SYLLABUS
EDS 155
AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE V
California State University Sacramento
Tuesdays and Thursdays
4 units
2007 Fall Semester
5:00 – 6:50 PM
Eureka #307
Instructor: Byron Cantrell
Email: cantrell@csus.edu Office: #311
MATERIAL: Signing Naturally: Student Workbook and Videotext 3 Smith, Lentz, Mikos
Mask of Benevolence, Harlan Lane
WELCOME! I look forward to working with you and to seeing you continue to become a
better signer. I will do my best to give you constructive feedback and well-prepared lessons
to provide you with knowledge and practice in both comprehension and production skills.
Below are all the necessary information regarding this course.
COURSE DESCRIPTION
Everyday communication is the centerpiece of every lesson. Functions and grammar
features, which are expanded from EDS 151, 152, 153, and 154, are introduced in context
with the usage of classifiers for narrating unforgettable moments, telling about accidents,
and storytelling. To master ASL, it is essential that students learn appropriate behaviors,
showing awareness of and respect for Deaf culture is taught throughout the course through
videotape presentations; native ASL signers model appropriate language and cultural
behaviors, values and norms in various situations; discussions, activities and readings
reinforce what students learn from the videotapes. Interactive activities allow you to
rehearse what you have learned.
The course is designed to apply ASL grammar and to further develop language competency.
Emphasis will be placed on students’ conceptual understanding of the grammatical structure
of ASL and the application of these concepts in language skill development and use. This
course also is aimed at refining and strengthening the skills acquired in previous levels.
Receptive exposure is included in order to assist students to understand nuances of the
language. A deeper understanding of the Deaf culture will be incorporated.
COURSE OBJECTIVES
Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to use the following language
functions and the conversational behaviors appropriately in ASL.

narrating unforgettable moments

telling about accidents

storytelling
CLASSROOM INSTRUCTIONS/TEACHING PHILOSOPHY
All activities for developing ASL skills will be ASL. I prefer that spoken English remain
outside the classroom. Please do not speak with your voice in the classroom because it is
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important to your learning that you experience total immersion in ASL. An ASL environment
is totally visual and to use your hearing will tend to distract you from visual learning. If you
need to talk and/or discuss with your classmates about your assignments, quizzes, or any
topic pertaining to the class, PLEASE use ASL. Everything in this classroom is visual, not
auditory as in the Deaf culture. There is no need for you to take class notes and you will
learn faster by keeping your eyes on the classroom activities. We will have plenty of
practice time in class; with groups, pairs and with the instructor.
APPROACH
The curriculum parallels what is known about language development and second language
learning. The course reinforces concepts by engaging students in various interactive
activities. A conversational curriculum requires you to be in an active learner. You need to
come prepared to sign with me and other classmates. Classes are conducted in ASL from the
very first day. You are immersed in the language for four hours a week to maximize your
language learning.
LEARNING STRATEGIES
This is an immersion course which will include a combination of both lecture and “hands on”
practice working with peers in small groups.
GRADING SYSTEM
1)
Attendance and Participation
2)
Book Report
3)
Quizzes
4)
Assignments
5)
Midterm Exam
6)
Presentation
10%
10%
20%
20%
20%
20%
1)
Attendance and Participation
You will do more than learn new information and reflect on what you already
know. This means you will come to class prepared. Prior to arriving at class, you
should have had enough rest, taken care of your health and nutritional needs and
prepared any assignments that are due. It is critical that you attend each and every
class session. Students, who miss three consecutive class sessions, may be dropped
from class.
All instruction and discussion in the classroom will be conducted in ASL
exclusively! ASL requires your physical presence, your alertness, your involvement
and your total attention during class. Total class participation means not using your
voice but signing at all the times, engaging in class activities willingly and
cooperatively with others, and respecting other students’ time and space at all
times. For those not observing these guidelines, students’ final grades will be
affected.
Please let me know ahead of time if you will be absent from any exam or quiz.
For other class sessions, if you are absent please arrange for a classmate to collect
handouts and take notes for you. Have a back-up plan!
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2)
Quizzes
 Quiz Unit 18 is to be videotaped to present your narratives.
 Quiz Unit 21 is to be videotaped to present your narratives
 Quiz Assignment #7 is to be videotaped to retell the story.
3)
Book Report
You will read the book “The Mask of Benevolence” and write 10 questions and
essays each part. You must submit before or on date due
Date Due:
Part One
9/13
Part Two
9/27
Part Three
10//11
Part Four
10/25
Part Five
11/8
Part Six
11/29
Part Seven
12//11
4)
Assignments
You will complete six assignments on time. The assignments are in the last
part of your book. You must submit before or on the date due. See the date
due on course outline.
Assignment 1 is to do the outline and to submit on 9/20.
Assignment 5 is to answer the questions and submit on 10/18.
Assignment 8 is to do the outline and to submit on 11/15.
5)
Midterm Exam
The midterm exam is to narrate your own stories.
Unit 18:
Narrating Unforgettable Moments
Unit 21:
Telling About Accidents
6)
Presentation
The presentation is to present your selected stories.
Unit 25:
Storytelling
It will be evaluate your conversational skills as well as grammar and
vocabulary learned in those three units.
ATTENTION!
Assignment Story Cards (p 197) due: November 27.
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COURSE OUTLINE
Tentative Syllabus Schedule (subject to change)
Unit Activities/Assignments
Date:
9/4
18 Introducing to ASL 5; Syllabus
9/6
18 Passing Objects between People; Read p 22-30; Do Ex 1 p 2; Read p 3-5
9/11
18 Spilled Objects; Do Ex 2 p 6
9/13
18 Narrative Practice; Video: “First Day on the Job”
9/18
18 Different Types of Falls; Do Ex 3 p 7
9/20
18 Narrative Practice; Video: “Down Cactus Hill”
9/25
18 Results of Injuries and Mishaps; Video: “Caught in the Act”
9/27
18 Two Points of View; Trans: “Positions and Actions”; Read p 8-9
10/2
18 Four Variations on Role Shift; Trans: “RS Variations”; Read p 10-13
10/4
18 Elaborating on the Story; Video: “ Taken For a Ride”; Read p 14-15
10/9
18 Developing Own Narrative; Read p 16-21
10/11
18 Schedule to prepare for your own presentation
10/16
18 Unit 18 Quiz Presenting your narrative; Schedule to be videotaped
10/18
21 Horses: Video “Nikki’s Horse Incident”; Do Ex 1 p 72; Read p 73-82
10/23
21 Bicycles; Do p 83; Read p 84-88; Read p 89-94
10/25
21 Bicycles: Video: “Missy’s Bicycle Incident”/” Nikki’s Dirt Bike Incident”
10/30
21 Automobiles; Video “Byron’s Motorcycle Incident”; Do p 95-101
11/1
21 Automobiles; Trans: “Scene of the Traffic Violation”; Do p 102-104
11/6
21 Automobiles; Video: “Anthony’s Car Incident”; Read p 105-115
11/8
21 Unit 21 Quiz Presenting your narrative; Schedule to be videotaped
11/13
Midterm Exam
11/15
25 Storytell #1; Trans: “Key Elements”; Video: “The Frog Prince”
Timeline p 196; Complete “Assignment: Story Cards” p 197
11/22
Thanksgiving Holidays NO CLASSES
11/27
25 Storytell #2; Video “The Bridge of Magpies”; Trans: “12 Dancing Princesses”
Review p 198-200; Translating Passages p 201-203; Read p 210-220
11/29
25 Trans: “Translation Exercises” and “ Plurality Exercise”
Read p 205-207; Complete p 209
12/4
25 Storytell #5; Rehearsing Video: “12 Dancing Princesses “ Review p 221-223
12/6
25 Storytell #6; Prepare your Story p 224-230
12/11
25 Final Exam: Videotaping: Your Story; Schedule to be videotaped
12/13
25 Quiz: Videotaping: Retelling “Can You Share a Quarter?”
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