longer than four; will strictly adhere to MLA format guidelines; and will clearly and concisely answer the call of the question. The ONLY acceptable deviation from MLA format will be that students are permitted to write their respective closing paragraphs in the first-person. A rubric will be provided two weeks prior to the due date for the research paper.

For full credit, the research paper is to be submitted in person at the start of class on the due date or in the body of an email at or before the start of class on the due date. 5% of the total grade on the research paper will be subtracted for each class period the paper is late.

All quizzes in this class are designed to measure a student’s understanding and level of mastery of the assigned curriculum and are not meant to surprise or fluster or fail him/her. They are partially expressive and partially receptive quizzes and ONLY the current content already taught will be measured. There will be no making up quizzes except with prior approval or if absence was due to medical/familial emergency and some substantiating evidence can be provided.

The quiz assignments are only for general accuracy and should not pose a challenge to any student regularly engaging in the assigned activities.

The final exam, just as it is with the quizzes, is designed to measure a student’s understanding and level of mastery of the assigned curriculum and is not meant to surprise or fluster or fail him/her. There will be two class periods devoted to final exam review as well as a practice (not for credit) final given on the last day of the regular semester.

The final exam will consist of two separately graded sections: receptive and expressive. You must pass both portions of the exam, but they will be graded separately so as to give students a better understanding of their relative strengths and areas in which there is need for improvement.

· This syllabus and the schedule are subject to change in the event of extenuating circumstances.

· If you are absent from class, it is your responsibility to check on announcements made while you were absent.

· No makeup tests without an obituary of a relative or a note from your medical professional or school administrator or unless prior approval is obtained from instructor.

· No videotaping the lecture or bringing visitors or guests without permission.

· Students are always expected to work independently on graded quizzes and/or assignments unless specifically directed otherwise by the instructor.

· Penalties for cheating and plagiarism may include receiving an F for a particular assignment, an F for the course, or disciplinary action by the administration.

· Upon identifying themselves to the instructor and the university, students with disabilities will receive reasonable accommodation for learning and evaluation.

You can do this. Come to class. Be involved in class discussions. If you have questions, ask in class or just email them to me and I'll get back to you usually within a day. Feel free to send your question again if you don’t get a response quickly enough; it isn’t a bother! I LOVE teaching. If there is something I can do to make the class better for you please do suggest it. This ASL class may greatly challenge you, but I know if you work hard and put in the time you will succeed.