ASL 215 - ASL Literature: Narratives

3 Credits, 3 Contact Hours
3 lecture periods 0 lab periods

This course is a continuation of the major grammatical features of American Sign Language (ASL) to develop communicative and interactive competencies in the culture and language of the Deaf. Includes a focus on ASL literature by introducing students to ASL storytelling techniques, film analysis, story analysis, and its techniques. Also includes ASL narratives, classifiers and perspectives.

Prerequisite(s): ASL 200 and ASL 202 with a grade of B or better.
Information: This course is taught in ASL and utilizes receptive skills through ASL literature and media. Students are expected to experiment with ASL storytelling and the use of classifier techniques. Additional hours may be required outside of the regularly scheduled class.

Course Learning Outcomes

Manage more complicated interactions using expanded American Sign Language (ASL) grammatical structures.
Demonstrate and be able to use Classifiers in a signed story.
Develop analysis, receptive, and expressive skills in ASL storytelling.

Outline:

ASL narratives
1. Eye gaze
2. Direct address
3. Role/Body shifting
4. Multiple characters
Classifiers and SASSes
1. Scaling up
2. Scaling down
Perspectives
1. Spatial considerations
2. Reference points
Analysis of American Sign Language (ASL) literature and film
1. History of Deaf actors
2. Folklore
  1. Deaf jokes
  2. Legends
  3. Puns
  4. Traditional stories
    1. A to Z stories
    2. Handshape stories
    3. Number stories
    4. Name stories
    5. Vocabulary stories