"" American Sign Language (ASL)

Course	Class Days, Time, and Location:
(DEAF 53) (Section 1) (89602)(2013)	Mondays meet in Library 53 from 2:30 PM to 3:20 PM Wednesdays meet in Eureka 307G from 2:30 PM to 3:20 PM

Fall 2014 Dates	Studio Sessions:	Lifeprint Homework	Quizzes (SacCT) Due by 11:59 PM	Points	Other:
Mon. Sept 01					Labor Day
Wed. Sept 03	(Studio session 1)
Mon. Sept 8
Wed. Sept 10	(Studio session 2)	Lesson 31	Quiz 31 (Quiz 31 Video)	10
Mon. Sept 15		Lesson 32	Quiz 32 (Quiz 32 Video) Note: Video skips #31 Answer is "interesting"	10
Wed. Sept 17	(Studio session 3)	Lesson 33	Quiz 33 (Quiz 33 Video)	10
Mon. Sept 22		Lesson 34	Quiz 34 (Quiz 34 Video)	10
Wed. Sept 24	(Studio session 4)	Lesson 35	Quiz 35 (Quiz 35 Video)	10
Mon. Sept 29
Wed. Oct 01	(Studio session 5)
Mon. Oct 06		Covers LP 31-35		100	Exam 1
Wed. Oct 8	(Studio session 6)	Lesson 36	Quiz 36 (Quiz 36 Video)	10
Mon. Oct 13		Lesson 37	Quiz 37 (Quiz 37 Video)	10
Wed. Oct 15	(Studio session 7)	Lesson 38	Quiz 38 (Quiz 38 Video)	10
Mon. Oct 20		Lesson 39	Quiz 39 (Quiz 39 Video)	10
Wed. Oct 22	(Studio session 8)	Lesson 40	Quiz 40 (Quiz 40 Video)	10
Mon. Oct 27
Wed. Oct 29	(Studio session 9)
Mon. Nov 03		Covers LP 31-40		150	Exam 2
Wed. Nov 05	(Studio session 10)	Lesson 41	Quiz 41 (Quiz 41 Video)	10
Mon. Nov 10		Lesson 42	Quiz 42 (Quiz 42 Video)	10
Wed. Nov 12	(Studio session 11)	Lesson 43	Quiz 43 (Quiz 43 Video)	10
Mon. Nov 17		Lesson 44	Quiz 44 (Quiz 44 Video)	10
Wed. Nov 19	(Studio session 12)	Lesson 45	Quiz 45 (Quiz 45 Video)	10
Mon. Nov 24
Wed. Nov 26	(Studio session 13)
Mon. Dec 01
Wed. Dec 03	(Studio session 14)
Mon. Dec 08		Covers LP 31-45		300	Exam 3
Wed. Dec 10	(Studio session 15)
Mon. Dec 15				300	Final Exam

2013 Fall Final Exam Information for Dr. Bill's M/W 2:30PM class
Final Exam Day	Start Time
Mon., Dec. 16, 2013	2:30 PM in Eureka 307G
Check your other Final Exams to make sure they don't conflict. If so, let me know and we will work it out.

ADDITIONAL SELF-STUDY for MAJORS in DEAF STUDIES:

	Study Guide for the textbook:	Utilize	Self-Test MC	Self-Test	How many questions?
1	"Signing Naturally" Level 2 workbook, Unit 13 Pages 1-33	Unit 13 Study Guide	Unit 13 Quiz	Numbers 1-129	[129 Q's]
2	"Signing Naturally" Level 2 workbook, Unit 14 Pages 45-58	Unit 14 Study Guide	Unit 14 Quiz	Numbers 1-118	[118 Q's]
3	"Signing Naturally" Level 2 workbook, Unit 15 Pages 63-86	Unit 15 Study Guide	Unit 15 Quiz	Numbers 1-121	[121 Q's]
4	"Signing Naturally" Level 2 workbook, Unit 16 Pages 89-116	Unit 16 Study Guide	Unit 16 Quiz	Numbers 1-100	[100 Q's]
5	"Signing Naturally" Level 2 workbook, Unit 17 Pages 131-145	Unit 17 Study Guide	Unit 17 Quiz	Numbers 1-134	[134 Q's]
	Video only links: 13 \| 14 \| 15 \| 16 \| 17 \| Cumulative \|		Cumulative		[50 Q's]

Welcome to Class!
I'm glad you are here! You can do this! I'll be your guide as we travel into the world of ASL. I've been teaching ASL for over 20 years and I am passionate about it. You've picked a great topic to be studying. ASL is an exciting subject that can open for you a new world of relationships and understanding.

Course Format:
We will enjoy a combination of classroom practice and interaction as well as the convenience of online study and testing. We will do several in-person signing exams and will have a comprehensive final exam. You will use the SacCT system to submit your answers to online quizzes. If you need help with your SacLink Account, see: https://www.saclink.csus.edu Use your saclink user name and password to log into SacCT from the SacCT Home page. See: https://www.csus.edu/sacct/ Once you are logged in you will see a list of courses in which you are currently enrolled. Simply click on the title of this course to access the SacCT portion of this course. To learn more about how to use the various tools in SacCT, begin by exploring some of the Tutorials, Student FAQs.

This is a hybrid (online and in-person) highly participatory, highly interactive, web-enhanced, no-voice class. What does that mean? It means you need to show up on-time, turn off your voice, turn off your electronics, turn on your brain, and move your hands. In order to prepare for some of the quizzes you will need to study independently (this strange behavior is sometimes called "homework") online -- which will include watching videos and visiting certain web pages. Attendance throughout the semester is required for the Monday sessions. The Wednesday "studio" sessions and are recommended for those who would like (or need) more practice and/or students who want to increase the likelihood of receiving an "A" in this class. You will use Lifeprint.com as your textbook and you will use the SacCT system to "officially" submit your answers to a number of online quizzes.

How to get an "A"

   Study lessons 31 - 45 at http://lifeprint.com [Recommended: Review lessons 1 - 30. Click on each vocabulary link. Watch each sentence video.]
   Watch the review videos at: http://webpages.csus.edu/~vicars/index-videos-studio.htm (If you need the review).
   Watch the video quizzes at http://webpages.csus.edu/~vicars/index-quizzes50q.htm and write down (or type out) your answers.
   AFTER you've typed out your answers for a quiz, go to http://www.csus.edu/sacct/ and sign into this class, find the appropriate quiz, click on it and submit the answers for the quiz video you just watched.
   Show up to the Monday class sessions, learn, practice, and ask questions. For more exposure, show up to the optional Wednesday sessions (in the Library Studio room 53).
   Show up for the various in-person exams. (Duh.) (See the schedule for the times and dates).

Instructor:
William Vicars, Ed.D. (Dr. Vicars / Dr. V / Dr. Bill) Contact: BillVicars@aol.com Office: Eureka 308
Office Hours: As posted by my office door (EUR308) or email me for an appointment.

Course description:
Basic vocabulary and grammar of American Sign Language. Upon completion, participants will be able to exchange information about themselves and their families such as their names, where they live, and their interests. Participants are exposed to elements of Deaf culture and the Deaf community.

Required Materials: NONE!!! :)
Optional textbook: "Signing Naturally"

Suggested Textbook: Signing Naturally Level 2 Student DVD and Workbook Price: $69.95(?) (ISBN: 1-58121-131-7) [Note: Yes, on the cover of that book it "says" it is a "Level 2" text. Don't worry about that.
The book covers units 13 through 17 of the Signing Naturally curriculum and is used for level ASL 3 at Sac State and most surrounding colleges.
If you are majoring or minoring in Deaf Studies you are encouraged to acquire this text prior to the first day of class. However it is possible to get a good grade in this particular class by attending class and using the free online study materials. Visit the campus bookstore or see ordering information at this link: "Materials"

Links:
The Homework Video & Quiz Links: http://webpages.csus.edu/~vicars/
The CSUS site for turning in your online quiz answers: http://csus.edu/sacct
The course home page link: http://www.lifeprint.com/2014 (You can access this syllabus from there.)
Place to learn fingerspelling: http://asl.gs
Place to improve your ability to read fingerspelling: http://asl.ms
Place to improve your ability to recognize numbers: http://asl.bz
Culture study guide, see: Culture guide

Examinations and assignments:
There are 1000 points possible in this class.

Assignments	Points
Study Quizzes	150 points
Exam 1	100 points
Exam 2	150 points
Exam 3	300 points
Final Exam	300 points
Total =	1,000 Points

Lesson Quizzes (online)
Study the lessons at Lifeprint.com. Then watch the video quiz for each lesson. The links to the right video quizzes are in the schedule section of this syllabus. Use only those quiz links! Why? Lifeprint is full of many various resources, videos, and practice quizzes. So make sure you are watching the right video quiz by using the links in THIS SYLLABUS in the "schedule" section (below). Watch the video quiz for the lesson you are on, write down your answers (or type them). THEN you go to http://csus.edu/sacct and find your course and look for the quiz links and click on the quiz for the lesson you are on and input your answers THERE.

Exams
All quizzes and exams may be cumulative. I will sign to you sentences and vocabulary from the lessons. The sentences will be composed only from the vocabulary covered in the lessons (either online or in person) but will not necessarily be the same sentences as in the practice sheets. The vocabulary may be combined into new sentences. Hint: Don't just memorize the sentences in the practice sheets.

You are to write down what you see me signing. (If my sentence is a question don't "answer" the question, just write the sentence.) You can write either English sentences or just write down the ASL concepts in the order that I sign them (as long as it is clear that you understand the concept.) Pay attention to my facial expressions. These are explained in some of the links such as those at the top of Lifeprint.com lesson 2. For example, if I sign "TIME" while using a "WH-question expression" it means "What time?" Thus if you just write "time" and not "What time?" it tells me you didn't study enough and did not click on the link that describes the "wh" facial expression.

Note: During "in-person" tests I will show the sentences a limited number of times (I usually limit it to just three times). The only reason I'm showing the sentences more than once is in case you blink or sneeze. If you need to see the sentence more than once to "get it" and the person sitting next to you only needs to see it once to "get it" that indicates his performance is "excellent" and yours is "poor" which means the test is doing what it is designed to do: Divide students into excellent, good, fair, poor, and failure categories. If you ask to see the sentence repeatedly, that tells me you are in the poor or failure category. As an instructor, part of my job is to find out who is ready to go on to the next class and who is not. It is my responsibility to protect (via assignment of "F" grades) those who are not ready to move up to the next level from being frustrated if they move on to a level for which they are unprepared.

Final Exam:
The final exam is a receptive ASL test. The day, time, and location are listed in the syllabus's schedule. When you arrive for the test sit in such a way as to make it difficult for your neighbor to see your answers. (We wouldn't want him or her to copy your wrong answers and fail the test now would we?) Cell phones are to be put away, headsets taken off, baseball caps turned backwards, two sheets of paper are to be used -- one of which to cover your answers.

I will sign any of the following to you:
* Various sentences composed from the vocabulary lists in the lessons.
* Various individual vocabulary items from the lessons.
* Numbers between 0 and 9,999,999 (study at http://asl.bz)
* Fingerspelled words (study at http://asl.ms) (I recommend you get to the point where you can catch 9 out of 10 at "fast" speed and/or 7 out of 10 at "Deaf" speed). Use a desktop computer (not a phone).

So, to summarize: The final exam is cumulative. I will sign various items (signs, spelled words, numbers, or sentences) to you. You can translate them to English or just string the labels of the ASL signs together. If you miss one concept or change the meaning of a sentence you may lose points for the whole sentence so practice hard and don't try to bluff your way through this test. These sentences will be similar to the ones on the website. Becoming familiar with the sentences on the website is a good way to practice for the test. But, the test sentences may use different combinations of vocabulary, so watch closely.

Grading:
Scale: 100-95%=A, 90 = A-, 87=B+, 84=B, 80=B-, 77=C+,74=C, 70=C-, 67=D+, 64=D, 60=D-, 59=F.

No-Voicing Policy:
This is a no-voice class. During class time (unless I give you specific permission) you should keep your voice off and not whisper nor rely on "exaggerated mouthing." If another student voices to you, you should respond as if you couldn't hear them and ask them (by signing) to communicate with you by signing or fingerspelling (or even writing on paper or the board). I can reduce your grade, require you to wear ear plugs, or ask you to leave class for participating in voicing either as a participating listener or the one using voice. (But, usually I'll just ask you to sit somewhere else.)

Make-ups:
No make-ups without an obituary of a close relative and a copy of the "program" from the service or note on the funeral home's stationary, or a note from your medical professional specifically stating that you were too sick to take the test, or from school administrator on school letterhead. INCLUDE THE PHONE NUMBER so I can have my Teacher Assistant call the doctor, mortician, or other administrator and verify. You are expected to attend if you want to get full credit for the quizzes and tests. Traffic, sickness not requiring a doctor's visit, family responsibilities, and so forth do not count as "excused absences." However, if you are required to miss a quiz in order to participate in pre-approved pre-scheduled, non-optional school events -- such as being on an athletic team -- show me the letter from your coach and then send me an email regarding your alternate availability for testing. Even if you do have an excused absence, I reserve the right to either give you a different but equivalent test, to assign the percentage of your most recent equivalent test, or to use the score of a future test.

Ethics, Attendance, Disabilities, and Class Environment: You may be asked to leave class for checking your email or texting during class or accessing websites other than lifeprint.com or asl.ms during class. You may be asked to leave class or have points docked for using your voice or whispering during class. 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 in writing. Assignments turned in late for any reason may receive no credit. For information on the University's policy regarding cheating and plagiarism, refer to the Schedule of Courses: "Legal Notices on Cheating and Plagiarism" and the University Catalog: "Policies and Regulations." Penalties for cheating and plagiarism may be levied to the maximum extent allowable by University guidelines. Upon identifying themselves to the instructor and the university, students with disabilities will receive reasonable accommodation for learning and evaluation. For more information, contact the office of Services to Students with Disabilities. 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. My lawyer made me say all that. Sorry.

Correspondence:
If you email me make sure to include in your subject line your first and last name, the name of this class, and the hour of your class. I get an outrageous amount of email due to the popularity of Lifeprint.com and thus that particular subject line is your best bet for a prompt response. I'll strive to get back to you within 48 hours. If you think I've overlooked your email, feel free to send your question again--I won't feel bothered--rather I'll be grateful for the communication (sometimes email doesn't arrive) because it is important to me that you get taken care of.

Pep talk:
You can do this. I have near infinite patience. I love teaching and explaining. If there is something I can do to make the class better for you please do suggest it. This class may be one of your more challenging accomplishments but I know if you work hard and put in the time--you will succeed.

Remember: After studying the lessons online at Lifeprint.com, come here to the syllabus and click on the link for the quiz you want to take. Don't just click the quiz links at the bottom of the Lifeprint lessons. Those go to "practice" quizzes -- not the official quizzes for this class. Watch the videos at quiz link at: http://webpages.csus.edu/~vicars/ then write down your answers then go SacCT to input your answers under the corresponding MySacCT (Blackboard) course.

IN CASE OF EMERGENCY: Hey, sometimes the internet breaks. If your computer goes down, then you need to go to one of the computer labs at CSUS capable of playing videos in Flash format and take the quizzes from there. Your computer breaking down is NO EXCUSE for missing an online quiz. Now, on the other hand if MY server breaks down and the quiz videos don't play at the links above I just happen to have a backup system in place at my official quiz backup link. See: Quizzes Remember, that is a "backup" copy of my quiz videos in case my Lifeprint.com server goes down. (Which I don't even want to think about, but here I am thinking about it ahead of time so now we have a backup in place if we need it.) - Dr. Bill