If you simply read the answers above, you might still fail a live signing quiz. Why? Because Signing Naturally tests your visual recognition, not English translation.
Here is the breakdown of the tricky classifiers in the "My Favorite Leather Jacket" narrative that students often misread:
In this segment, the signer (often Ella Mae Lentz in older editions or another signer in the newer ones) tells a story about a favorite leather jacket. The narrative focuses on describing the jacket's appearance, its significance to the owner, and usually a conflict involving the jacket (such as losing it, damaging it, or someone borrowing it).
Before you move on to Unit 12.2, run through this checklist:
The signer describes a leather jacket that they have owned for a long time. They discuss how they acquired it, why it is special, its physical condition (wear and tear), and how it fits. The story often serves as a prompt for students to practice identifying physical attributes and emotional attachment to objects. signing naturally 12.1 answers my favorite leather jacket
You found this article searching for answers. I want to address that directly.
The Signing Naturally curriculum is expensive (around $80-$100 for the workbook and access code). The reason instructors use the "Favorite Leather Jacket" story is not to torture you, but to teach Visual Vernacular (VV) — the cinematic storytelling of ASL.
If you simply memorize the answer key ("Black, $40, Pen exploded, Sad."), you will fail the performance portion of the exam. Your instructor will ask you to retell the story, or describe your own jacket.
How to use this guide ethically:
My leather jacket is more than just a piece of clothing; it's a companion that's been with me through thick and thin. I've worn it on countless nights out with friends, through chilly autumn evenings, and even during some of my earliest ASL storytelling sessions. The jacket has become a part of my identity, much like how mastering ASL signs becomes a part of one's communication skills.
Note: Specific questions can vary slightly by workbook edition, but the core comprehension points remain the same.
1. Description of the Jacket:
2. The History/Age:
3. The Conflict (The Main Event):
4. The Resolution/Ending:
When grading the "My Favorite Leather Jacket" section, teachers look for three specific failures: