Montclair State University

Course Outline
AMSL101-01
Spring 2017

Professor Greco
grecosa@mail.montclair.edu
T/F 10:00am-11:15am
Office Hours: Tuesday and Friday
9:15-9:45am; Open Student Lounge; UH

COURSEDESCRIPTION:ThiscourseisanintroductiontothestudyofAmericanSignLanguageand
focusesondevelopingbothexpressiveandreceptiveAmericanSignLanguageskills.Coursecontent
includesASLsignsandconcepts,grammaticalfeaturesofASL,andanawarenessofDeafculturewithan
emphasisonskilldevelopment,correctusageofsigns,andanincreasedgeneralunderstandingof
AmericanSignLanguage.CurrenteventsrelatedtotheDeafcommunitywillalsobeaddressedduring
thiscourse.
COURSEOBJECTIVES:
StudentswilldevelopabasicASLvocabularyofsignsandnumbers.
StudentswilldevelopbeginninglevelreceptiveandexpressiveASLskills.
StudentswillrecognizeandemploythesyntaxandfundamentalgrammaticalrulesofASL.
Studentswilldemonstratebeginninglevelmasteryofreceptiveandexpressivefingerspelling
(includingclarity,rhythm,speed,andsmoothexecutionoflettershapes)aswellasdevelopan
understandingofwhentouseandwhentoavoidfingerspelling.
StudentswilldevelopabasicunderstandingofDeafcultureandsensitivity.Thiswillbeachieved
throughparticipationindeafcommunityevents,watchingdeafculturevideos,andreadingrelated
excerptsfrombooksandarticles.
Bytheendofthesemester,studentswillhavedevelopedbasiccommunicationskillsandthe
culturalsensitivitynecessarytointeractionwithmembersoftheDeafcommunity.
STUDENTREQUIREMENTS:
AmericanSignLanguageisavisuallanguageandisbestlearnedthrough
practice.Thereforeattendanceandclassparticipationarerequired.In
accordancewithMSUsStudentHandbook,morethanthreeabsenceswill
automaticallyresultinfailureofthiscourse.

COMMUNICATION POLICY:
With the expectation of the first classs orientation, and lectures on Deaf culture, this course will
be taught using only in ASL in the classroom; spoken English will NOT be permitted during
class. You may communicate by WRITING, SIGNING, USING MIME, OR GESTURES. No
talking will be allowed while signing. Students are expected to follow the communication
policy. Students who are continually disruptive because of their infinite chatter will be asked to
leave.
Note: If I speak, you have permission to speak; if I sign I will expect you to sign as well.

Cell Phone Policy: Cell phones should be shut off and put away immediate once you enter the
classroom. If the student is caught using their cell phones in class they will be given one
warning to put it away. The teacher will sign STOP or FINISH. If the student continues
using their cell phone after the warning, the student will be asked to leave.

NOTE: If you are experiencing an emergency (i.e. family crisis, someone has fallen ill) you may
take the call or text OUTSIDE of the classroom. If however you receive a text from a friend
asking when or where you will meet for lunch AND you leave the room you will be asked to
remain outside of the classroom. To take a call and step outside the class is for
EMERGENCIES ONLY!

COURSE TEXTS / OTHER STUDY MATERIALS:

REQUIRED:

TEXTS: Note: Please purchase the NEW version, with the two people signing on the
front!
Signing Naturally Level 1 Unit 1-6 by Cheri Smith, Ella Mae Lentz, Ken
Mikos (DawnSignPress 2014)

*Web/Internet: For more practice and study in ASL*

http://www.lifeprint.com/aslu
http:www.signingsavvy.com
http://www.aslpro.com

CLASS MATERIALS:
1 Binder with paper and a pocket to put hand outs
PEN/PENCIL: You will need it!

Students will be assessed both receptively (you watch) and expressively (you sign)
Receptive Assessments:
Students will be receptively assessed in the various ways:
The students will watch a clip from the Signing Naturally DVD
The students will watch the teacher sign a story and answer questions

Expressive Assessments:
Students will be able to express what they have learned through daily conversations,
paired work and homework
Students will be able to express what they have learned through their projects and final

Participation, Class work and 20%

Attendance
10%
Participation and Classwork
10%
Attendance

Homework and Tests 10%

HW 1 2%

Test 1 3%

( Midterm)

HW 2 2%

Test 2 3%

(Final)

Midterm : 30%

Receptive 10%

Expressive 20%

Final : 30%

Receptive 10%

Expressive 20%

PARTICIPATION AND CLASSWORK 10%

10/10 Participates in class Participates

discussion and consistently/almost
group work always in 1 to 1
consistently dialogue during
throughout the entire class.
 semester.
9/10-8/10 Participates in class Participates
discussion and frequently in 1 to 1
group work most of dialogue during
the semester. class.
7/10-6/10 Participates in class Participates
discussion and sometimes in 1 to 1
group work, dialogue during
sporadically class.
throughout the
semester.
5/5 or below The student NEVER Refuses to/ Never
participated participates in 1 on 1
throughout the activities within class
whole semester.

ATTENDANCE and LATENESS POLICY: 10 %

Lateness = 5-10 minutes late to class. BE ON TIME!

3 Lateness = 1 Absence
6 Lateness = 2 Absences

3 Absences Up to 3 Allowed
4 Absences Lose 5 points off
Attendance Grade
5 Absences Drop a letter grade
6 or MORE In danger of failing

The fine print: If you are sick, in the hospital or have an EMERGENCY you MUST provide
signed note from your doctor or place of occupation. Allowed Up to 3 times per semester.

Students are expected to stay in class for the entire period until directed otherwise. The
students are NOT allowed to leave class early for any reason. If the student leaves early on
their own accord they will be automatically marked absent for the day.

Attendance and lateness policies and sanctions are determined by the instructor for each
section of each course. These will be established in writing on the individual course outline.
Attendance will be kept by the instructor for administrative and counseling purposes.

Homeworks and Tests:

One homework and one test will be given before your midterm
One homework and one test will be given before your final.
 HW: This will consist of readings from the text, DVD work, Discussion on blackboard
etc.
Tests: Will be a cumulative of what we have learned so far. I will sign to you.

If you are absent for ANY reason during these assessment, you have 1 week from
the day you return to make this up.

MIDTERM: 20%
The midterm examination will be given approximately the six week of the semester. The
midterm will cover units 1, 2 and 3. The midterm will be given during class. The students MUST
take the midterm examination.

IF you arrive LATE to the exam, you will not be offered the opportunity to make up what
you have missed.

IF you are absent for your exam you will not be given the opportunity to make it up: Be
there!

There are two parts to your exam:

Midterm Receptive: 10%

The receptive part of your midterm will cover what you have learned thus far, including Deaf
culture and information discussed in class. You will write exactly what you see.

Midterm Expressive: 20%

The expressive part of your midterm will require you to create a Signer A/B conversation
covering all information from Units 1-3 you will be partnered. Rubric will be provided. You will be
provided times for you and your partner to sign and an order in which your partners will go.

FINAL
The final examination will be given between weeks thirteen and fifteen. The final will cover units
1-6. The final will be given during class time. The students MUST take the final examination. If
you are absent for the final you will receive a zero for the examination. If you are late you
will not be afforded the opportunity to make up what you have missed. There are two
parts to your exam:
Final Receptive: 10%
The receptive part of your final will be between 20 multiple choice questions covering all of the
material we have covered during the semester, including additional culture information and
information learned in class.

Final Expressive: 20%

As a part of your final you will be asked to either:

1: Create and sign either a conversation with a partner covering all that we have learned within
the curriculum.
2. Present an all about me solo presentation including all of the information learned over the
course of the semester.

YOU must be in class during the last weeks. You MUST be ready, on time to present the given
options above. Late presentations will NOT be accepted.

MSU Grade Breakdown

A93100% B8082% D60%69%

A9092% C+7779% F59%&below

B+8789% C7376%

B8386% C7072%