At the end of this course, the students should be able to:

1. Define Deaf vs. deaf from a multicultural perspective.

2. Identify features shared by languages spoken or signed and understand why ASL is 
a language.

3. Think critically about the structure of ASL and the linguistic claims that have 
been made.

4. Identify historical markers that led to the development of American Sign Language.

5. Receptively and expressively utilize the Manual Alphabet.

6. Receptively and expressively dialogue using basic ASL structures.

7. Receptively and expressively identify and describe 15 basic grammatical rules of 
ASL.

8. Use conversational strategies to communicate at a basic level in varied contexts 
with native signers.

9. Critique one's own culture through the study of ASL and different critical 
perspectives.

10. Distinguish Deaf Culture values and labels in varied multicultural contexts.

11. Explore the cultures and daily lives of deaf people in America and in other 
countries where sign language is used.

12. Compare and contrast American Sign Language vocabulary and grammar and their 
cultural nuances with vocabulary and grammar from global sign languages.

I. Define Deaf Culture
   A. Audiologic
   B. Linguistic
   C. Political
   D. Social
   E. Multicultural

II. Deaf Culture Values and Labels in Multicultural Contexts
	
III. Characteristics of Languages Spoken or Signed
	
IV. History of American Sign Language
     A. Introduction
     B. 1800-1817
     C. 1817-1860
     D. 1870-1920    
     E. 1920-1960
     F. 1960-present

V.  Manual Alphabet and Numbering

VI. Dialoging in ASL with Functions and Grammar
   A. Making Introductions
      1. Deaf culture values and labeling
      2. Language contact
   B. Exchanging Personal Information
      1. Forming questions
      2. Parameters of signs
      3. Noun/Verb pairs
   C. Talking About Surroundings
      1. Spatial agreement
      2. Present referencing
      3. Absent referencing
   D. Telling Where You Live
      1. Signer's perspective
   E. Telling About Your Family
      1. Contrastive structure
      2. Forming negative statements
      3. Educational options
   F. Telling About Activities
      1. Time concepts
      2. Verb tense
      3. Negotiating a signing environment
      4. Deaf/Blind
      5. Accessibility
   G. Asking For and Giving Directions
      1. Cardinal and ordinal numbers
      2. Degrees of certainty
      3. Cross cultural communication
      4. Introduction to interpreters
   H. Describing Others
      1. Resources

Cross-Cultural Issues
(1) Relationship between American Sign Language, French Sign Language, and other 
world language Sign Language variants regarding vocabulary and grammar. 
(2) Explore the work of Andrew Foster (one of the first three Black Deaf Students to 
graduate from Gallaudet University) who established 31 Schools for the Deaf in 
Africa.
(3) Dialects and communication strategies from global sign languages..