Course Syllabus American Sign Language Level 1

Mark Dana Office Hours:

dana_mark@smc.edu MW 6:50pm to 7:20pm MC 16 and by appointment

Course Description

This course is an introductory course in American Sign Language fundamentals. There will also be extensive study on the Deaf Culture and Community. Topics will be presented in readings, videos and discussions in ASL. Non-verbal communication is emphasized.

Section 7002 T 7:00p - 9:05p MC 8

Secton 7001 Th 7:00p - 9:05p MC 8

Prerequisites

None

Textbooks

and Resources

The following textbooks are required. Additional materials will be provided in class. Additional study links on Mark Dana’s SMC faculty web home page are available for use:

http://homepage.smc.edu/dana_mark

Required:

A Basic Course in American Sign Language by Padden, Humphries

Course Objectives

Language:

1. Demonstrate an appropriate level of vocabulary, grammar and ability to communicate in ASL

2. Demonstrate an appreciation of ASL accents; dialects; local and regional differences; and what differentiates ASL as a language from signing systems (i.e. Signed English and S.E.E.).

Culture:

Identify the major features of and issues in the Deaf Community, Deaf Culture and History.

Student Learning Outcomes

Students will be able to properly use and differentiate sign vocabulary that have multiple standard meanings and grammatical usages This will be assessed by exercises in class, observation of students in class and at cultural activities. Competency will be tested on the final exam.

Method of Presentation

The course overall will be predominately conducted in ASL. English will be used to clarify linguistic concepts. Additional discussions will be based on students participation at Deaf gatherings. Grammatical concepts introduced and used during discussions will be correlated with the text “A Basic Course in American Sign Language”. Class activities may include class conversations and collaborative activities, study and analysis of vocabulary and idiomatic expressions, discussion of information given in textbooks, signed questions and answers to questions based on course content. Supplemental video tapes, written materials and occasional Deaf guest speakers (as can be arranged), will be used to reinforce and augment class content.

Grading Policy

Grading is based on the following assessments. Learning a language requires interaction and practice. Tests will include evaluation of expressive, receptive skills, fingerspelling, vocabulary, culture and history. Participation in a community cultural activity is required. Your overall grade will be based on the following:

Category	% of Final Grade	Possible Points
Exams: Test 1 Midterm Test 2 Final Exam Total	10 % 17.5 % 10 % 17.5 % ====== 55 %	200 350 200 350 ===== 1100
Class Participation/ Homework Assignments	30%	600
Cultural Assignments	15%	300
*Total Possible*	100%	*2000*

Credit for the course will be given with a total grade of 70% (1400 points) and above. All tests will include sections on the following:

Vocabulary
Fingerspelling
Translation of English to ASL
Receptive Skills: ASL to English
Grammatical Concepts
Cultural Concepts

The final examination is written and comprehensive. It will cover the grammatical, linguistic and cultural materials presented in the course. The complete SMC final exam schedule for can be found at this link:

http://www.smc.edu/EnrollmentDevelopment/Admissions/Pages/Final-Exam-Schedules.aspx

THERE ARE NO MAKE-UP OR EARLY EXAMS. If arranged in ADVANCE, because you know you will not be able to take a test or the midterm, I will calculate your score for that exam as the same as your final exam. Missing additional exams will receive a score of ZERO on those exams.

Class Participation and Homework Assignments: (600 Points Possible) (30%)

Being in class and participating in all group-type activities will earn 420 points in participation.

Students desiring more points in this area must volunteer answers in class and demonstrate performance in ASL during class time and during discussions of the cultural text

Students are expected to demonstrate an attitude of linguistic curiosity, research and inquisitiveness as to cultural and linguistic differences they will encounter
You must be present to receive credit for group-type activities. You cannot “make up” these activities, if you are tardy and miss that part of class or are absent.
Homework assignments are due as stated in class. Late homework assignments will not be accepted.
Reading assignments are expected to be completed before class. If you do not complete the reading assignments you will not be able to appropriately participate.

Cultural Assignments: (300 Points Possible) (15%)

During the semester students are required to attend a Deaf event or community gathering. A list of suitable events will be discussed in class. A written report of your observations at this event, which will be graded, is required. The format for this report will be an essay. Points will be awarded based on how well you document your observations, demonstrate your appreciation for Cultural and Linguistic diversity, and compare your observations to what you have learned in class.

Withdrawal Policy

The deadline to drop this course and receive a refund of fees is February 23, 2012.

The deadline to drop and avoid a “W” grade is March 5, 2012.

The deadline to drop with a guaranteed “W” grade is April 8, 2012.

After May 6, 2012 you must use the LATE WITHDRAWAL PROCESS. This requires faculty approval and documented extenuating circumstances. A link to instructions and the petition form for Late Withdrawal can be found here:

http://www.smc.edu/EnrollmentDevelopment/Admissions/Pages/Forms.aspx

Honor

Code

As a classroom is a safe intellectual environment in which we are encouraged to share our opinions, students are expected to have a respectful behavior towards classmates, the professor or other professors. No condescending comments of any kind will be tolerated.

All students are expected to adhere to the SMC Honor Code:

Honor Code Mission Statement
Santa Monica College is committed to the academic, social, and ethical development of our students. We strive to create a learning environment that is challenging and supportive of the community at-large. We are committed to upholding fundamental values of honesty, trust, fairness, respect, responsibility, civility, and community. In recognition of this effort we hereby establish this Honor Code and Honor Council. \

Honor Code Principles
General principles guiding the Honor Code and Honor Council include the following:

Honesty: means fairness and straightforwardness of conduct; implies a refusal to lie, steal, or deceive in any way.
Integrity: implies that one is true to a trust; one adheres to a code of moral values.
Social Responsibility: is demonstrated by adherence to policies of the institution, departments, labs, libraries and individual classes.
Respect and Civility: implies that one will conduct oneself in a courteous and respectful manner in our communications and actions toward members of the campus community.

Student Honor Statement
As testament to their commitment and readiness to join the Santa Monica College academic community, all students are expected to uphold the Honor Code. At the time of admission students will certify the following statement:

In the pursuit of the high ideals and rigorous standards of academic life, I commit myself to respect and uphold the Santa Monica College Honor Code, Code of Academic Conduct, and Student Conduct Code. I will conduct myself honorably as a responsible member of the SMC community in all endeavors I pursue.

Tutoring

Tutors for American Sign Language are available at the Modern Language Department Language Lab, Dreshcher 219. The schedule of ASL tutoring is available at this link:

http://www.smc.edu/AcademicPrograms/ModernLanguage/Pages/Language-Tutoring.aspx

Students with Disabilities

If you have a disability, please inform me and contact the SMC Disabled Students Service Center so that evaluation of what type of accommodation you might need can be made.

Schedule

(This is tentative. All assignments will be given during class.)

There is no class on Thursday May 15, 2012 Institional Flex Day NO CLASSES

Spring Break is from 04/09/2012 to 04/13/2012 NO CLASSES

Topics that will be covered throughout the course in addition to others will be:

Introducing Oneself, Exchanging Personal Information, Talking About Surroundings, Telling Where You Live, Talking About Your Family, Telling About Activities, Giving Directions, Describing Others, Making Requests, Talking About Family and Occupations, Attributing Qualities to Others, Talking About Routines.

Grammatical topics will be covered as follows:

Week 1

Fingerspelling

Pronouns

Predicate Adjectives

Possessives

Week 2

Third Person Pronouns

SVO/OSV grammatical structures

Adjectives and Nouns

Week 3

Classifiers

Adjectives

WH-questions

Week 4

Test

Week 5

Negatives

Facial adverbs

Negative questions

Telling where you live

Week 6

Tense

Time concepts

FINISH

Week 7

OSV Sentence Structures

Directional and Non-Directional Verbs

Classifiers

Week 8

Midterm

Week 9

Spring Break NO CLASSES

Week 10

Self Pronoun and Advanced WH-questions

Noun-Verb Pairs

mperatives

Using Numbers

Pronouns incorporating number

Week 11

Test 2

Week 12

Modals

Week 13

FINISH as conjunction

Use of THIS/THAT

More Classifiers

Week 14

Existential HAVE

Pronominal Classifiers

Locational Relationships