ASL 201

American Sign Language Levels II

3 credits

COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course designs to continue development of ASL 101 - American Sign Language I (ASL I)
course, and emphasizes development and refinement of comprehension, production and
interpersonal skills as covered in ASL 101. Additional information about the Deaf community
and Deaf culture will be included.

COURSE INFORMATION
On-Campus Days: Mondays / Wednesdays / Fridays
Time: 9:00am – 10:50am
Classroom Location: 2303

INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION

Instructor: Elizabeth “Lizzy” Martinez, M.A.

Office Location: Bldg 1202
Office Hours: Mondays/Wednesdays/Fridays: 11:00am – 12:00pm
Tuesdays/Thursdays: 1:00pm – 2:00pm
Email for appointments
Contact Information: elizabeth.martinez.asl@gmail.com

ASL 201 – American Sign Language Level II

 ASL 201 COURSE STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES (SLOs)
ASL 201 Course SLOs
Comprehend and express
oneself with developing ASL
vocabulary and correct
grammar in person, small
groups and through digital
technologies
Identify, compare the analyze
beliefs, values, products and
practices found within deaf
communities
Converse in person and small
groups to discuss key concepts
in other disciplines.
Compare and contrast
students’ languages and
cultures with those of deaf
communities at developing
level.
Demonstrate an awareness of
grammatical features that
make ASL a complex human
language at developing level.
Engage and converse in non-
classroom small groups with
deaf community members.
ASL 201 – American Sign Language II
Critical Assessments Assessment Tool(s) and Expected
Level
Pair and small group Using assignment-tied checklists,
exercises, and/or unit and ASL rubrics for
quizzes comprehension and production
skills at developing level.
Inclusion of other Using assignment-tied checklists
disciplines in the unit and/or using ASL rubrics for the
quizzes and/or class knowledge of other disciplines at
exercises developing level.
Inclusion of other Using assignment-tied checklists
disciplines in the unit and/or using ASL rubrics for the
quizzes and/or class knowledge of other disciplines at
exercises developing level.
Unit quizzes, midterm Using assignment-tied checklists
and/or final exams and/or using ASL rubrics for
understanding of comparison with
other language(s) and culture(s) at
developing level.
Unit quizzes and/or paper Using assignment-tied checklists
and/or video for reflection and/or using ASL rubrics for the
understanding of grammatical
features in the developing level.
Attendance of one deaf Using assignment-tied checklists
event, projects and and/or using ASL rubrics for
reflection videos. production skills at developing
level.
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RECOMMENDED COURSE MATERIALS

Smith, C., Lentz, E., & Mikos, K. (2014). Signing naturally unit 7-12.
Student workbook and DVD. San Diego, CA: DawnSignPress.

REQUIRED WEB-BASED ACTIVITIES

www.goreact.com

For this course, we will use GoReact. GoReact is a web-based tool for recording your video
assignments and for instructor to provide video feedback and instructions. You will find it easy
to use and very helpful for this semester. The cost is $19.95 per course.

Use Blackboard where you will receive all course handouts, lecture notes, assignments,
announcements, etc.

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LEARNER ASSESSMENTS

Grading System
A 93% - 100%
A- 90% - 92%
B+ 87% - 89%
B 83% - 86%
B- 80% - 82%
C+ 77% - 79%
C 73% - 76%
C- 70%-72%
D+ 67% - 69%
D 60% - 66%
F Below 60%

Grading Allocation

Grading Allocation Weight

Workbook Assignments 15%
GoReact Assignments 20%
Deaf Event 10%
Quizzes 30%
Final Class Presentation 25%
Total 100%

ASL 201 – American Sign Language II 4

Workbook Assignments
According to Signing Naturally Curriculum, assignments vary from analyzing video
segments from the DVD, answering comprehension questions, circling the most
appropriate answer, translating syntactic comprehension and incorporating cultural
practice, to preparing narratives for class. There are over seven hours of signed footage
on the DVDs to provide you with needed exercise to improve your comprehension and
production skills.

GoReact Assignments
To be able to receive a grade for your video assignment, submission through GoReact is
the only acceptable way. Every GoReact video length varies, however, the maximum of
minutes for all videos is three minutes. If GoReact renovates and prevents you from
submitting your video assignment on time, please email your instructor, explaining the
situation and share your youtube link.

Deaf Event
Attending 1 deaf community event in the vicinity area is mandatory to immerse yourself
in an ASL signing environment and utilize vocabulary, grammar and cultural behavior
learned in the class. The video length expectation is one to three minutes. To earn a
satisfactory grade, the video should include the following list:

1) A summary of the event

2) Report your findings and/or experience
3) Your reflective thoughts

Quizzes
Quizzes are to create situations and narrate stories based on what you’ve learned in the
class. In both quizzes and projects, comprehension and production skills will be
evaluated along with linguistic and historical knowledge of the language.

Final Class Presentation

The final class presentation gives a report about De’via Artist in the classroom. The
presentation must include visual fine arts intended to express cultural or physical deaf
experience, centralized focus on facial features or on the hands, and incorporate
contrasting or intense colors and values. This individual presentation should be at least
3 minutes in length and no more than 5 minutes. Students are expected to use the
proper grammar structure, topical vocabulary, and cultural information acquired
throughout the course this semester.

ASL 201 – American Sign Language II 5

COURSE EXPECTATIONS, POLICIES, AND PROCEDURES

Course Format
This course consists of engaging in class discussions and activities, and viewing online lectures
as well as academically-related videos in ASL.

Student Responsibilities
Students are expected to actively participate by attending class and completing assigned
activities, participate in class discussions, serve in groups, complete 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 asked to leave the classroom and your
attendance will be count as one tardy.

Classroom Etiquette
Basic classroom etiquette includes turning off external electronic devices that may
interfere with class participation, arriving on time for class, staying the entire period and
avoiding behavior that interferes with the concentration and learning of other students.
Attention should be given to the instructor, guest speakers, and fellow students.

Expectation for communication in class

Since ASL is visual language, use of spoken English or of speaking and signing
simultaneously (“sim-com”) is not allowed during class time, including breaks.
Monitoring of this will be the responsibility of every student in the room during class
and during break. Students using voice or signing/voicing simultaneously will be asked
to leave the classroom until the next session with no expectations. This will be counted
as unexcused absence.

Attendance
You are expected to attend every class. You are expected to arrive on time and stay the
entire class period. You will be allowed two absences. After your two absences has
been used, you will lose 2 points from your overall course grade for each class that you
miss, regardless of the reason. (If you had four absences and you got 93% for your final
grade, you would end up with 89% after losing 4 points due to two over-the-limit
absences.) Two tardy 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.

ASL 201 – American Sign Language II 6

Assignments
All assignments are to be submitted as instructed. Late submissions will not be accepted
except communicating within 24 hours in advance. The instructions are to be followed
meticulously.

Deadlines
Assignments are due at the time of submitting before 11:59 p.m. on specific dates
provided on Course Schedule. Quizzes, projects, and GoReact assignments not being
submitted on time will receive a zero. No late submissions will be accepted after the
deadlines.

Video Netiquette
When using video for assignments, make sure you are in center of the video where I can see the
top of your head and down to your waistline. Make sure that the background is clean (one-
colored wall) with good lighting and no distractions. Wear only solid-colored shirts and free of
logos. The color of your shirt should contrast your skin tone. Remove hats and excessive
jewelry. Wedding rings and small earrings are ok. If you are sitting, please make sure you do not
swivel.

Office hours & appointments

Please email your instructor if you like to meet with her at a specific time, and your
instructor will be sure to make herself available for you. Please keep your appointments
with her, and if you have to cancel, please communicate by emailing the instructor in
advance.

Inclement weather or any cancelled classes

If the university closes for any reason or if the class is cancelled unexpectedly, please
check your university email or the announcement of section of Blackboard for further
instructions.

Student Grievance Procedure

Complaints about course grade must first be resolved through your instructor, the
program coordinator, the department chair and then the Provost in the order until a
resolution is reached.

Tentative Course Schedule

Any changes to the course schedule will be announced in class, through email and/or
posted in the Blackboard.

ASL 201 – American Sign Language II 7

UNIVERSITY POLICIES
Academic Integrity Policy Statement
It is the student's responsibility to familiarize themselves and comply with the University
Undergraduate/Graduate Academic Integrity Policy, which can be found in the University
Undergraduate/Graduate Catalog or on the University.

OSWD Academic Accommodation Policy

Students have the responsibility of formally requesting accommodation through the Office for
Students With Disabilities (OSWD) at the beginning of the semester.

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