1/15/2025 12:08:53 AM	ASL 108 Course Outline as of Fall 2008	New Course (First Version)
CATALOG INFORMATION
Discipline and Nbr:  ASL 108	Title:  CLASSIFIERS IN ASL
Full Title:  Classifiers in American Sign Language
Last Reviewed:9/9/2024

Units		Course Hours per Week			Nbr of Weeks	Course Hours Total
Maximum	2.00	Lecture Scheduled	2.00		17.5 max.	Lecture Scheduled	35.00
Minimum	2.00	Lab Scheduled	0		17.5 min.	Lab Scheduled	0
		Contact DHR	0			Contact DHR	0
		Contact Total	2.00			Contact Total	35.00
		Non-contact DHR	0			Non-contact DHR Total	0

Total Out of Class Hours:  70.00

Total Student Learning Hours: 105.00

Title 5 Category:  AA Degree Applicable
Grading:  Grade or P/NP
Repeatability:  00 - Two Repeats if Grade was D, F, NC, or NP
Also Listed As: 
Formerly: 

Catalog Description:

Introduction to the visual and gestural aspects of classifiers in ASL. Students will study various classifier types and functions and learn how to identify and incorporate classifiers in a variety of discourse styles and formats such as dialogs, presentations and storytelling.  

Prerequisites/Corequisites:
Course Completion of ASL 2(formerly known as ASL 1B or ASL 51B or SE 214B)

Recommended Preparation:

Limits on Enrollment:

Schedule of Classes Information
Description:

Introduction to the visual and gestural aspects of classifiers in ASL. Students will study various classifier types and functions and learn how to identify and incorporate classifiers in a variety of discourse styles and formats such as dialogs, presentations and storytelling.  

(Grade or P/NP)
Prerequisites:Course Completion of ASL 2(formerly known as ASL 1B or ASL 51B or SE 214B)
Recommended:
Limits on Enrollment:
Transfer Credit:CSU;
Repeatability:00 - Two Repeats if Grade was D, F, NC, or NP

ARTICULATION, MAJOR, and CERTIFICATION INFORMATION

Associate Degree:		Effective:		Inactive:
Area:
CSU GE:	Transfer Area			Effective:	Inactive:
IGETC:	Transfer Area			Effective:	Inactive:
CSU Transfer:	Transferable	Effective:	Fall 2018	Inactive:
UC Transfer:		Effective:		Inactive:
C-ID:

Certificate/Major Applicable: Both Certificate and Major Applicable

COURSE CONTENT

Outcomes and Objectives:
At the conclusion of this course, the student should be able to:

Upon completion of this course, students will be able to:

1. Identify examples of Handle, Entity and Trace classifiers in short videos of ASL discourse.

 

2. Demonstrate their skill in using Handle, Entity and Trace classifiers by presenting short passages in ASL which incorporate one or more of these types of classifiers.

 

3. Recognize and describe the differences between the Non-Manual Signals used to show emotion and those used to provide linguistic information.

 

4. Produce one or more short stories in ASL which incorporate several examples of Handle, Entity and Trace classifiers and which also effectively use NMS and character role-shift

 

5. Provide a summary of a short story in either paraphrased ASL or written English which incorporate examples of Handle, Entity, and Trace classifiers.

Topics and Scope

    

I.   Introduction to classifiers in ASL

II.  Functions of classifiers

    A.  Prepositions

    B.  Number indicators

    C.  Adjectives

    D.  Adverbs

    E.  Nouns

    F.  Pronouns

    G.  Verbs

    H.  Vague vs. specific

     I.   Constructed Action

III. Classifiers as polycomponential signifiers and classifiers have many meaning units

     A. Handshape

     B. Movement

     C. Path

     D. Manner

     E. Orientation

     F. Figure and ground relationships

IV.  Types of classifiers

     A. Entity classifiers

           1.      Represent an object or person

           2.      Provide information about spatial relationships

           3.      Describe movement - where and how,

           4.      Show direction or path

           5.      Give number information - exact or just plurality

           6.      Provide details such as orientation

     B.  Handle classifiers

           1.      Manipulative: show the hands

           2.      Depictive: show the object

           3.      Used to represent an action taken by the hands (or feet).

           4.      Sometime called body or instrument classifiers

           5.      Have verb properties

     C.  Trace classifiers

           1.      Show the outline of something

           2.      Show the extent of something

           3.      Trace the path of an entity

           4.      Sometime called SASS (Size and Shape Specifiers)

           5.      Adjective properties when descriptive

           6.      Verb properties when showing extent

V.   Non-Manual Signals (NMSs) which provide meaning

           A.      Emotional signals

           B.      Linguistic signals

VI.  Referents used with classifiers

VII. Classifiers and signers' perspectives

VIII. Integrating classifiers into various literary forms

           A.      Lecture/presentation

           B.      Storytelling

           C.      Poetic use of classifiers

           D.      Making context-based choices in integrating signs and classifiers

Assignments:

1. Problem-solving assignments

    a. Practice exercises from the workbook, video and teacher-prepared materials

   b. Group practice activities, games and other activities

   c. Review of lessons from the workbook, video and teacher-prepared materials

    d. Practice of conversational dialogues in ASL (as individuals, pairs, and small groups)

    e. Practice of presentational or story-telling exercises in ASL which incorporate classifiers

   f. Viewing and interpreting stories and descriptions in ASL which incorporate classifiers

2. Skill demonstrations

    a. Performance of conversational dialogues in ASL using classifiers

   b. Three or four story-telling demonstration or non-fiction presentations in ASL which

         incorporate conventional signs and  classifiers.

    c.  Viewing short live or videotaped passages in ASL which incorporate

         classifiers and preparing written, signed or  paraphrased analyses or descriptions

   d.  Performance of narratives in ASL which will be videotaped for evaluations

3. Objective examinations

    a. Weekly or bi-weekly quizzes

   b. Chapter exams

   c. Midterms and finals

Methods of Evaluation/Basis of Grade.

Writing: Assessment tools that demonstrate writing skill and/or require students to select, organize and explain ideas in writing.		Writing 5 - 10%
written analysis or description of ASL video or live presentation
Problem solving: Assessment tools, other than exams, that demonstrate competence in computational or non-computational problem solving skills.		Problem Solving 20 - 40%
See Problem Solving Assignments
Skill Demonstrations: All skill-based and physical demonstrations used for assessment purposes including skill performance exams.		Skill Demonstrations 20 - 40%
See Skill demonstration assignments
Exams: All forms of formal testing, other than skill performance exams.		Exams 20 - 40%
Multiple choice, True/false, Matching items, Completion Other: Essays
Other: Includes any assessment tools that do not logically fit into the above categories.		Other Category 0 - 0%
None

Representative Textbooks and Materials:

Classifiers:  A Closer Look.  Lessard, Patricia. Tree House Video LLC: 2002.(CLASSIC)

Instructor prepared materials

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