ROP AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE I, II, III
Spring 2014, Glendora High School
INSTRUCTORS
E-MAIL
OFFICE HOURS
Ms. Shore (lead) and Ms. Jenkins (support)
rfabela@glendora.k12.ca.us AND cshore@esgvrop.org (This is the
best way to reach me!)
Tuesday/Thursday 7:50am-3:30p, Wednesday/Friday 12:45p-3:30p
and by appointment
TEXT
American Sign Language I
Mikos, K., Smith, C., Lentz, E. (2001). Signing Naturally Level 1. San Diego, CA: Dawn
Sign Press.
American Sign Language II
Mikos, K., Smith, C., Lentz, E. (2001). Signing Naturally Level 2. San Diego, CA: Dawn
Sign Press.
American Sign Language III
Mikos, K., Smith, C., Lentz, E. (2001). Signing Naturally Level 3. San Diego, CA: Dawn
Sign Press.
COURSE DESCRIPTIONS
American Sign Language I. This course introduces the language developed and used by the
Deaf community in most areas of North America. In this course you will learn basic ASL
vocabulary, grammar, fingerspelling, gestures, and beginning conversations. This course will
also serve as an introduction to Deaf culture.
American Sign Language II. This course is a continuation of beginning ASL. This course will
expand on vocabulary, grammatical, and conversational skills with attention to correct formation
of signs, movement, rhythm, phrasing, and clarity. Receptive and expressive skills will be
developed in this course.
American Sign Language III. This course is designed to provide advance level proficiency in
American Sign Language. This course will focus on developing grammatical knowledge, and
intermediate-advanced conversational skills. It will focus on the use of classifiers for storytelling,
and introduce Deaf idioms. This course will dive deep into Deaf culture.
OVERALL GOALS
The overall goal of this course is to introduce students to American Sign Language and Deaf
culture. Students who are continuing on in levels II or III will improve proficiency and
understanding.
CLASS FORMAT
This is an active participation class. Class meetings will be composed of lecture, group activities,
presentations, and team games. Since ASL is subjective as a language, participation is necessary
every day.
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ROP AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE I, II, III
Spring 2014, Glendora High School
CLASS POLICIES
Please remember that this is a SIGN LANGUAGE course. “Turn off” your voice before entering
the classroom. If you wish to talk with your voice, please step outside. You may only talk with
your voice inside the classroom with permission. This forces you to use the sign language you
have learned in addition to keeping us informed on signs or grammar we need to teach or review.
Signing. If a sign is done in class that you do not know, please repeat the sign. The instructor
will fingerspell the meaning of that sign. If signing is done too fast, please sign the sign for “slow
down.” If you do not understand, please sign the sign for “don’t understand.” You do not have to
raise your hand for any of these circumstances. Just sign!
Discipline/Behavior. Students should be on their best behavior at all times. Your instructors are
the authority in the classroom. Please follow their rules at all times and treat them with respect.
Respect your classmates. Bulling will NOT be tolerated. If you have a problem with another
student(s) or an instructor please express your concerns to the instructor during office hours or
after class. It is not appropriate to address concerns in the middle of lecture.
Electronic devices. Cell phones and other electronic devices are not permitted in class. These
will be confiscated and turned into Mr. Spengler’s office. It will also result in the loss of the
student’s daily point. Cell phones will only be permitted during group activity with permission
from an instructor to look up vocabulary words on aslpro.com or signingsavvy.com.
Late Work. Late work is accepted up to one week (7 days, including weekends) after initial due
date unless otherwise informed orally or written. This includes, but is not limited to, assignment
calendars, make up participation points, class work and homework. Tests and projects are due on
the due date or will result in 1 letter grade drop for every class day not completed/turned in.
Absent Work. Excessive absences will negatively affect your grade. Leaving class early can
also have negative consequences on your grade. The student is responsible for attending a
tutorial session to get the work they missed. If a student is absent the day of a test, project, or
notebook collection, they must turn in their work the day they return and make an appointment to
take the missed test within one (1) week.
EVALUATION
Daily points/Class work/Participation. You will be given 1-point for every day you attend
class. Due to the nature of this course, you will not be given 1-point if you are absent. You have
one (1) week after the close of the grading period to attend a 30minute tutorial, lunch, or after
school session to make up any missed points. If you talk with your voice without permission you
will lose your point. This can be done without warning. Put simply, DO NOT TALK WITH
YOUR VOICE! There will be various opportunities to earn participation points each week.
Based on availability and opportunity for participation, extra credit points may be rewarded.
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ROP AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE I, II, III
Spring 2014, Glendora High School
Assignment Calendars. Each student is given a blank calendar at the beginning of the month.
Copies will not be given out for lost or damaged calendars. These are due the last class day of the
month. Students will receive one (1) point per entry.
Unit exams. Each unit will conclude with a receptive (written), expressive (student signed), or
receptive AND expressive exam. Exams will be curved based on standard “bell curve”
guidelines. Instructor’s reserves the right to suspend “bell curve” privileges as necessary. It is
important to note that receptive exams are often used to test where areas of opportunity lay while
expressive exams are often intended to test what students comprehend.
Final exam. The semester final consists of three parts:
1. A cumulative receptive test
2. A cumulative expressive test
3. Exit interview in sign with an instructor
Notebooks. Notebooks will be collected and graded at the end of each unit. Please make sure
you are taking notes daily, as I will NOT be grading lecture notes or assignments each day. YOU
MUST BE RESPONSBILE FOR YOURSELF! All class activities should also go in this
notebook as directed. I will NOT accept 2 spiral bound notebooks for 1 unit. I will also NOT
accept lose leaf papers stapled together. I WILL accept lose leaf paper glued/stapled/other wise
attached to a spiral bound notebook.
Deaf Event. Due on or before the last day of school (5/29/14)
Every student is required to attend one (1) Deaf event during the semester and type a reflection
paper that is 1-1.5 pages in length. The body section should answer questions such as: What
event did you go to? Where was it? What were some things you noticed? What did you like? Did
you meet anyone? PLEASE FOLLOW APA FORMAT for heading, title, and body.
https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/01/
GRADING
Plus/minus grading will be used in the final grades for this course. The following table indicates
the letter grade with the corresponding percent of total possible points associated with each
grade. Both teachers will collaborate on student grades.
Grade
A+
A
AB+
B
B-
Percent
98-100
93-97.9
90-92.9
87-89.9
83-86.9
80-82.9
Grade
C+
C
CD+
D
DF
3
Percent
77-79.9
73-76.9
70-72.9
67-69.9
63-66.9
60-62.9
59.9 or below
ROP AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE I, II, III
Spring 2014, Glendora High School
Plagiarism and Academic Dishonesty. Glendora High School holds students to high standards
of academic integrity for learning and earning grades. CHEATING in any form (on examinations
and assignments, but not limited to them) is strictly prohibited and it will produce serious
consequences such as failing the entire course. Cheating is defined as “obtaining or attempting to
obtain credit for work by the use of any dishonest, deceptive, fraudulent, or unauthorized means,
or helping someone commit an act of academic dishonesty.” PLAGIARISM is the act of utilizing
another persons’ words, ideas, or concepts without giving credit that is due to the persons’ or
authors.’ Even PARAPHRASING another’s work (i.e., words or ideas) must be credited to the
source. Plagiarism and cheating will not be tolerated in this class. I expect that all students in this
course will make every effort to do their own work without plagiarizing and cheating.
Extra Credit. One half (1/2) point is awarded for every 30 minutes tutorial session attended for
a maximum of 5 points. Students are responsible for signing in on the last page of the green
GRADES book. Points will be totaled to the nearest whole completed point at the end of the
semester.
Ten (10) extra credit points will also be rewarded for a 2pg double space (APA Format) response
to a Deaf article. The article must be attached. This can only be done a maximum of two (2)
times.
ASL III students have the opportunity to earn 25 points of extra credit up to two (2) times for a
total of 50 extra credit points if they attend additional Deaf events. No paper is required for
additional events, just proof of attendance and active involvement.
MISCELLANEOUS
Paper headings
o Upper right hand corner
First name Last name
ASL level
p.
Day Month Year
o Failure to use this exact heading may result in a 0.
Email correspondence
o Place make sure that all email correspondence has the subject line in “First Name +
Last Name + ASL level + period + reason for email” format
 Ex: Joe Smith – ASL 3 – p.2: Midterm Grade
Extra Practice. If you need extra help please attend Ms. Shore’s office hours. You may also
visit www.aslpro.com OR www.Signingsavvy.com to review signs and practice fingerspelling.
Changes to the course syllabus are not limited to this document.
Instructors reserve the right to make changes as needed without notice.
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