American Sign Language II
SGNL 2312E
Beginning American Sign Language
Contact Information and Office Hours –
Instructor: Traci Gorsuch Prather
Master of Science in Rehabilitation Counseling: Texas Tech University 2005
BEI certified ASL interpreter Level I 1999
Bachelor of Art English: West Texas A&M University 1991
American Sign Language certified teacher
Email: tprather@canyonisd.net
Office Phone/Office Hours: I do not have an office on campus. If you need to contact
me by phone during the day you may do so at (urgent calls only) (806) 677-2740
ext. 1564. It will go to voice mail if I am teaching class. Leave a message and I
will call you back as soon as possible. After 4:00 pm you may reach me at my
home at (806) 557-4839 or cell phone (806) 679-2049.
Syllabus Purpose: This syllabus sets forth the policies, procedures, materials and
assignments for this course.
Required Texts and Materials –
Zinza, Jason E. Master ASL! Level I. 6th ed. Burtonsville, MD: Sign Media, Inc, 2006.
(This is a packet that includes the hardback text, the Student Companion, a
separate, soft-cover book focusing on developing fingerspelling, numbers, and
glossing skills, and DVD.) ISBN 1-881133-20-6.
Moore, Matthew and Levitan, Linda. For Hearing People Only. 3rd ed. Rochester, NY:
Deaf Life Press. 2003. ISBN 0-9634-016-3-7.
Pre-requisite: American Sign Language I
Course Description –
Expansion to the introduction to American Sign Language I, fingerspelling will be more
in depth to increase fluency, build on the foundation of previously learned vocabulary,
and expand basic sentence structure to use more complex sentence structure in
preparing individuals to communicate with Deaf individuals.
Syllabus
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Purpose and Goals of the Course: ASL as a Language
The purpose of this course is to introduce learners to fundamentals of American Sign
Language.
The goals of this course are: the ability to express basic concepts using ASL, compare
and contrast some aspects of Deaf Culture, and explain the basic linguistic
components of ASL. It is a visual language and it has its own grammatical rules
and semantics.
ASL is primarily used by deaf and hard of hearing Americans and Canadians. In
addition, ASL is used by:
• hearing children of deaf parents;
• hearing siblings and relatives of the deaf and
• hearing adults who are becoming deaf and are learning ASL from other deaf
individuals. Additionally, a growing population of hearing, second language
students are learning ASL in the elementary, secondary and post-secondary
classrooms.
ASL is deeply rooted in the Deaf Community and Culture. Early sign language was
already in use in Colonial America, notably in Martha’s Vineyard, an island off the
Massachusetts coast where many deaf people once lived. In 1817, Laurent Clerc, the
first deaf teacher in America came from Paris, France to Hartford, Connecticut, with
Thomas Gallaudet to set up the first school for the deaf. He used French Sign
Language (FSL) in his teachings, which lead to the standardization of early American
Sign Language into modern American Sign Language. The folklore, the history of Deaf
people and cultural values are expressed and preserved through ASL.
Objectives/Student Learning Outcomes –
The students in this course will:
Learning Outcome 1: demonstrate the ability to present and comprehend information
presented in American Sign Language based on Master ASL ! Units 6-10.
Topics include: sports and activites, daily routines, tense, descriptions of people
and the natural world, geographic and local community, making plans, food,
animals and classifiers.
Learning Outcome 2: demonstrate the ability to EXPRESS information in American Sign
Language based on Master ASL! Units 1-10 Topics include: Sports and
activities, daily routines, tense, descriptions of people and the natural world,
geographic and local community, making plans, food, animals and classifiers.
Learning Outcome 3: demonstrate an understanding of cultural norms and behaviors of
people who are Deaf based upon interaction with the local deaf community, the
curriculum Master ASL! and For Hearing People Only.
Learning Outcome 4: demonstrate an understanding of the linguistic components of
ASL based upon Master ASL! This section specifically will be targeting the five
Syllabus
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parameters of ASL, thus resulting in understanding the linguistics and
grammatical structure of ASL.
Course Requirements and Evaluation –
There are a total of six assignments. Three unit tests (Units 6, 7 and 8), deaf contact
time, expressive assignment and a final exam (units 9 and 10).
Unit Exams: (3) Comprehensive assessments covering material from the Unit studied.
These exams are given in two sections. One section is receptive (vocabulary, numbers,
fingerspelling and sentences) and the other section is a written format regarding ASL
grammar, Deaf culture and its community. The content from Units 9 and 10 will be not
tested on a Unit Exam. It will be included on the final exam.
(100 points per exam) 300 points total
Expressive assignment: ASL is a very expressive language and the student must be
able to express their learned vocabulary over the course of the semester. The topic is a
story that will cover the geographical vocabulary (units 3 and 9). Travel companions or
those who you encountered on the trip, student must demonstrate the proper use of
pronouns, number incorporation, family and friend vocabulary (units 2, 4 and 8).
Activities, sports and events must be expressed with proper grammatical parameters
(units 3, 5, 6 and 10). This expressive must include experiences with people, animals,
food, geography, cultures, emotions and descriptive use of classifiers
Deaf Time Log (community Interaction/conversation): There will be activities in the
local Deaf community that students are encouraged to attend to begin conversational
skills with a deaf person and exposure to the Deaf culture/community. Students attend
10 hours of “Deaf Time”. A log sheet is provided with this syllabus to record contact
hours. Information regarding the meeting time and places for this activity will be
provided as the semester progresses.
100 points.
Class Participation: ASL is a visual and participatory language. Students are
expected to participate and show their progress in class. You will be assigned a
participation grade for each class meeting. If you fail to attend, a grade will not be
assigned for that day. A signup sheet will be made available at the beginning of each
class. You must sign the sheet to verify your attendance. The signatures will be verified
during class. Do not ask someone to sign for you in your absence. If you are unable to
attend a class, please contact me ahead of time.
70 points (5 points per class meeting)
Final Exam: A written, comprehensive final exam will be given at the end of the
semester during the regularly scheduled final exam time. The exam will cover key
concepts discussed during the semester specifically from Master ASL! Units 9 and 10.
Selected chapters (66 -130) from For Hearing People Only. The exams will be given as
scheduled unless the college is closed due to bad weather. In the event that classes
are cancelled, the exam will be given at the next scheduled class period. The final exam
will not exceed two and one-half hours.
100 points
Grade Computation: Your final grade for this course is based on the 3 unit exams, the
final exam, the Deaf Log, and class participation (14 class meetings not counting the
Syllabus
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final exam taken in week 15). A maximum total of 570 points can be earned in this
course.
Assessments % of Final Grade
Unit Exams 50%
Final Exam 20%
Deaf Time Log 20%
Class Participation 10%
Grading Scale passed on Points Earned
A = 470 - 421.5
B = 421 – 372.5
C = 372 – 323.5
D = 323 – 247.5
F = 247 and below
Policies and Responsibilities –
Cell phones and pagers: Please keep cell phones in the off or silent position. If a
family emergency is imminent, please let the instructor know before class. You will be
allowed then to put your phone on “vibrate” mode.
Texting: Texting is not allowed during class.
Food and beverages: Due to the length of class, snacks are permitted.
Academic IntegrityAll work must be completed individually unless otherwise stated. Commission of any of
the following acts shall constitute scholastic dishonesty: acquiring or providing
information for any assigned work or examination from any unauthorized source;
informing any person or persons of the contents of any examination prior to the time the
exam is given in any subsequent sections of the course or as a makeup; plagiarism;
submission of a paper or project that is substantially the same for two courses unless
expressly authorized by the instructor to do so. For more information, see the Code of
Student Life 1.
Acceptable Student Behavior –
Classroom behavior should not interfere with the instructor’s ability to conduct the class
or the ability of other students to learn from the instructional program (Code of Student
Life). Unacceptable or disruptive behavior will not be tolerated. Students engaging in
unacceptable behavior may be instructed to leave the classroom. Inappropriate
behavior may result in disciplinary action or referral to the University’s Behavioral
Intervention Team. This prohibition applies to all instructional forums, including
electronic, classroom, labs, discussion groups, field trips, etc.
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ADA Statement –
West Texas A&M University seeks to provide reasonable accommodations for all
qualified persons with disabilities. This University will adhere to all applicable federal,
state and local laws, regulations and guidelines with respect to providing reasonable
accommodations as required to afford an equal educational opportunity. It is the
student's responsibility to register with Student Disability Services 2 (SDS) and to contact
faculty members in a timely fashion to arrange for suitable accommodations. Contact
Information: Student Success Center, CC 106; phone (806) 651-2335.
Evacuation Statement –
If you receive notice to evacuate the building, please evacuate promptly but in an
orderly manner. Evacuation routes are posted in various locations indicating all exits,
outside assemble area, location of fire extinguishers, fire alarm pull stations and
emergency telephone numbers (651-5000 or 911). In the event an evacuation is
necessary: evacuate immediately do not use elevators; take all personal belongings
with you; report to outside assembly area and wait for further information; students
needing assistance in the evacuation process should bring this to the attention of the
instructor at the beginning of the semester.
Tentative Class Schedule
Class Meeting
Date
Week 1
Assignment
Introduction to ASL II
Topics to be
Covered
Unit 6 Objectives:
*To sign about sports
*Understand the Five
parameters of ASL
*ASL Literature
*Expansion of Classifiers
*Tense: Past, Present and
Future
*Rule of 9
Week 2
Unit 6
Week 3
Unit 6
Week 4
MLK Day/no class
Unit 6 Test
Week 5
Syllabus
Unit 7 Objectives:
*To sign about daily
routines and activities
*Noun-Verb pairs in ASL
*Describe clothing
*Spatial organization
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*Understand the sign
language continuum
Week 6
Unit 7
Week 7
Unit 7
Week 8
No class Spring Break
Unit 7 Test
Week 9
Week 10
Week 11
Unit 8 Objectives:
*Describe a person’s
physical appearance
*Personality and
Characteristics
*Improve ASL narrative
skills
*Learn about Deaf-Blind
communication
*Discuss Health Issues
*Describe the natural
world and environment
Unit 8
Unit 8 Test
Week 13
Expressive assignment
due
Unit 9
Unit 9
Week 14
Unit 10
Week 15
Semester Test review
Week 16
Semester test
Units 9 and 10
“For Hearing People Only”
Week 12
This schedule is subject to change due to changes and scheduling activities, deaf
events, guest speakers and weather. You will be responsible for keeping up with the
DVD in the Master ASL and the readings in For Hearing People Only.
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Deaf time log
You must have 10 hours of Deaf contact time. Document correctly and don’t forget to
get information to attach to the form! You may use a Ziploc bag to collect and turn in on
the night of the final exam.
Event
Date
Signature of person of authority
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
Total hours:
1
2
http://www.wtamu.edu/webres/File/Student%20Life/Web-2012-2013-Code-of-Student-Life.pdf
http://www.wtamu.edu/student-support/disability-services.aspx
Syllabus
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