Hello Everyone! Welcome to our class blog! I am very excited to begin our journey together. Below you will see that I have posted the class syllabus. Please post any questions that you have here and I will address them in class on Monday and/or here.
This is the announcement section so be sure to read and respond to the post below.
Deaf Culture in the United States (2 credits)
MW 10:30-11:40 4414T
Instructor: Monica Marciniak
Email: mbutche@css.edu
Office: 3607 Tower Hall
Office hours: MWF 1:00-2:00, F 10:30-11:45, T 11:00-11:50 or by appointment
“Every one of us is different in some way, but for those of us who are more different, we have to put more effort into convincing the less different that we can do the same thing they can, just differently.”
“I’m a proud person who happens to be deaf. I don’t want to change it. I don’t want to wake up and suddenly say, ‘Oh my God, I can hear.’ That’s not my dream. It’s not my dream. I’ve been raised deaf. I’m used to the way I am. I don’t want to change it. Why would I ever want to change? Because I’m used to this, I’m happy.”
-Marlee Matlin Deaf Actress
General Education Pathway and College Outcomes
This course directly addresses the college outcome of Intellectual and Foundational Skills in that it helps students recognize the need and importance of living and working in a diverse community. It also examines the influence of personal, social and institutional factors on discrimination and prejudice. Additionally, it helps develop an understanding and appreciation of service in service learning activities. Students will engage in intercultural competence as well as responsibility to community by understanding the importance of advocating on issues of diversity and take responsibility for one’s personal actions and its impact on self and others. Students will contribute to their community by participating in activities that will promote a sense of community. Students will also engage in holistic growth by utilizing the process of problem solving and conflict resolution skills in decision-making.
Course Goals
This Course is an introduction to various aspects of the deaf community as a linguistic and cultural minority group. Designed for individuals who may or may not have had prior experience with Deaf people, course raises questions concerning the nature of sign language and its varieties, education of deaf people, historical treatment of deaf people, sociological and cultural issues important to the deaf community, and political activism.
Course Objectives cont:
A. Cultural
1. Students will begin to understand the American Deaf Culture and its dynamics (social, political, audiological, and linguistic).
2. Students will recognize the differences of being disabled and being Deaf
3. Students will identify similarities and differences between Deaf Culture and other world cultures
B. Functional
1. Students will compare and contrast American Deaf Culture to other world cultures.
2. Students will engage in online journaling concerning the social, political, audiological, and linguistic aspects of Deaf Culture.
3. Students will engage in directed group discussions regarding current issues and trends of the American Deaf people (new technology, education, families, politics, etc)
C. Linguistic
1. Students will recognize that American Sign Language is a natural language that was created for and used by Deaf people.
2. Students will recognize that American Sign Language is a visual gestural and true form of language used by American Deaf people with complex grammar, structure and rules just as other traditional spoken languages.
3. Students will comprehend ASL as the basis of Deaf Culture as a linguistic minority.
How to be Successful
Success in this course requires study outside of the classroom, including researching on your own time regarding information pertaining to Deaf Culture/Community and American Sign Language. Learning another Culture requires student to be receptive to ideas, concepts, values, traditions, language, and folklore that they may not be familiar with. It is best to keep an open mind and respect what you learn. Please do not plan to “coast” along and cram when exams and quizzes are given. Put your time and effort into the course. You will get more out of it if you put more into it. Be an active listener and create discussions that are insightful and thoughtful.
Required text
Mindness, Anna. Reading Between the Signs: Intercultural Communication For Sign Language Interpreters. 1st. Yarmouth: Maine, 1999. Print.
Moore, Matthew, and Linda Levitan. For Hearing People Only: Answers to Some of the Most Commonly Asked Questions About the Deaf Community, its Culture and the "Deaf Reality". 3rd. Rochester: New York, 2003. Print.
Course components and grading
Success in this course requires study outside of the classroom, including completing the blog assignments, engaging in class discussions, bringing articles to class, reading required texts before attending class and putting in your “two cents”. It is best to set aside some time each day to read over the required materials and write notes about areas your wish to address during class time Please do not plan to coast along. Be prepared to be challenged; a large part of the learning process in this class is to increase our open-mindedness and develop respect for cultures and minority groups.
Class participation, preparation, and attendance: 10%.
In-class contribution is a significant part of the grade, and an important part of our shared pedagogical experience. Your active participation helps me to evaluate your overall performance as a student (as well as making the class more interactive and engaging for all of us). The quality of your participation is more important than the quantity. Given our limited amount of time together, talking without positively contributing to the discussion will result in a lower grade for in-class contributions. However, I want to stress that positive contributions are not necessarily “right” answers. I encourage you to experiment and take risks. “Wrong” answers can also be instructive and debate is often a good way to learn. Positive contributions are those that advance the discussion by presenting new ideas or insights, or building on others’ comments, or presenting a counterpoint to others’ comments in a respectful way. Contributions that are not positive are those that simply repeat points already made or deride others’ contributions in a discourteous way.
Students are expected to attend each class and participate in a meaningful manner daily. Attendance and class participation are an important part of the final course grade. Every day I will assign each student a class participation grade. This is inherently a subjective evaluation that I will make based upon my observations of the behaviors noted below. I will qualify these grades with a “–” or a “+” as appropriate. Participation includes volunteering answers and comments as well as asking questions. It also includes sharing writings with the class, arrival on time and staying through the entire class.
A: participates readily, assignments completed, works diligently, does not stray from the task in group/partner work, uses time wisely if completes an in-class activity ahead of the rest of the class, contributes positively to the class. It is extremely obvious that the student has come to class prepared and is making every effort to participate.
B: participates often, assignments completed, works on the task in group/partner work without significant distraction, uses time wisely as much as possible, contributes positively to the class. It is apparent that the student has prepared for class. However, the level of participation is not as high as noted above.
C: makes a small effort to participate, assignments completed, distraction from the task in group/partner work is evident. The student appears to make little effort to contribute to full class or small group activities, but can respond when called upon.
Note that for the above grades the student is taking the initiative to participate in class.
D: no real effort to participate is noted. Incomplete assignments or working to complete them just before class begins. Student appears apathetic about learning and practicing; when called upon he or she does not know where we are. It is apparent that student spent little time preparing for class.
F: does not participate, assignments for class are not completed or is working on it while class is already in progress, student is unable to participate in class activities or declines to do so. No effort is apparent. Student is absent either physically or mentally. Student is attending to electronic communications during class.
Leaving class early or arriving late will always have a negative effect upon the daily grade.
Please turn off your cell phone or other electronic communications equipment during class. Checking messages or texting during class is highly disrespectful to the instructor and other students in the class and will result in a substantial class participation penalty (F for the day).
Attendance: A student will be granted one “free” absence without penalty. Otherwise, failure to attend a class will result in a grade of “0” for that day. A waiver of the “0” will be granted at the discretion of the instructor in emergency situations. The “0” will also be waived if the student must miss class due to an official CSS-sponsored activity, with advance warning. The “0” will not be waived if the student schedules an appointment (medical, job interview, leaving early for breaks, etc.) during class time. The average of the daily participation grade at the end of the semester will determine the student’s class participation portion of the grade.
Preparation/Written Assignments: Incomplete or extremely poorly done work will not receive any credit. I expect you to turn in assignments that show that you have taken the time to do them, and you have thought about what you are doing. Late assignments will not be accepted unless the student was absent (excused). It is up to the student to turn in the assignment at the beginning of the period the first day the student returns to class.
Blog (30%) activities are a large component of this class. Students are expected to blog bi-weekly twice every other week (1,3,5,7,9,11,13). Dedicate time daily to keep up with these assignments to be prepared for class. Do not wait until the day before the due date to do them – you will not get instructor feedback on your work. Blogs will be posted every Monday and are due Tuesday at 12:00am and Thursday at 12:00am. Students are required to comment on my post and then their second comment needs to be on another student’s comment.
Integrative Projects/article summaries: (5%). Several times throughout the semester students will make short small presentations. Students will collect 4 articles to share with the class. These articles should be valuable to you (explain why). Students will need to summarize the article and discuss if they believed their article was a good representation to the Deaf Culture/Community. The article as well as the summary needs to be handed in together. This must be typed and the article must be attached. Credit will be given for completing this assignment in a satisfactory and neat manner (free of grammatical errors and professional reflections). Incomplete or extremely poorly done work will not receive any credit. I expect that you show that you have taken the time to do them and that you have thought about what you are doing. If you turn in substandard work for a college student, do not expect to get credit for doing that work. Students will be told the week prior when to bring their article and summary. Reminders will not be given. Plan accordingly.
Additional information will be provided in a timely manner.
Chapter Tests: 20%: There will be two chapter tests, given upon the completion of lessons. Each test will cover the blogs, power points, readings, and class discussions. Students absent on a test day will receive a “0” unless previous arrangements have been made. Dates of these exams will be given in a timely fashion.
Oral Presentation 25 %: Students will give an oral presentation on a topic of their choice with approval of the instructor. These presentations require an oral report, research paper and power point presentation. Further information will be given in timely manner.
Community Event 10%: Students will create an event for the community to learn about Deaf people and their culture. Further information will be given in a timely manner.
Final Exam: 10%. The final exam is a presentation on a topic related to Deaf Culture. Further information will be given in a timely fashion.
95-100: A 76-79: C+ 65: D-
90-94: A- 74-75: C 0-64: F
86-89: B+ 70-73: C-
84-85: B 68-69: D+
80-83: B- 66-67: D
Tentative Course Schedule
Read each the assigned pages before Each Monday
(Use this schedule as a guide, changes may be made throughout the semester, these changes will be discussed in class)
WEEK OF:
Week 1 Wednesday: Introduction to the course & attendance
Lecture: Who are Deaf People? What is Deaf Culture?
Cultural Identity of Deaf People
Week 2 Monday: Mindness, pgs 1-15 Introduction
Wednesday: What is Culture
What is Deaf Culture?
Deaf Paradigm
Week 3 Monday: Mindness, PG 17-39 The Study of Culture
Wednesday: American Sign Language and its importance to Deaf people
Other signing systems
(1) First group of students bring an article to and summary to class on Monday
Blog Begins and will continue until week 13
Week 4 Monday: Mindness, pg. 39-69 Selected topics in Intercultural Communication
Wednesday: The differences between the Deaf Culture and the Deaf Community
Who belongs?
The importance of CODA
Film: The Deaf Community
(1) Second group of students bring an article to and summary to class on Monday
Week 5 Monday: Mindness, pg. 69-81 Do Americans Really Have a Culture?
Wednesday: Living in Other’s World
Learning to be Deaf
Our place within American Culture
(2) First group of students bring an article to and summary to class on Monday
Week 6 Monday: Mindness, PG 81-127 American Deaf Culture
Wednesday: Deaf Social Norms/Values/Beliefs
(2) Second group of students bring an article to and summary to class on Monday
Week 7 MIDTERM Monday
Film: TBA
Week 8 Monday: Mindness, pg. 127-153 The Impact of Cultural Differences
Wednesday: Education choices
(3) First group of students bring an article to and summary to class on Monday
Week 9 Monday: Mindness, pg. 153-185 the interpreters Roles
Wednesday: Oppression and politics
(3) Second group of students bring an article to and summary to class on Monday
Week 10 Monday: Mindness, pg. 185-207 Techniques for Cultural Adjustment
Wednesday: Deaf Cultural Arts, Humor, Media, and Folklore
(4) First group of students bring an article to and summary to class on Monday
Week 11 Monday: Mindness, pg. 207-229 Cultural Sensitivity
Wednesday: Pathological view- we must fix them
Cochlear Implants, hearing aids, FM systems
The meaning of Sound
Documentary: Sound and Fury
Week 12 Monday: Paden and Humphries, PG 1-56
Wednesday: The influence of new technology
“Technology of Deaf Culture”
(4) Second group of students bring an article to and summary to class on Monday
Week 13 Monday: Padden and Humphries, pg. 57-121
Wednesday: What is the Future of Deaf Culture?
Week 14 Oral Presentations
Week 15 Oral Presentations
Final Exam Monday, Dec. 19 at 10:00am
ANY QUESTIONS???
If you are not understanding or not able to follow at any time, it is your responsibility to make this known. Please raise your hand during class when you are not following, have questions, or would like to add your comments or concerns. I encourage this very strongly.
HOW TO CONTACT ME
If you need to contact me for any reason, please feel free to do so. My email address is: mbutche@css.edu I check my email on a daily basis and it is the best way to contact with me. Please allow 48 hours for me to return your email or phone call. I will also be available before or after class to answer any questions or concerns you may have. Please take advantage of this. If you need to set up an appointment with me, please email me or see me during class to arrange this
CLASS POLICIES
1. All papers must be typed and on time, no exceptions unless otherwise noted.
2. Late work will not be accepted.
3. If students need to make-up exams they must speak with the instructor before the exam is given.
4. If students need to receive an incomplete in the course they will abide with the College Policies.
5. Class participation is mandatory. Absences must be reported to the instructor before the missed class. Unexcused absences will result in a lower grade.
6. Students will not sleep during class meeting. If you are sleeping during class you will be asked to leave.
7. Students must make the instructor aware if they do not understand information covered in class. If I do not know you have a problem, I cannot help you.
8. Students must show up on time for exams. If you are late, you will not receive credit for any information you missed.
9. Students that are texting during class will be considered unexcused and their grade will be lowered for each time they are texting in class. Please see guide above for how points are deleted due to unexcused absences.
10. The College policies on plagiarism and cheating are strongly enforced in this class. Please see Student Handbook for further clarifications.
Individuals who have any disability, either permanent or temporary, which might affect their ability to perform in this class, are encouraged to inform the instructor at the start of the semester. Adaptation methods, materials, or testing methods may be made as required to provide for equitable participation.
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