Course Syllabus

American Sign Language (ASL) 101

Spring 2016
Date: January 11, 2016 to May 4, 2016
Days: Mondays and Wednesdays
Classroom: SOEB 224
Time: 3:30 to 4:45 pm
Department of Languages, Literatures, and Cultures
University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill
Course Number: American Sign Language (ASL) 204
Instructor: Bradley K. Hardin, MA
Email: bradley.hardin@gallaudet.edu
Text Phone #: (252) 548-7521
Office Hours: Available from 9:00 am to 10:30 am; 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm

Credit Hours: 3

Office: SOEB 438

Course Description:
American Sign Language (ASL) is the major language used by Deaf people in the United States.
This course involves learning ASL rules of grammar, syntax, vocabulary, and the parameter of
ASL. Students will develop increased fluency in their expressive and receptive abilities in ASL.
Also, not only will the students learn rules of ASL grammar, the students will learn the history of
ASL. The students will learn more about the Deaf community and the history of Deaf culture.
*Pre-requisite: No pre-requisite need. But if you already know ASL before taking the course,
you may request for the placement exam to move on into ASL Level II or ASL Level III.
Course Student Learning Outcomes:
The students who are taking ASL 204 course:
I.
Will demonstrate the appropriate techniques for role shifting, spatial structuring,
sequencing events, and establishing time references when narrating a story or an
event in ASL.
II.
Will demonstrate an intermediate level to advanced level of proficiency in their
ability to carry on a conversation in ASL following appropriate features discourse
including turn taking and backchannel feedback.
III.
Will identify the differences between Deaf and Hearing cultures including the history
of Deaf cultures.
IV.
Will demonstrate the appropriate behaviors, showing awareness of and respect for
Deaf Culture in the Deaf communities.
Course Materials:
It is required that you get the following textbooks for the ASL class:

Signing Naturall Student Workbook Level 3 DVD Edition. Ken Mikos, Cheri Smith, and
Ella Mae Lentz, Copyright 1990 by DawnSignPress. San Diego, California.
The Gallaudet Dictionary of American Sign Language. Clayton Valli, Editor in Chief,
Copyright 2006 by Gallaudet University Press. Gallaudet University, Washington, D.C.
(This book will be a great source to improve your ASL vocabulary choices).
*Recommended*: Apple-related laptop for iMovie video quality. There will be a few
video assignments that you would be doing throughout the semester.

Course Requirements:
Assignments:
1) Homework (10%): There will be ten homework assigned and it is worth 10% total of the
grade. The students will be doing assigned homework related to a weekly journal, a
reflection paper on the Deaf community or DVD in the class, a reflection paper on
ASL/Deaf history, and homework to be determined later.
2) Projects (20%): There will be two projects throughout the semester. The first project
will be about a famous Deaf person and the student will be working with a partner. The
second project will be to focus on Deaf-related history (such as Deaf schools, Deaf
President Now (DPN), etc) or community (such as Deaf clubs, Deaf church, etc) and you
will be working in a group of three or four. More details about the projects will be
announced as the date approaches. These two projects are worth 20% of the grade. Be
sure to cite the work by using the APA format.
https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/01/
3) Participation (10%): It is very important that you participate in and out of the classroom
activities. I will observe your participation in group activities, projects, and Deaf events
you plan on volunteering at. This is worth about 10% of the grade. I do expect you to
participate.
4) Presentation (10%): You will only have one presentation in the class at the beginning of
the school year. The presentation will focus on About Me and you will be required to
use your ASL skills. The About Me presentation will have you talk about your
background, where you are from, what you like to do, your favorite hobbies or things to
do, your family/friend, etc. This is worth 10% of your grade. Do well and be yourself.
5) Midterm (25%): The midterm will occur either before or after the Fall Break. The
midterm will focus on Units 1-3 including your knowledge of ASL/Deaf history, Deaf
culture, etc. The midterm will include receptive, expressive, and your knowledge on
several topics that we have learned in the class. Receptive the teacher will sign either
question or in the sentence and you will have to write down in the English sentence what
the teacher signs. Expressive You will be required to do at least two sentences in ASL

while the teacher observes your skills. Knowledge you will answer multiple choices,
short answers, an essay, etc based on your knowledge of ASL rules, Deaf Culture, history,
etc. It is worth 25% of the grade.
6) Final Exam (25%): The Final exam will occur right before Winter Break. The final
exam will focus on the cumulative five units which include your knowledge on ASL
grammar, ASL/Deaf history, and ASL/Deaf culture. The final exam will be similar to the
midterm exam. It is worth 25% of the grade.
Evaluation/Assessment:
I will evaluate your ASL skills based on your receptive and expressive skills and your knowledge
of ASL Rules/History and Deaf Culture:
1) Receptive: I will be signing the sentences, stories, and vocabulary in ASL and you will
work on your receptive skills to be able to understand my signing.
2) Expressive: You will be required to stand in the front of the class or professor and tell a
story or do the projects by using the ASL. I will evaluate the parameters of your ASL
skills.
3) Knowledge: There will be sections where you will answer the questions based on your
knowledge of ASL grammar rules, ASL history, stories, and Deaf culture related
questions.
**Feedback: If you make any mistakes on your receptive, expressive, and knowledge skills,
I will give you feedback on how to improve your skills.
Grading Policy:
Letter Grade:
A+
A
AB+
B
BC+
C
CD+
D
DF

GPA Value:
4.0
4.0
3.7
3.3
3.0
2.7
2.3
2.0
1.7
1.3
1.0
0.7
0.0

Definition:
Outstanding
Good
Average
Satisfactory for P
Failing, No Credit

Percent Rating:
97.0 100+
93.5 96.9
90.0 93.4
87.0 89.9
83.5 86.9
80.0 83.4
77.0 79.9
73.5 76.9
70.0 73.4
67.0 69.9
63.5 66.9
60.0 63.4
59.9 or below

*This is the 10-point scale to pass the ASL 101 class.

*ASL major* - You must have a B or above to pass the class. If you get below B-, you must
retake the course to pass and move on to ASL Level II.
*ASL minor* - You must have B- or above to pass the class. If you get a C or below, you must
retake the course to continue your minor in ASL.
Assignments and Grading:
Assignments:
Homework
Projects
Participation
Presentation
Midterm
Final Exam

Number of Assignments:
Ten
Two
Entire Semester
One
One
One

Weights:
10%
20%
10%
10%
25%
25%

Additional Instructional Tools: (not required but recommended)

- For Hearing People Only (3rd Edition). Moore, Matthew S. and Levitan, Linda.
Copyright 2003 by Deaf Life Press. Rochester, New York.
- Master ASL Level Book: Jason E. Zinza. Copyright 2006. Burtonsville, Maryland.
- YouTube videos in ASL: The reason I mentioned this is that there are so many Deaf
people posting the videos in ASL on YouTube. Their video would be about ASL
Literature such as jokes and an ABC Story, their life experience story, any short stories,
and many more. If you really want to practice more on your receptive skills, this is the
place to be.
Class/University Policies:
1) Voicing: Please respect the ASL professor and ASL class since this course requires you
to communicate in sign language which means no voicing is allowed in the class. If you
are confused with any sign you see in the classroom, please ask the professor or your
classmate by using your ASL skills. If you repeatedly violate this policy, a point might be
deduction from your final grade each time you violate this policy.
2) Attendance: ASL is a visual language and it is very important to show up for the class to
be able to interact with other students in ASL. You are allowed to have TWO unexcused
absences, then after that, each unexcused absence will count two points each off toward
your final grade. If you have any personal reason due to health issues or immediate
family emergency, please give me a document note to be excused with the absence.
3) Communication: You are taking the ASL class which requires you to use your ASL
skills all the time for communicates in asking the questions, the class discussion,
feedback from others, and support your peers. If you need to get in touch with me, please
email me or call me if needed. Please make sure you edit your written English via email.

4) Assignments: All assignments are to be turned in on time on the date mentioned. Late
assignments will count one point each late toward your assignment.
5) Participations: You are required to participate in ASL class activities which include
group projects, ASL usage for practice dialogue with partner or in a group, volunteering
at Deaf events (at least two), and practicing your ASL skills so you can improve your
fluency in ASL.
6) ASL Tutor: If you are struggling with your ASL skills in the class, its very encouraging
and a requirement for you to meet with your ASL tutor to be able to improve your skills.
7) Student Responsibilities: Students are expected to actively participate and complete
assigned activities, participate in group activities/discussion, complete assignments on
time, respect diverse perspectives and opinions, show your supports toward each other,
and show your respect to your peers, professor, and Deaf culture.
8) Technology: Since this class is a visual language, technology used in the classroom is
not permitted. Yes, since I mentioned that we will use a laptop for video recording,
please do not use your laptop during instruction time unless we are doing projects on
laptops. Cell phones are to be turned off the entire time. If you are expecting an
emergency call, please inform your professor before each class period.
9) Deaf Community/Culture: You are going to be involved in the Deaf community related
to your projects or a major requirement; you are required to use your ASL skills to
communicate with Deaf people at the event. Please show respect toward the Deaf people
and their culture because you are learning their language, American Sign Language
(ASL).
10) Plagiarism: Plagiarism is the use of the written work of others, either direct copies or
close paraphrases, as ones own original work. If quotations and/or passages from other
works are used in papers, they must accurately show the proper citation in order to avoid
any misunderstanding about plagiarism. Please use the APA format to cite someones
work in your paper. APA format can be found on website,
https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/01/
11) University Policies: All university policies may be found in the Undergraduate Catalog.
The standards of professional behavior and communication discussed in the catalog will
be mandated in this course and program. It is very important to be aware of university
policies.

12) Academic Integrity Policy (AIP): All students must read and understand the University
of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Academic Integrity Policy. It will be followed in any
event of violation. And there will be consequences regarding a violation the AIP.
13) Academic Accommodation Policy (AAP): Students have the responsibility of formally
requesting accommodation through the Office for Students with Disabilities Service
(OSDS) at UNC-CH at the beginning of the semester. For more information, please look
in the UNC-CH Policy under Undergraduate Catalog.
Course Unit Topics: What will we be covering in the Units throughout the Spring Semester
semester? Here is the list of each Unit and the topic we will be covering.
Unit Eighteen: Shift of Perspective
Unit Twenty-Two: Finances Part I-IV
Unit Twenty-Four: Medical Situations
Course Outline for the Semester: (Tentative schedule subject to change)
The ASL 101 class will be meeting on Mondays and Wednesdays from 11:00 am to 12:15 pm.
Dates:
Units:
Assignments:
January 11-13
Getting to Know You
Expressive Assignment #1
January 20
Fingerspelling Review
January 25-27
Numbers and Game Day
Expressive Assignment #2
February 1-3
Activity and Exam
Exam #1
February 8-10
Deaf-Blind Community
February 15-17
Finances Part I and II
Skit Day
February 22-24
Finances Part III and IV
Expressive Assignment #3
February 23-March2
Game Day and Exam
Midterm
March 14-16
Shift of Perspective
March 21-23
Shift of Perspective
Expressive Assignment #4
March 28-30
Medical Situations
April 4-6
Medical Situations
Medical Situation Story
April 11-13
Game Day and Exam
Exam #3
April 18-20
ASL Storytelling Part 1
April 25
ASL Storytelling Part 2
May 4
Final Exam
Final Exam
*Assignment/Homework due date will be announce in the class.
*The exactly date for the exams will be announce in the class.
*Dates to Remember:
January 11 First Day of Spring Semester
January 18 Martin Luther King, JR No School
January 30 Deaf Event ASL Caf
March 7-11 Spring Break

March 20 Interpreted Play

April 3 Deaf Event ASL Idol
May 4 Final Exam
May 13 Graduation
Lesson Plan: (Tentative lesson plan subject to change)
*Look at the attachment for the lesson plan.