Beginning American Sign Language I Syllabus for 2023-2024
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Instructor Information

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Course

SGNL-1301-005 Beginning American Sign Language I

Prerequisites

Course Description

Introduction to American Sign Language covering finger spelling, vocabulary and basic sentence structure in preparing individuals to interpret oral speech for the hearing impaired.

Student ResourcesStudent Resources Website

Department Expectations

Occupational License Disclaimer

Notice to Students enrolled in an educational program for preparation of issuance of certain occupational licenses:

Students enrolled in an educational program in preparation for obtaining certain occupational licenses are potentially ineligible for such license if the student has been convicted of an offense. For further information, please contact:

Melodie Graves
Justice Involved Advocate
Student Service Center 117
mgraves24@actx.edu
806-371-5995
Make appointment at https://melodiegraves.youcanbook.me

You can also contact the Legal Clinic, or the faculty member in charge of the educational program that you seek to enroll in. The further information you will receive will include notification to you of your right to request a criminal history evaluation letter from the licensing authority in order to clarify your particular situation.

Hours

(3 sem hrs; 3 lec, 1 lab)

Class Type

Dual Credit Course

Syllabus Information

Textbooks

 

 

Textbooks:

1. Signing Naturally I Student Workbook and Videotext (Units 1-6)

   ISBN: 978-1-58121-210-5

 

2. The Gallaudet Dictionary of American Sign Language   

     ISBN 978-1-56368-282-7

 

3. The Deaf Community in American: History in the Making.

    ISBN: 978-0-7864-6397-8

 

4. Supplemental Materials as provided by the Instructor

Supplies

Student Performance

 

Purpose and Goals of the Course:  The student will demonstrate the ability to comprehend information presented in American Sign Language based on Signing Naturally I, Units 1-6.  Topics include:  introducing oneself, exchanging personal information, talking about surroundings, telling where you live, talking about your family and telling about activities.

 

Performance/Learning Objectives (Minimum Competencies):

 

Performance Objectives for introducing oneself: 

 

The student will demonstrate comprehension

1.  when asked for their name.
2.  when asked for confirmation of their name.
3.  when asked to correct information.
4.  negation is incorporated using a headshake.
5.  of yes/no questions.
6. of wh-question “what”.
7. of personal pronouns
8. of spatial referencing.
9. of numbers 1-10.

Method of Measurement:  Homework, written quizzes and class participation.

 

Performance objectives for this outcome in regards to exchanging personal information: 

The student will demonstrate comprehension

 

1. when asked if they are Deaf or hearing
2. when asked where the student is learning sign language
3. when asked to respond to the information using OH-I-SEE sign
4. when asked to respond to agent markers
5. when asked to respond to yes/no questions
6. when asked to respond to the wh-question  WHERE?
7. when asked to respond to negation incorporating the sign NOT.

Method of Measurement:  Homework, written quizzes and class participation

 

Performance objectives for this outcome when talking about surroundings:

The student will demonstrate comprehension

 

1. to asking and/or telling WHERE.
2. to expressing wants.
3. to correcting information with the WAVE-NO sign.
4. to the use of agent markers.
5. to the use of non-manual marker production-from NEARBY  to FARAWAY.
6. of numbers 1-15.

Method of Measurement:  Homework, written quizzes and class participation

 

Performance objectives for this outcome when talking about where you live:

The student will demonstrate comprehension of

 

1. asking/telling WHERE.
2. asking/telling how you come to class.
3. wh-questions WHERE and  HOW.
4. where things are located on campus.
5. noun-verb pairs.
6. numbers 16-20.

Method of Measurement:  Homework, written quizzes and class participation

 

Performance objectives for this outcome when talking about your family:

The student will demonstrate comprehension of

 

1. how to ask/tell about marital status.
2. how to ask/tell if they have children/siblings.
3. how to tell how many.
4. passive pronouns.
5. yes/no questions.
6. negative responses incorporating NO, NOT and NONE.
7. contractive structure.
8. numbers 21-25.

Method of Measurement:  Homework, written quizzes and class participation

 

Performance objectives for this outcome when telling about activities:

The student will demonstrate comprehension of

 

1. how to apologize appropriately in a variety of situations.
2. how to give reasons.
3. how to give opinions.
4. how to suggest alternate activities.
5. time signs.
6. wh-questions including WHAT WILL/DID YOU DO
7. how to incorporate dual pronouns correctly.
8. how to list activities.
9. numbers 26-30 and multiples of 5-100

Method of Measurement:  Homework, written quizzes and class participation

 

 

 

Learning Outcome 2:  The student will demonstrate the ability to express information in American Sign Language based on Signing Naturally I, Units 1-6.  Topics include:  Introducing Oneself, Exchanging Personal Information, Talking About Surroundings, Telling Where You Live, Talking About Your Family, and Telling About Activities.

 

Performance objectives for this outcome in regards to introductions:

The student will respond appropriately

1. when asked for their name
2. when asked confirmation of their name.
3. when asked to correct information.
4. when negation is incorporated using a headshake.
5. to answer yes/no questions
6. to the wh-question WHAT.
7. to personal pronouns.
8. to spatial referencing.
9. using numbers 1-10.

Method of Measurement:  Homework, written quizzes and class participation

 

Performance objectives for this outcome in regards to exchanging personal information:

The student will respond appropriately when asked

1. if Deaf or hearing.
2. where learning sign language.
3. to respond to the information using OH-I-SEE sign.
4. to respond to agent markers.
5. yes/no questions.
6. a wh-question WHERE.
7. to respond with negation incorporating the sign NOT.

Method of Measurement:  Homework, written quizzes and class participation

 

 

 

Performance objectives for this outcome when talking about surroundings:

The student will respond appropriately

1. when asking and/or telling where
2. when expressing wants.
3. when correcting information with sign WAVE-NO.
4. to the use of agent markers.
5. to the use of non-manual marker production, NEARBY to FARAWAY.
6. to use numbers 1-15.

Method of Measurement:  Homework, written quizzes and class participation

 

 

Performance objectives for this outcome when talking about where you live:

The student will respond appropriately

1. when asking/telling where
2. when asking/telling how you come to class.
3. to wh-questions, WHERE and HOW.
4. to real world orientation.
5. to noun-verb pairs.
6. to use numbers 16-20.

Method of Measurement:  Homework, written quizzes and class participation

 

Performance objectives for this outcome when telling about your family:

The student will respond appropriately

1. when asking/telling about marital status.
2. When asking/telling if they have children/siblings.
3. When telling how many.
4. When using possessive pronouns.
5. To yes/no questions
6. To negative responses incorporating NO, NOT, and NONE
7. Using contractive structure.
8. When using numbers 21-25.

Method of Measurement:  Homework, written quizzes and class participation

 

Performance objectives for this outcome when telling about activities:

The student will respond appropriately

1. when apologizing in a variety of situations.
2. when giving reasons.
3. when giving opinions.
4. when suggesting alternate activities.
5. To appropriate time signs.
6. To wh-questions including WHAT WILL/DID YOU DO.
7. When incorporating dual pronouns
8. Listing activities
9. Using numbers 26-30 and multiples of 5 up to 100.

Method of Measurement:  Homework, written quizzes and class participation

 

 

Learning Outcome 3:  The student will demonstrate an understanding of cultural norms and behaviors of people who are Deaf.

 

The student will demonstrate an understanding

 

1. of how American Sign Language evolved in the United States.
2. of how the Deaf Community has developed in the United States
3. of the history of Deaf Education in the United States
4. of how giving and receiving information is incorporated in the Deaf community and the importance of that process.
5. of how attention-getting behaviors are used in the deaf community.
6. of how to negotiate a signing environment.
7. of strategies used when asking for repetition.
8. of things that are included when people who are Deaf meet others that are Deaf or know sign language.
9. of name signs.
10. of how Deaf people know when a baby is crying; wake up in the morning; understand TV; and talk on the telephone or use other electronic communication devices
11. and respect for the linguistic minority that makes up the vibrant community of people who are Deaf
12. of the importance of ASL poetry and storytelling to the Deaf community.

Method of Measurement:  Homework, written quizzes and class participation

 

Learning Outcome 4:  The student will demonstrate an understanding of the linguistic components of American Sign Language.

 

The student will demonstrate

1. the difference in a yes/no question and a wh-question.
2. how hand dominance (right or left) is used in American Sign Language.
3. an understanding of spatial agreement.
4. an understanding of the incorporation of fingerspelling in American Sign Language.
5. the various ways to use negative responses
6. the appropriate way to contrast two people, places or things.
7. how time is incorporated into ASL.
8. the four different sentence types appropriately.
9. the appropriate use of limb classifiers

Method of Measurement:  Homework, written quizzes and class participation

 

Students Rights and Responsibilities

Student Rights and Responsibilities

Log in using the AC Connect Portal

In order to receive your AC Connect Email, you must log in through AC Connect at https://acconnect.actx.edu .

If you are an active staff or faculty member according to Human Resources, use "Exchange". All other students, use "AC Connect (Google) Email".

Expected Student Behavior

Follow the Amarillo College Student Conduct

Grading Criteria

 

Assignments:

Signing Naturally:  To successfully complete this course, you will need to view, on a regular basis, the Signing Naturally videotext, which accompanies your textbook.

 

Students will translate the conversations in the Signing Naturally Units.  Due dates are listed on the outline. Make sure you check your outline for how you translate conversations (English/ASL Gloss.)

 

For each Unit Conversation Translation you can make up to a 100 on each assignment.    

 

Video Work: Students will watch videos and answer questions. These videos could be stories, fingerspelling or numbers.  

 

Signing Assignments: The students will be required to sign a sign prompt or create a story. 

 

The Deaf Community in America (DCA): You will read, answers questions, then post answers in Blackboard. 

 

Readings:  

1. Each student will read the article “Deaf President Now” and submit a typed one-page essay that includes a summary of the events and a personal reaction. Attach a copy of the link to the article(s) used in your research.  

2. Each student will select 2 additional articles of personal interest in the general field of deafness and submit a typed one-page essay that includes the main topics and supporting details of the article and a personal reaction/connection.  

3.  The paper needs to be one page typed. NO header. If you add a header with your name, class, date, etc. 10 points will be taken off. You need to find an article (online) about the topic. After reading the article, write a summary of the article and give your opinion. Copy the link to the article on your paper.

Lab Work:  

 

1.  Interacting with the Deaf Community:

Interaction of 10 hours = a 100 

 

1.  Interaction with Deaf individuals –Required 10 hours.  Document all interaction on one form. In order to receive correct, you must have a Deaf person sign your paper. You are responsible for this paper.  DO NOT give this paper to someone else to hold or keep for you. If you lose this paper, you’re responsibly to get the signature sign again on your new paper. If you have any questions, please ask your teacher. You must obtain these hours by attending: 

Social Event: meaning you must socialize with the deaf AND sign Deaf Chat, Deaf Deaf World 

Interpreted Event: Trinity Fellowship, watch approve video with teacher 

     Performance/Presentations:Deaf Church, Deaf Slam  

If you don't feel comfortable attending a Deaf event, I have movies/videos you can then answer the questions. You will need to fill out the Deaf hours log paper then post the questions. 

If you want to watch videos, some video may become unavaible at the end of the semester. If that happens, you are still required to earn 10 Deaf hours. 

Exams:

 

Mid-Term – 100 

    The Mid-Term Exam will include materials learned from Units 1-3.  Sections for receptive vocabulary, phrases, sentences will be included along with an expressive prompt that will be evaluated with a rubric. I will give your sign prompt before the mid-term. 

 

Final Exam – 100 

    The Final Exam is a written, comprehensive final, not to exceed 2 ½ hours in length, that will be given at the end of the semester The final exam will include receptive and expressive sections along with multiple-choice questions. Plus questions from your readings from The Deaf Community in America (DCA). For your signing prompt, you will sign one of the stories in Unit 6 (Timber or Gum.) You need to memorize the story. If you don’t, your grade will start at a 70.

   Grade Computation:

 

Final grades for this course will be based on the components outlined above and will be calculated as follows:

Summary:

Assignment		Total Grade
Video Work/Assignments	Blackboard:Numbers, Fingerspelling Quizzes	100
Unit Conversation Translations	Unit 1      (2 Conversations)  Unit 2      (2 Conversations)  Unit 3      (4 Conversations) Unit 4      (3 Conversations)  Unit 5      (4 Conversations)	100 for Each
DCA Assignments  Signing Assignments	Sign Prompts/Assignments	100 for each
Readings	3 papers	100 for each
Lab Work:
Interaction Time – 10 hours		10 points for each hour: 100
* Mid-Term Exam	Receptive/Expressive/ Multiple Choice	100
* Final Exam	Comprehensive Receptive/ Expressive/ Multiple Choice	100

 

Percentages: 

Unit Translations   10%

Sign Assignments 10%

Papers         10%

Deaf Hours         10%

DCA/Unit Quiz      10%

Midterms         20%

Final exam          30%

Total         100%

 

>Other exams and bonus point opportunities are given at the discretion of the instructor.

Scale:

100-89 =  A

88-79  = B

78-69  = C

68-59  = D

58-0   = F

 

Attendance

 

General Information:  Attendance and class participation are important to learning and are expected.  Please come to class prepared and ready to participate.  But I do understand things happen. If you miss a class, please email me before the test/quiz and we can work out a time to make up the missing work.  

Calendar

Additional Information

General Information:  It’s important to watch the videos and turn in work on time.  But I do understand things happen. If you miss a class, please email me and we can work out a time to make up the missing work. All late work starts at a 70.  

 

Disabling Conditions:  Any student who, because of a disabling condition, may require some special arrangements in order to meet course requirements should contact Accessibility Services (SSC 125, Phone 371-5436) as soon as possible.

 

Campus Police:  For help, call Campus Police at 371-5163

 

Grievance Procedure:  If a student is having a problem with the course policies or the instructor, he or she should first try and resolve any such problems with the instructor. 

 If the problem is not resolved, the student may proceed in the following order to contact the 

-Division Chairman of Language, Communication and Fine Arts, Robert Boyd

-Vice President and Dean of Instruction,  Steven Smith 

-Amarillo College President, Dr. Paul Matney

 

Office:  Because I do not have an office at Amarillo College, the best way to contact me is through email:

 

mdcochran25@actx.edu