Allan Hancock College

Course Syllabus
American Sign Language II- 3 Units
Spring 2022

Instructor: Emily Grigor Office: Use Zoom for Office Hours

Office Hours: By appointment
E-mail: emily.grigor@hancockcollege.edu (E-mail to request for appt only.)
CRN: 41307
Class: Tues & Thurs 8:00 – 9:20 AM.
ERT **Online**

Welcome to American Sign Language 2!

Course Description:

Emphasizing receptive and expressive skills, aspects of American Sign

Language, grammar, vocabulary, literature, and sub-cultures within the
Deaf Community.

Prerequisites: ASL 120

Corequisites: None
Advisory: None

Course Objectives:

Acquire the basics of the beautiful and dynamic language of the Deaf
Community through the understanding of the grammar, syntax and
culture. This course will develop through the usage of text, hands-on,
games, mime and supplemental materials. Students will develop an
understanding of a fact of American society few have only heard of.
Active participation is a MUST in order to grasp this rich, dynamic,
visual language.

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WHAT IS EXPECTED OF THE ASL 121 STUDENT?

● Set up a daily and/or weekly schedule for this course and stick to it.
● Read the assigned textbook pages and exercises.
● Check email frequently for reminders and/or updates.
● Turn in homework and assignments on time
● Stay in touch with your instructor via office hours and/or email.
● Keep and maintain a presence on the ZOOM.

KEY TO SUCCESS:

● Keep and maintain a presence from the start: come to ZOOM class ON TIME,
attend every day, and participate every day.
● Plan some 16 hours of work per week. Some students will need more; others will
need less.
● Complete all assigned work in a timely manner, and in a satisfactory way
● Try exercises not assigned as part of the homework or class discussion. Practice
makes permanent!
● Work effectively and productively in groups.
● Use the language!! You are learning a language, so use it, and have fun using it! No
voice is allowed in the classroom.
● Important: Students with a learning disability must contact instructor immediately
to discuss student’s situation. Furthermore, the student must contact the
appropriate office (i.e. Learning Assistance Program (DSPS), 805-922-6966, ext.
3274) so that testing, homework and/or other class requirements may be taken
care of in regard to student’s specific disability. It is the student’s responsibility to
contact the appropriate office/officers, not the instructor.

Required Text (Available at Hancock Campus Bookstore)

1. Jason E. Zinza, Master ASL Level One

2. Jason E. Zinza, Master ASL Fingerspelling, Numbers, and Glossing
3. OPTIONAL: Resource material such as an ASL-English dictionary

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Course Requirements:
ATTENDANCE POLICY:

Attendance is mandatory because your participation and contributions are essential to the class.
Therefore, students are expected to complete all assignments beforehand and to participate
actively in class. Whenever you attend class, you will get two points for that day. If you miss a
class, it is your responsibility to find out what material was covered during your absence. You
will sign an agreement form for your attendance and participation.

It is the student’s responsibility to drop or withdraw from this course if they no longer
wish to attend nor participate in it. You can drop/withdraw any course via Admissions
and Records. After the last date for withdrawing, instructors are required to give letter
grades to ALL students still enrolled in the course [whether they are active or not].

The instructor may drop students who are absent for 3 or more days. If you know you
will be absent for a considerable amount of time, communicate with the instructor IN
WRITING prior to the absences.

● Students who “disappear” from the classroom environment without contacting the
professor IN WRITING for 3 or more days may be dropped from the class.
● Students who do not drop/withdraw from the course on or before the last day to
withdraw will receive a grade [whether student is active or not].
● Be aware that it is the student’s responsibility to DROP/WITHDRAW from the
course by the due date, not the instructor’s. Check the Schedule of Classes for
appropriate dates, such as the last day to withdraw.
● Attendance and participation are crucial for the success of this class. Therefore,
absences are HIGHLY DISCOURAGED. However, there are situations when
absences could be excused. A valid excuse takes place when the student can verify
that s/he was prevented from attending and/or completing required assignments (i.e.
unit exams or class presentation) due to:
(1) verifiable illness (“verifiable” means that medical documentation is available);
(2) religious holidays;
(3) performance at university-sponsored events (such as fine arts performances or
athletic events in which student will participate);
(4) death in the immediate family;
(5) jury duty and/or other appearances before the court;
(6) work-related, such as mandatory training; and
(7) military responsibilities.
● The student must verify his/her absence with proof via OFFICIAL (verifiable)
documentation. Such documentation must include: name of the student; address and
telephone number of agency; emblem of agency plus signature of agent; date(s) when
the student was absent. A handwritten note will NOT count for excusing absences.
Telephone messages will not count towards excusing absences. Students have until
the last day of instruction to show documentation. Once the course is over and
grades turned in, the instructor will not consider excusing absences or missed work.

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 ● Personal reasons for missing class cannot and will not be excused. These include, but
are not limited to, personal summer trips, family visits, attend a wedding, roommate
turning alarm clock off, it’s your 21st birthday, great surf/snow at XXX, spring fever,
etc.

● The instructor WILL NOT accept nor correct any late homework under any
circumstance.
● There will be neither make-up exams nor extra credit work. Do NOT ask for them.
Start working on your “A” from day one. Your instructor may provide you with a
progress report upon request. Do not wait until one week before the end of the
semester to realize you are failing the class.

This is a cooperative and participatory class. If you are unprepared or absent, it affects
everybody. I do take roll at each class meeting. If you are tardy, it is your responsibility,
at the end of class, to make sure you have been marked present. At my discretion, I may
count a tardy or leaving early as an absence. Arriving late or leaving early is disruptive
in an ASL class and is NOT tolerated during presentation days.

HOW DO I DROP/WITHDRAW FROM THE COURSE?

It is the student’s responsibility to drop or withdraw from this course if they no longer wish
to attend nor participate in it. You can drop/withdraw any course via Admissions and
Records. After the last date for withdrawing, instructors are required to give letter grades
to ALL students still enrolled in the course [whether they are active or not].

The instructor may drop students who are absent for 3 or more days. If you know
you will be absent for a considerable amount of time, communicate with the
instructor IN WRITING prior to the absences.

Homework:
Master ASL Level One: Your workbook has a variety of activities to support what you will be
learning in the class. Homework assignments will be provided on a regular basis. Some of the
activities in the workbook will be used in quizzes and written exams. The points will be
recorded on Canvas. No make-up quizzes or exams will be given.

Late homework will not be accepted nor corrected under any

circumstance.
§ Written Work Standards:
All written work turned in for evaluation must be either computer generated or
typewritten on standard, white paper and follow the MLA format. Written work that
does adhere to these standards will be returned to you without being graded. All
papers are due on the assigned date.

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Reaction/Response paper
A. This will be a 2-3-page paper – NOT including the header or title page
B. MLA format- 12-inch font- double spaced
C. This is a reaction paper, so you are not to write and tell me about the movie, I
have seen it many, many times, instead you are to write your reaction to several of the
topics that have been raised in the movie and explain your reaction and thoughts to
them.

The reaction paper is worth 30 points.

EXAMS:

There will be a mid-term that is both written and in Sign as well as a final presentation
done entirely in ASL.

You will NOT pass the class if you do not do your final on the assigned
time. The final is held over two class periods, and you are required to
attend both. No exceptions.

§ If you arrive late for a quiz or exam you will be permitted to join in the
testing situation from the point at which you arrive. No signing will be
repeated for late comers.
§ It is your responsibility to make prior arrangements with your instructor if
you must be absent.
§ A grade of 0 will be given if you are absent on exam day and no PRIOR
arrangements have been made.
§ The grade you receive is the grade you earn!

CLASS PRESENTATIONS:

Every student will do a class presentation. You must hand out an outline to the
instructor on The instructor will provide further instructions at a later time.

Presentation Days
There will be presentations done creating your own video on the STUDIO on
canvas. These dates will be announced in advance.


Presentation days require you to wear solid, contrasting colors to your skin, so
that your hands can be seen clearly. This also means clothing with no logos as it
is considered white noise. Absolutely no gum allowed when you are
presenting

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 Words of Advice:

It is important that you do assignments regularly and consistently because your understanding of
vocabulary, grammar functions, and language translation (ASL to English) will be tested heavily.
The quizzes and tests will include what you have done in your homework assignments. Be sure
that you work on these assignments faithfully so that you will be well prepared for quizzes and
tests.

Communication Policy

Voice communication will not be allowed on the ZOOM class. You will lose 3 points if you
use your voice during the class period (80 minutes). Students are encouraged to utilize
their signing skills for all communication while class is in session. Students should maintain
a signing environment during class breaks, before class begins, and whenever there are
deaf people present. This is valuable because it allows you to practice and improve your
receptive and expressive ASL skills.

PLEASE NOTE: VOICE COMMUNICATION, CELL PHONES, PAGERS NOT BE

ACCEPTED. PLEASE ABIDE BY THESE RULES.

CLASSROOM ETIQUETTE:

• Disruptive behavior is intolerable and unacceptable in an academic environment and may

result in an automatic F and/or dismissal from class. (see catalog for more information)
• Please remember that this is college, and that an open mind is a prerequisite for learning.
• Class time is for American Sign Language, and you are not to work on other materials
during class -period.
• Please give the instructor and classmates your complete attention. Don’t have mini-
conversations when the instructor and/or classmates is talking.
• Please do not text message while online class, or check Facebook/Twitter postings.

Code for Academic Integrity

§ Students shall not violate the Code of Academic Integrity. Any attempt to
commit an act prohibited by the Code shall be subject to sanctions. You are
enrolled in a language course, and thus, participation and cooperation are
highly encouraged. Getting together with classmates and/or others for
activities such as to:
§ reviewing material together, practicing communication skills with others
[classmates included], sharing ideas and opinions, helping, tutoring and/or
mentoring each other, providing guidance to each other so you may
understand,
HOWEVER, what is highly discouraged is copying someone else's work or allowing
someone else to copy your work. This is CHEATING and your instructor will heavily
penalize you for this sort of activity. Further, PLAGIARISM is using somebody else’s
words or images as your own, and this is also cheating. Always cite your sources,

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 especially in the compositions.

All homework and exams are individual work. You may discuss material, share
ideas, review and practice material, and help/tutor/mentor each other but when it
comes to the actual process of DOING, work on your own!

Student with Disabilities

Online Access to Learning Assistance Program Services:

Online access to Learning Assistance Program services including e-text, books on
CD, study skills training/videos, etc. You must be a Learning Assistance Program
student to access this site. If you are registered with the Learning Assistance
Program and unable to log on, please call 922-6966 ext. 3274.
https://www.hancockcollege.edu/lap/index.php

Tutorial Services: Free subject specific tutoring is available on campus!
https://www.hancockcollege.edu/tutoring/index.php

Health Services Office: The Health Services Office handles a wide range of health-
related situations including emergency first aid, illness/injury assessment,
psychological counseling, student insurance and health education programs.
https://www.hancockcollege.edu/health_services/index.php

Off Campus Resources:
Department of Rehabilitation The California Department of Rehabilitation works
in partnership with consumers and other stakeholders to provide services and
advocacy resulting in employment, independent living and equality for individuals
with disabilities. ((805) 928-1891 (Voice/TTY)
Central Coast Assistive Technology Training Center (CCATC) The CCATC has
helped hundreds of consumers learn to use assistive technology for computer
access, augmentative communication, environmental control, low vision assistance,
ergonomic workplace safety, and home, worksite and school access.
The Braille Institute offers services to help people with limited or no vision lead
independent and enriched lives. Phone: (805) 682-6222. Fax:(805) 687-6141. E-
mail: sb@brailleinstitute.org
Blindness-Related Email Links This document contains instructions on how to
join over two hundred blindness-related emailing lists and newsgroups. It also
contains an extensive listing of accessibility lists as well as a list of emailing lists that
are not blindness-related, but which are frequented by blind members.

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ADA POLICY:

Americans With Disabilities Act: Any personal learning accommodations that may be
needed by a student covered by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) must be made
known to the instructor as soon as possible. This is the student's responsibility.
Information about services, academic modifications and documentation requirements can
be obtained from the Learning Assistance Program (LAP). 

For more information about services available to AHC students with disabilities, contact:
● (805) 922-6966 ext., 3274 (Santa Maria Campus)

● (805) 922-6966 ext., 5274 (Lompoc Valley Center from Santa Maria)

● (805) 735-3366 ext., 5274 (Lompoc Valley Center from Lompoc) 

● (805) 928-7834 (TTY/TDD for the Deaf)
● (805) 266-7874 (Video Phone)

COURSE GRADING:
Your grades will be distributed on a point system. Adding all the points and arriving
at a percentage, which will be distributed as follows, will determine your final grade:

100-90% A
89-80% B
79-70% C
69-60% D
59-50% F

After the instructor is finished grading your work, you will be able to look at your points and
grade average on the Canvas or instructor gradebook.

Final Word:

Some situations may necessitate a change in the schedule. These changes, if any, will be held to
a minimum. Changes will be announced in class. It is your responsibility to know them.