SPECIAL TOPICS IN AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE -AM 199B
CLASS SYLLABUS - SUMMER 2013
REVISED – June 6, 2013
INSTRUCTOR: Shannon Archer
CONTACT INFO: Email: dandsincc5@yahoo.com
PHONE: (775) 720-5757 (text preferred)
OFFICE: Cedar building 323,
OFFICE HOURS: Appt only
OFFICE PHONE NUMBER: 445-4278
CLASS INFO: Tuesdays and Thursdays; 9-11:45; Reynolds 113
PREREQUISITE: ASL I & 2 review class. Must have already completed AM145 & 146
CREDITS: 3
TRANSFERABILITY OF COURSE WITHIN NEVADA:
Non-transferable for an NSHE baccalaureate degree. Non-applicable towards an AA or
AAS degree.
COURSE DESCRIPTION: Promotes the shift from comprehension to production of
ASL to bring the students ASL fluency to a point of self-generated ASL. Review and
continue to develop ASL skills and grammar from previous classes
RECOMMENDED MATERIALS: Lentz, Mikos, & Smith; Signing Naturally Level I;
workbook and video. (blue book), ASL dictionary, A Basic Course in ASL, vocabulary
lists from AM 145 and AM146
COURSE OBJECTIVES: During this review class, students will review former skills
learned and continue to develop ASL grammar, including but not limited to:
 Non-manual markers
 Facial expressions
 ASL grammar
 Increase vocabulary
 Fingerspelling
 Expressive and receptive skills
THE 4 GOLDEN RULES OF OUR ENVIRONMENT:
• BE COURTEOUS TO ALL IN THE CLASSROOM: We will all become
vulnerable in this course. We will be watching each other and providing
feedback. Criticism, yelling, arguing, swearing WILL NOT be tolerated.
Listen to your classmates and their suggestions. You don’t have to agree
with them, just understand their perspectives. We stretch, change, and grow
by learning from diversity. If this behavior happens, you will be asked to
leave for the remainder of the class and lose your participation and
attendance for that class. If this behavior continues, you will be asked to
withdraw from the class. Remember this quote from Maya Angelou, “People
will not remember what you said or did. People will remember how you made
them feel.”
• You should not have any items that obstruct your view or the instructors view. All
purses, backpacks, laptops...should be placed under the table so all have
•
access to your signing. This is also true for anything that is placed on your
head.
Please make sure that your cell phones are turned off, or on vibrate and put
away. If I see or hear them, you will not receive any participation points for
that day. CONSIDER THIS YOUR WARNING. If there is an emergency and
you must have access to your phone, let me know and we will make
arrangements. This also goes for any type of handheld items; games, iPods...
Remember the cardinal rule of ASL; EYE GAZE! If you are not watching the
person signing, you are missing something.
Other good behaviors to remember:
• Try to relax in class; learning involves hard work and effort, but it should be fun!!!
• YOU ARE responsible for your own learning. As in other parts in life, what you
put into it is what you will draw out of it.
GRADING: You will be graded on the following:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Participation
Assignments/Activities
Quizzes
Homework
Grades will be calculated according to WNC policy:
A- 100-91% B - 90-81% C - 80-71% D - 70-69% F - 60% and below
EXPLANATION OF GRADING:
 PARTICIPATION: This class will be a combination of voice-on/voice-off. This
will help increase both your expressive and receptive skills. This includes
students, instructor and guests.
 If for some reason, you are “lost” and do not understand what is going on,
use what you have learned in previous semesters to LET ME KNOW. If
you do not, I will assume everyone is on board and keep going. Don’t ask
the people you are sitting with to help clarify. This only prevents you both
from succeeding.
 At the beginning of each class, we will have a “warm-up.” This will be a
variety of activities; fingerspelling, talking about your weekend... It is
important that you pay attention to your classmates. You may learn
something new and/or be able to support and help them.
 Group discussions elevate everybody’s learning. There is no such thing
as a “dumb” question. Rest assured, many others will probably have the
same question.
 ASSIGNMENTS: Assignments will be given periodically as a means for you to
become more knowledgeable and comfortable with ASL. These assignments will
consist of both receptive and expressive skills.
 QUIZZES: There will be periodic quizzes to ensure that as a whole we are all on
the same page
 HOMEWORK: There will be a variety of assignments that you will do at home to
continue to practice the skills learned/reviewed in class.
MOVIES: During the semester, I may show movies to help you broaden your horizon of
Deaf Culture/Deaf History. The purpose of these is to show you a different perspective
or to help explain things more clearly. Some of these may contain adult content. If you
feel uncomfortable or are offended by this, please let me know and you will be given an
alternative assignment.
GUEST SPEAKERS/SIGNERS: As with any language, learning is acquired from many
sources, not just one teacher. From time to time, we may have guest speakers/signers
in class. Also, some of the other ASL teachers may pop in and teach a lesson, just to
expose you to different styles of signing. English spoken Nevada does not sound the
same as English spoken on the east coast, and the same is true of signing; everyone
has a different style, “accent” We ask that you treat everyone with the utmost respect
and courtesy and follow all expectations laid out in this syllabus.
WESTERN NEVADA POLICIES: Students are expected to abide by the policies set
forth on the student handbook at all times. Copies of the student handbook may be
obtained from Student Center.
CLASS CANCELLATIONS: In the event of a class cancellation, I will make every effort
to notify you in a timely manner. However, there may be a time when an emergency
happens and I am unable to notify you myself. If I am unable to call you personally, an
e-mail will be sent to the e-mail address provided when you registered so please have
your correct information in the WNC system. Before each class, especially if there is
inclement weather or the teacher has been ill; it is highly recommended that you
check your e-mail before leaving for class.
PLAGIARISM/CHEATING POLICY: Plagiarism and/or cheating will earn you a 0 for
that assignment/test and possible failure in the class...so just don’t do it.
STATEMENT OF ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: I expect all students to conduct
themselves ethically. This includes, but is not limited to, other students, visitors and
instructor. Do unto other as you would like to be done to you! : )
ACCOUNTABILITY: Be sure to save all work that I return to you during the semester.
If there is a discrepancy, you will want to be able to prove your case. If you need
something clarified or explained, I will be happy to meet with you outside of class.
FERPA: FERPA is the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act. I cannot share any
information about a student’s academic progress with anyone other than the student or
staff at Western Nevada College that need to know. FERPA also applies to those who
are under 18 and attending college courses, meaning that the instructor cannot discuss
any academic progress with parents or guardians. Please do not have any one other
than yourself contact me regarding your college experience.
COURSE COMMENT: Linguistic research demonstrates that ASL is comparable in
complexity and expressiveness to all other spoken language. IT IS NOT A FORM OF
ENGLISH. ASL has its own distinct grammar structure, which must be mastered in the
same way as the grammar of any other language. ASL differs from spoken language in
that it is a VISUAL, “3-D” language.
***I encourage any student needing to request accommodations for a specific disability
to please meet with me privately to ensure your success. You will also need to contact
the Disability Support Services office (Bristlecone building, Room 103) at 445-3266 or
445-3267 as soon as possible to arrange for appropriate accommodations. See also
procedures under “Resources” on page 51.
***Instructor has the right to adjust syllabus as needed***