AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE 2

EDS 152 (3 Units)

California State University Sacramento

 

 

Instructor Information:

Instructor:        M. Richard Horrell-Schmitz,                          

Office:                         MTWH 8:30 AM – 9:00 AM or by appointment  

Email:              m.richard.horrell@gmail.com

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

 

Meeting Days/Times:

Days/Times:               MTWH:  6/29/09 – 7/24/09:  9:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Location:    Eureka Hall Rm. 223

 

Prerequisite:  

EDEL 151 or equivalent

 

Required Materials:

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

Dawn Sign Press: San Diego (1993). 

 

Recommended Resource:

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

 

Course Description:  

In the study of ASL as a second language the student will expand his or her knowledge of fundamental ASL grammar and communication, will discover issues unique to the Deaf community in America, and learn that this beautiful, natural, rich language cannot be separated from the community that developed it.  Above all, this class requires your attendance, involvement, and practice if you plan to succeed.

 

Course Outcomes:

In the course of this class, the student will develop and improve basic knowledge of grammatical constructs, rules and functions of American Sign Language through usage, responses, translations and application in classroom conversation, receptive exams and expressive assignments.

 

Topics of ASL 2:

Unit 6 – Telling about Activities

Unit 7 – Giving Directions

Unit 8 – Describing Others

Unit 9 – Making Requests

 

 

 

 

At the end of this course, the students will be able to:

• Demonstrate improvement in existing skills, and express concepts correctly and understandably in American Sign Language by correct responses, translations, and application in classroom conversation, receptive exams and expressive assignments.
• Show improvement in their ability to translate ideas from ASL to English and English to ASL through classroom conversation, receptive exams and expressive assignments.
• Demonstrate knowledge and comprehension of core vocabulary for ASL 2 by appropriate and correct responses, translations and application in classroom conversation, receptive exams and expressive assignments.
• Demonstrate knowledge of basic issues common to American deaf culture, its history and values, through classroom conversation, receptive exams and written assignments.
• Demonstrate knowledge of the various uses and functions of American Sign Language classifiers.
• Identify, explain and illustrate the various concepts, rules and functions of ASL through application and written assignments.
• Demonstrate the ability to identify, explain and illustrate general principles of human language, which apply not only to ASL but also to other natural languages.
• Demonstrate the ability to define and explain cultural transmission and language acquisition by correct responses in conversation and written work.
• Demonstrate ability to communicate with deaf individuals using ASL, and show knowledge of grammatical functions and rules by applying these principles in a consistent, practical manner through usage in and outside of class and through expressive assignments.

 

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

 

 

1000 – 970 = A+

969 – 940 = A

939 – 900 = A-

899 – 870 = B+

869 – 840 = B

839 – 800 = B-

799 – 770 = C+

769 – 740 = C

739 – 700 = C-

699 – 670 = D+

669 – 640 = D

639 – 600 = D-

599 – 000 =F

 

 

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. 

 

 

 

Quizzes:

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. 

 

Final Exam:

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. 

 

Legal Matters:

·        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. 

·        Turn cell phones to vibrate or silent settings. 

·        Do not wear baseball caps during quizzes.

·        No reading newspapers in class or other distracting behavior. 

·        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. 

·        Assignments turned in late for any reason may receive 0 credit. 

·        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.

 

Pep Talk:

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 faster than the Millennium Falcon can make the Kessel Run. . .  (sorry)  

 

I LOVE teaching; If there is something I can do to make my teaching 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.

 

I strongly suggest that you make every effort to arrange study groups outside of the class to practice and apply what you have learned in the class.  Students who take advantage of this opportunity usually learn much faster, usually do well, and pass this class with higher grades than students who do not.