Weekly Assignments

Weekly Assignments 5%:
The assignment corner on our class blog will have our weekly assignments posted. These assignments will be posted weekly. The assignments will be from Building ASL interpreting and Translation Skills: Narratives for Practice or I will create them based on the topic we are focusing on that week. Assignments will be given in class and then posted on Monday following our class meeting. Assignments will always be due at the beginning of our class meeting on Friday of the week it was assigned. It is expected that students provide written ASL translations and be ready to sign to the class.

*******Assignment Reminders will be posted in Orange*****
*******Week# will be posted in red*******

*******websites in purple******

******END will be placed at the end of each weekly assignment so you know where each week starts and stops******



Fall Semester Weekly Agenda and Assignments
ASSIGNMENT #1!
Assignment is Due: Friday, September 14th

Week #2: Pronoun Placements, Chapter 1
Select on exercise on the assigned homework. You must translate this assignment into ASL, Draw placements of pronouns and be ready to demonstrate to the class on Friday, September 14th. Place assignment outside my door.

END

ASSIGNMENT#2 !
Assignment is Due: Friday, September 21st
Week #3: Working with Spatial and Locative Space, Chapter 1
Guess my Space:
Create a new assignment for Friday, September 20.
Select a place of your choice to sign to the class. Pay special attention to relationhips of objects.

***4 basic reality principles must be followed to promote correct use of space:
****General to Specfic (creat the background)
****Concrete information before abstract (objects must be placed in space
before actions can occur
****Spatial relationships (how are concepts related to one another?)
****Chronological order (create scenes in actual order they occured)

Record and post recording here, be ready to share this place with your classmates, bring a detailed drawing of your space. This assignment is due on Friday, September 20.

Here is an example: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JHe68tZbiwM

END


ASSIGNMENT #3!
Assignment is Due: Friday, September 28th
Week #4: Verb Types Practice and Demonstration, Chapter 2
Complete the assignment on verb types below for Friday, September 28th.

3 common verb types in ASL
How do you use space to change meanings in ASL????

Plain verbs= “Have to point/index to indicate who or what”

- a verb sign used with indexing or other pronouns to tell who did what to whom

Examples: LAUGH, BE-RAISED, SMILE, OPEN-BOOK, TO - SMELL, BUY, THINK,

ACT, TALK, CHAT

Assignment part #1: Translate  these into ASL and demonstrate them in your video:

Those four boys laughed at the girl.                

 I bought a car last night.

My teachers laughed at me.                             

She smiled at me.

I laughed at my mom.                                    

I was raised in Duluth.

Directional/Inflecting verbs= “Person to Person”

A verb sign that indicates the people involved in the action by where the sign starts and stops in space.

Can be used to “set up” a person in space to be referred to later

The movement indicates two people in different spaces.

Where the sign begins indicates the person doing the action, where it ends indicates the person who the action is being done to.

Examples: TELL, ASK, GIVE, LOOK-AT, SHOW, HELP, GIVE-GIFT, PICK-ON, MAKE-FUN-OF, TEASE, JOIN

Assignment part #2: Practice using in ASL sentences with different verb signs (use a different inflecting verb each time), sign them on your video:

1. I- ___________- you                       
2. I- ___________- him
3. he- ___________- him           
4.  I- ___________- her
5. she- ___________- her            
6. they- ___________- you
7. he- ___________- her             
8. she- ___________- him           
9. she- ___________- you           
10. he- ___________- you

Locational/Spatial verbs = “Place to Place”

A verb sign that indicates the places/locations involved in the action by where the sign starts and stops in space.

Can be used to “set up” a place in space to be referred to later

The movement indicates two places in different spaces.

Where the sign begins indicates the beginning location, where it ends indicates the ending location.

Examples: MOVE, FLY-TO, COMMUTE-TO, ARRIVE, ENTER, MEET, BRING, GO-TO, DRIVE-TO

Assignment part #3: List what type of verb is shown below. Also demonstrate each on on your video

                           

STAR - Plain Verbs

BOX - Directional Verbs

UNDERLINE - Locational Verbs

COMMUTE-TO  (thumbs up handshape move to locative space)     TELL-TO     INFORM-TO

TO-IRON         TO-THINK        TO-SMELL

MISUNDERSTAND   TO-BE-FRUSTRATED    GO-TO

DRIVE-TO            ARRIVE-AT       ENTER

TTY-CALL-TO     RESPECT-TO      BUY

SEND-TO         TO-BE-LATE      ASK-TO

TALK-TO         EXPLAIN-TO      BRING-TO

MEET            CHAT-WITH       LAUGH

MAKE-FUN-OF     LEAVE-QUICKLY       COMPLAIN
BREAK           LOOK-AT         WASH

TO-HAVE         TO-DIE          PAY-TO

LOOK-FOR/SEARCH     PICK-UP         TO-ACT

CL:1' approched me' FALL            PRACTICE

END

ASSIGNMENT #4!
Assigment is Due: Friday, October 5th

Week #5:  Descriptive Adjectives, Chapter 3

American Sign Langauge like other languages provide many ways for descriping people, places or things through the use of adjectives. It is important to note that in ASL adjectives may appear before or after the noun.

Let's take a look at describing people. Listed below are the steps you are to follow when describing people.

First Step:

1. Gender

2. Unique characteristics (nose, eyes, tattoos, etc)

Second Step:

3. Height

4. Body type

5. Hair (color and hairstyle)

  ***This is done largely with classifiers***

6. Eyes (color)

The above descriptives can be placed BEFORE or AFTER the noun

Third Step:

7. clothing (patterns, stripes, plaid, length, ruffles, kind of shirt, kind of pants, etc.)

  ***this is done largely with classifiers***

Before you begin your assignment, I want you to watch and read these links.

How to Describe People in ASL: http://learn-sign-language.wonderhowto.com/how-to/describe-people-with-sign-language-226562/

ASL Classifers: http://lifeprint.com/asl101/pages-signs/c/classifiers.htm

 

Short Descriptives In ASL:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RWZS2lj4pfo

The Prirate and the Ninja: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-6PZJXlLQsA

Assignment part #1 : Describe 5 famous people in detail following the steps above. Be sure that your descriptions go beyond ASL 1111 and 1112 information. Add details, decriptions and classifiers to your people. Your classmates should be able to guess who you are describing.

Assignment part #2: Create a short story similiar to the Prirate and the Ninja. Your story needs to be 3-4 minutes in length. Watch the Prirate and the Nina several times and tune into the descriptives adjectives and classifiers that are used. Now that you are in the second year of ASL you should be able to spot quickly which are signs and which are classifiers.

Here are your themes:

The Joker and Batman

Harry Potter and He Who Shall Not Be Named

Peter Pan and Captin Hook

Arial and Ursula

Cinderella and the Evil Step Mother

Batman and Robin

Adam and Eve

Woody and Buzzlightyear

Lucy and Ethel

Honey Boo Boo and Mama June

Burt and Ernie

Jack and Jill

Rose and Jack (Titanic)

Jekyll and Hyde

Clark Kent and Lois Lane
Will and Grace

Dorothy and the Wicked Witch
Pick your own

End

Assignment #5
Assignment due: Friday, October 12, 2012


Week #5 October 8-12:  Topic/comment Chapter 5

ASL Topic/Comment & Topicalization




Topic/Comment and topicalization structure can be tricky. Here I attempt to help you better understand how to structure your sentences in ASL.

Information from Bill Vicar at: http://www.lifeprint.com/asl101/topics/grammar5.htm

Let me state up front: ASL follows several different word orders depending on what is needed.

Which word order you choose depends on what you are trying to do: explain, remind, confirm, negate, cause to consider, etc.

Much of your confusion (and that of others) has to do with the fact that you can use either a subject or object as your "topic" in a sentence.

If you use the subject as your topic, you are using "active voice."

Example: The boy threw the ball. (BOY THROW BALL)

If you use the object as your topic your are using "passive voice."

Example: The ball was thrown by the boy. (BALL? BOY THROW).



Note that the active voice: BOY THROW BALL is definitely SUBJECT-VERB-OBJECT word order.

The passive voice is: OBJECT-SUBJECT-VERB word order.



Both of those can be considered TOPIC COMMENT:

Topic: BOY Comment: THROW BALL (active voice)

Topic: BALL Comment: BOY THROW (passive voice)



In the passive voice sentence the "ball" which is actually the object is being used as the topic, and the comment is that it "was thrown by the boy."



So, you can see that the topic can be either a subject or an object.

A "topic" is simply that to which a comment is referring. A topic is what you are talking about.

My topic can be a "BOY" or it can be the "BALL" he is throwing.

The BOY can be the subject of the sentence: BOY THROW BALL

The BOY can be the object of the sentence. BALL HIT BOY

The BALL can be the subject of the sentence. BALL HIT BOY

The BALL can be the object of the sentence. BOY THROW BALL

My comment can be "THROW BALL"

My comment can be "HIT BOY"

Therefore a TOPIC-COMMENT sentence structure can use either a SUBJECT-VERB-OBJECT word order, or it can use an OBJECT, SUBJECT VERB word order.

When you use "OBJECT, SUBJECT VERB" order you are doing something called "topicalizing" or you are using "topicalization." Topicalization simply means to take the object of your sentence and turn it into your topic.

You do this by using "yes/no question expression" (raised eyebrows) while signing the topic, and then making a comment about the topic. During the comment portion of your sentence your facial expression should match the intent of the comment, (negation, affirmation, declaration).

At this point in the discussion you might be wondering:

"When should I use passive voice instead of active voice?"

Another way to ask that same question is, "When should you use topicalization?"

Another way to ask that same question, "When should you put the object at the front of the sentence while raising your eyebrows?"

There are several situations when you should topicalize. A few examples applying to ASL are:

1. Unknown subject: When the subject is unknown: MY WALLET? GONE! (I don't know why it is missing, if it was stolen, or who stole it. Thus to state this with active voice I'd have to sign something to the effect of, "SOMONE STOLE MY WALLET" – which takes longer.)

2. Irrelevancy: MY CAR? SOLD! (It doesn't really matter who sold it. Just that the process is over. So why should I waste time explaining who sold it? Maybe it was my friend's uncle that sold it to his coworker. So what. It's gone!)

3. Expediency: MY SIDEKICK? FOUND! (If I explained to you last week that was at the county fair and lost my text messaging device I don't want to have to explain it to you again if you still remember what I told you before. So I sign "SIDEKICK" with my eyebrows up and then when you nod in recognition that tells me you do indeed remember the conversation, then I go ahead and tell you that it was found.)



Unfortunately some instructors overemphasize topicalization or give the impression that the majority of ASL communication is topicalized. The fact is many (if not most) ASL sentences are simply SUBJECT-VERB (transitive)-OBJECT, example: "BOY THROW BALL" or are SUBJECT-VERB (intransitive), for example: "HE LEFT."

Now let's be clear that TOPIC COMMENT is not the same thing as topicalization.

TOPIC COMMENT means stating a topic and then making a comment.

Topicalization means that you are using the object of the sentence as the topic.



You can use TOPIC COMMENT sentence structure without using topicalization.

You can use TOPIC COMMENT sentence structure by using topicalization.

You can use TOPIC COMMENT sentence structure by using SUBJECT-VERB-OBJECT

You can use TOPIC COMMENT sentence structure by using SUBJECT-VERB (HE RUN.)

You can use TOPIC COMMENT sentence structure by using SUBJECT-NOUN (HE HOME = "He is home.")

You can use TOPIC COMMENT sentence structure by using SUBJECT-ADJECTIVE (HE TALL = "He is tall.")

You can use TOPIC COMMENT sentence structure by using OBJECT, SUBJECT-VERB ("MONEY? she-GIVE-me).

All of the above constitutes only a partial list of ways to express grammatically correct ASL. In each case the topic is simply what you are "talking about



Assigment:

Translate and sign the following:

1. Last night my boyfriend/girlfriend and I went out to eat. Do you know that new resturant called, Noodles and Company? It is amazing. You can get whatever kind of pasta you want, they have the coolest pop machine, and their prices are not that bad. Anyways, we really liked it and I think we will go there again soon.

Hint: Remember the sign for KIND looks like TYPES

2. Have you seen the movie called, Breaking Dawn? It is a movie that is about vampires. A human and a vampire fall in love. No Anyways, I do not like it but so many people are crazy about it. I am not sure why. I think it is kind of stupid.

Hint: CRAZY-ABOUT is one sign
        FALL-IN-LOVE is one sign

3. Do you see that man over there? He has brown hair with a little grey, blue eyes, freckles and a beard. he is sitting over there near a woman in the red coat. He is the pastor at my church. He is so nice and very friendly. Last week he gave a wonderful sermon. His sermon inspired me to volunteer this week. You should meet him.

Hint: SERMON/LECTURE are the same sign

4. My sister has the coolest broom. It is magic. If you tap it three times it will flash blue, green and purple lights. Last week, she took me for a ride all over the city. I wish I had a broom like her.

Hint: Classifiers will be needed to show riding (two people)

5.  Do you know my teacher named, Monica? She teaches ASL. She has long brown hair and brown eyes. She always wears her hair up and has black on. Do you know where Monica's office is? I think it is on the third floor but I am not sure.

Hint: Office is signed like BOX with two "O" handshapes or like COP (this sign is regional)

6. Create your own. Introduce a topic to me and comment on it.

Topic/Comment:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p0AvJadl85Y&feature=related

END


ASSIGNMENT #6!
Assignment is Due: No Assignment this week
Week #7: STUDY FOR MIDTERM (weeks 1-7)

end

 Assignment #7: Informative Presentation
Assignment is Due: October 26
Week #8: First Draft of Presentation
end

Assignment #8: Informative Presentation

Assignment is Due: Nov. 5

Week #9: Discuss one thing from each presentation that you felt was beneficial and interesting. Provide feedback to each student. Each student should be given constructive feedback as well as feedback on something they performed very well.

end

Assignment #9: Classifiers

Assignment is Due: Nov. 12

Week #10:

Interpret English to ASL Sentences:

Activity 1: Which classifier would you choose for the following items:

1.buttons

2. toothbrush

3. dress with polka dots 13. brushing your hair

4. a V neck top 14. taking off your glasses

5. coins 15. sharpening a pencil

6. two people walking along a path 16. a long hallway

7. a thick tree trunk 17. a tree being chopped

8. a person walking with a limp 18. a staggering walk

9. racing bike handles 19. a cat sneaking around

10. toes wiggling in the sand 20. carrying a big dog

11. scar on arm

 12. a drinking straw

Activity II: Which classifier would you use to interpret these English sentences into ASL?

1. The car is parked in front of the tree.

2. I saw Fred coming toward me.

3. She has two necklaces (of differing lengths) on.

4. Please hand me the dictionary.

5. He drank his mug of beer in 15 seconds!

6. The house has four pillars in front.

7. I saw six birds sitting on a telephone line.

8. The automatic sliding glass door kept opening and shutting. (It was

broken).

9. There were four people following a leader through the maze.

10. The little boy struggled through the deep snow.

11. Would you please fine tune the radio?

12. Take the full soup tureen to the table.

13. The top shelf has trophies, the middle shelf has books and the bottom

shelf has stacks of paper.

14. A bird was sitting on a tree.

15. I saw a house being built on top of a hill.

16. Do you eat pizza with your fingers or with a fork?

17. A lion was pacing back and forth in his cage.

18. I watched the motorcross race across rough terrain.

19. The kids were laughing as they sledded down a snowy hill.

20. Please flip the burgers.

21. I saw a person walking in circles.

22. This guy has a hat with many political campaign buttons on it.

23. As a wedding gift, they got a set of juice glasses.

24. The sculpture is unusual. It is a huge mound with many straight

and zig zag lines going every which way on it.

25. There were three pictures on the wall, one is hung crookedly.

26. Have you ever drunk coffee from a demitasse cup?

27. The submarine submerged and you can only glimpse a small

periscope in the water.

28. The frightened horse galloped and jumped over a fence. The rider fell

off but luckily landed on thick brush.

29. The young boy struggled through the marshy swamp.

30. The old crooked man walked slowly down the street.

Assignment #10: Tenses

Assignment is Due: Nov. 19

Week #11:Translate these sentences in ASL. Be sure to add tenses (the concept may be present in the English sentence but not the specific tense indicator)

1. I went to the store yesterday.

2. I want to marry my girlfriend someday.

3. I will do my homework, calm down.

4. Have you seen the movie called, "Arthur's Christams"? 

5. I am sorry, I have to leave soon. Is that ok?

6. My parents met many years ago.

7. Last night I was sick, I threw up 10 times.

8. I will do my homework later. I am busy now with work.

9. What do you want to become when you graduate

10. What do you think the world will look like in 50 years?

11. Last month I met your mother. She is nice.

12. I am not yet finished with my homework. I will be finished in two hours.

13. My brother is late. Do you know why?

14. Everyday I go to work. I am tired of it.

15. Today I am going to the store, do you want to join me?

16. I already did my homework. Why do you not believe me?

17. Have you been to New York?

18. Yesterday I went to the doctor, tomorrow I need to go to the dentist. Wow it is a busy week!

19. Last week I got an A on my test.

20. I took my drivers test a long time ago. I know how to drive!

Assignment #11: Fairy Tales

NO ASSIGNMENT WORK ON FAIRY TALES