GSR 103 ASL and Deaf Studies

Course Syllabus
Fall 2016
Department of ASL and Deaf Studies
Gallaudet University

Instructor: Office: SLCC XXXX

Office hours: Classroom:
Course number: GSR 103.X Credit Hours: 3
Contact information:

Course description:
GSR 103 ASL Composition is offered as part of a Learning Cluster, which integrates GSR
101 (First Year Seminar) and GSR 102 (Critical Reading and Writing). This course
introduces students to critical, academic discourse in American Sign Language. Students
will be given opportunities to analyze and evaluate academic and creative works and to
compose logical arguments by synthesizing information from sources with their own
critical perspectives. The course has been developed using a Multicultural Education
philosophy that advocates the belief that students and their experiences should be placed
at the center of the teaching and learning process, and that teaching and learning should
occur in a context that addresses multiple ways of thinking.
Pre-requisite: Qualifying performance on ASL Assessment.

Required materials:
Video assignments will be posted in Blackboard.

Blackboard use:
We will be using the Blackboard course management system. Blackboard will be
used to post announcements, curricular materials and any changes in syllabus,
expectations and course work. It will be updated regularly. Blackboard will use
students Gallaudet email addresses to send out notifications. IMPORTANT: If you
do not regularly check your Gallaudet email but prefer to use an alternative private
email address, please set up email-forwarding for your Gallaudet email to your
private email. This will ensure you will not miss any messages that might be sent
out by Blackboard from your instructor. You are ultimately responsible for all
information that is sent through Blackboard.
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY POLICY STATEMENT:
Gallaudet University has an official Academic Integrity Policy. Its entirety can be found on
the Registrars home page in the 2015-2016 GU Undergraduate catalog at
http://www.gallaudet.edu/catalog/html.

As members of the academic community, we all have an obligation to tell the truth and be
honest in our academic endeavors at all times. When we dont know the answer to a
question, we say so. When we borrow another persons ideas or language, we say so. We
do not lie, cheat, or steal. Students, who lie, cheat, or steal by copying another students
work, faking data, or failing to cite another persons language or ideas will receive an F on
that assignment and may receive an F for the course. We are expected to commit to
honesty, fairness, civility and respect for each other, and to accept responsibility for our
actions. Failure to meet the standards of academic integrity can result in dismissal from
Gallaudet University.

Violations of academic integrity include cheating, misrepresentation, plagiarism,

facilitation of academic dishonesty, impeding the academic progress of others, computer
misconduct, and other acts. Everyone on campus has a role in upholding the Integrity
Policy of this campus and upholding our standards of conduct. Academic departments and
support services are responsible for informing students of the standards of integrity.
Faculty members are responsible for giving students complete course information, fair
evaluation, and timely feedback. And finally, students are responsible for knowing and
meeting course and academic integrity requirements.

In the case of an integrity violation, the instructor must meet with the student and
properly investigate the matter. Once the student has been informed of the consequences
of the integrity violation, students may appeal to the department chair, the academic
integrity committee, and the dean. However, the deans decision is final. All procedures
are clearly outlined in the academic integrity policy as mentioned above. (Dr. Jane
Dillehay, 2007)

STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES:

Students who need special services or accommodations should contact the Office for
Students with Disabilities (OSWD), located in SAC Room 1022.

INCOMPLETE GRADES
A grade of Incomplete (INC) is given when a portion of a students required coursework
has not been completed and evaluated at the end of the semester due to illness, or other
unforeseen, but fully justified reasons, and earning credit is still possible. When this is the
case, the INC form (available electronically at Faculty Center in Bison), including required
supporting documentation and signatures, must be submitted to the registrars office
before the last day of classes. A student will not receive an In complete grade for poor,
incomplete, or failing work, or willful non-attendance of class. Students with an INC grade
must complete the coursework and receive a grade by the end of the seventh week of the
following traditional semester. Incomplete grades given during summer school must be
removed during the following all semester. Otherwise, the INC grade automatically
becomes an F. The time for removing an incomplete grade may be extended one time.
The student must petition for an extension prior to the deadline following the reported
incomplete. The student must have the approval of the course instructor, academic
advisor, and dean of the school in which the student is enrolled.

GU STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES:

http://oes.gallaudet.edu/emgs/Gallaudet_Student_Learning_Outcomes.pdf
1. Language & Communication: Students will use American Sign Language and written
English to communicate effectively with diverse audiences, for a variety of purposes, and
in a variety of settings.

2. Critical Thinking: Students will summarize, synthesize, and critically analyze ideas
from multiple sources in order to draw well-supported conclusions and solve problems.

3. Identity & Culture: Students will understand themselves, complex social identities,
including deaf identities, and the interrelations within and among diverse cultures and
groups.

4. Knowledge & Inquiry: Students will apply knowledge, modes of inquiry, and
technological competence from a variety of disciplines in order to understand human
experiences and the natural world.

5. Ethics & Social Responsibility: Students will make well-reasoned ethical judgments,
showing awareness of multiple value systems and taking responsibility for the
consequences of their actions. They will apply these judgments, using collaboration and
leadership skills, to promote social justice in their local, national, and global communities.

GSR 103 ASL AND DEAF STUDIES

COURSE CORE UNIVERSITY
STUDET COMPETENCIES LEARNING
LEARNING OUTCOMES
OUTCOMES

Students will Core Competency

analyze and Students will be able to identify the
evaluate ASL text's a) main point, b)
academic and organizational strategies, c)
creative works in supporting evidence, and be able to
American Sign formulate their evaluation of the
Language, text's strengths and weaknesses
demonstrating and to articulate their opinions of
the ability to regarding the topic of the text. d)
identify key learn and understand the difference
features of between video and life presentation
academic rubrics provided by Gallaudet
discourse. University.

Students will Students will be able to produce 4,5

articulate their well organized essays, with
ideas in ASL introductions that capture the
essays and live viewers' attention, a clearly stated
presentations main point, supporting points,
that supporting evidence, and utilize ASL
demonstrate citations during in person
skills of presentations or digital productions.
organization,
development,
language use
and awareness
of audience.

Students will Pre production, production, post

demonstrate the production, dissemination through
ability to different mixed media.
compose and
produce ASL
texts using tools
of digital media
production and
dissemination.

Students will Historic: Roots, History and Timeline

articulate their of ASL; Linguistic:
awareness of phonology/morphology/syntax/disco
historical, linguistic, urse; Cultural: diversity, creative
and cultural uses, and encourage community
aspects of leadership and involvement in the
American Sign Deaf community
Language.

Policies and Procedures

Student Responsibilities: Students are expected to actively participate
by attending class and completing assigned activities, participate in class
discussions, serve in groups, complete assignments on time, respect
diverse perspectives and opinions, and support opinions and answers
with reasons, explanations and documentation from a variety of sources.
If you are physically present but not engaged in class (listening to
devices through earphones, using your phone during class, etc.), you will
be counted absent without warning.

Classroom Etiquette: Basic classroom etiquette includes turning off

external electronic devices that may interfere with class participation.
Arrive on time for class, stay the entire period, and avoid behavior that
interferes with the concentration and learning of other students.
Attention should be given to the instructor, guest speakers, and fellow
students.

Attendance: You will be allowed three absences for any reason. For any
additional absence, you will lose 5% of your possible points from your
overall course point total for each class that you miss. (Example: If you
have 5 absences and 90 (A-) for your final point total, you will instead
receive a final total of 80 (B-) after losing 10 points due to the two
additional absences). Use this wisely. After 11 absences (including your 3
free passes), regardless of your grade, you will receive a F. Two tardies
constitute an absence.

Peer Network: Each student is responsible for getting access to and

understanding what is expected of each assignment. Please form a
strong network with your peers. If you miss a class, go to Blackboard for
assignments and ask other classmates to learn about what you missed.

Assignments: All draft and final assignments are to be submitted as

instructed. No exceptions. Each assignment discussed will have specific
instructions as well as rubrics given by the instructor. The instructions
are to be followed meticulously.

Deadlines: Assignments are due at the beginning of class. Assignments

not submitted on time will receive a zero unless they are submitted on
the same day (before midnight) for a 10-point penalty.

ASL Skills Expectations Raised: We will learn and apply academic ASL,
which is a specialized type of discourse for academic assignments. Use
only ASL in classroom and during video assignments throughout the
semester. Using written ASL terms in your typed/written work is not
acceptable.

YouTube and Blogger: Each of you will upload your assignment video into
YouTube and posted in Blogger. Some of your work may be shared with
classmates for feedback. The staff in the E-Learning Lab can assist you
to set it up and maintain it throughout the semester, and answers to
most common technical questions about MyThread, Windows Movie
Maker, iMovie, and other software applications at helpdesk@gallaudet.edu. To
avoid potential problems, you are not to delete any video work you have
created for class.

Office hours & appointments: Please email me if youd like to meet with
me at a specific time, and I will be sure to make myself available for you.
Please keep your appointments with me, and if you have to cancel,
please email me.

Snow days or other cancelled classes: If the university closes for any
reason or if we must unexpectedly miss class, check the announcement
section of Blackboard for further instructions.

Grading:
Assignment Weight Letter Range
grade
Attendance and 10% A 100-93
participation
Assignments 25% A- 92-90
Midterm 30% B+ 89-87
Final 35% B 86-83
B- 82-80
C+ 79-77
C 76-73
C- 72-70
D+ 69-67
D 66-60
F Below 60