If the assignment asks for written answers (e.g., “What happened after the dog ran away?”), write your answer in ASL-like English: “DOG RUN AWAY. THEN CAR CL:3 COME FAST. DOG STOP.”
| Pitfall | Why It Happens | Fix | |---------|----------------|-----| | Signing in English word order | Thinking in English | Think in images and movement first. | | Forgetting facial expressions | Focusing only on hands | Raise brows for topic, furrow for WH-questions, puff cheeks for “too much.” | | Mixing up classifier handshapes | Lack of practice | Drill classifier pairs: CL:3 (car) vs. CL:3-claw (motorcycle). | | Losing spatial consistency | Moving hands randomly | Physically point to the same spot in space each time for the same object. |
Signing Naturally Unit 9 focuses on Making Requests and Telling About Events. By the time you reach homework section 9.11, you have moved past basic requests ("Can you help me?") into the realm of narrative storytelling. signing naturally homework 9.11
Homework 9.11 specifically tests your ability to:
Most students struggle here because 9.11 often presents a story that is not chronological. The signer may jump between past, present, and hypothetical events (conditional "if/then" scenarios). If the assignment asks for written answers (e
Narratives in ASL require constant checking. When you set up your scene, you must use your eyes and facial grammar to confirm the audience understands.
Before you turn in Signing Naturally Homework 9.11, verify: Most students struggle here because 9
When grading 9.11, ASL instructors typically use a simple rubric:
You can lose points even if your vocabulary is perfect but your facial expression is flat. ASL is a visual language—emotion and grammar live on your face.
In the 9.11 video dialogues, you will see the signer shift their shoulders from left to right. This indicates two different people. You must track who does what. If you miss a shoulder shift, you will invert the entire story (e.g., thinking "John hit Bob" when reality was "Bob hit John").