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JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY
COURSE CODE: "LAT 282"
COURSE NAME: "Directed Readings in Latin"
SEMESTER & YEAR:
Fall 2015
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SYLLABUS
INSTRUCTOR:
Erik Walters
EMAIL: [email protected]
HOURS:
MW 4:30 PM 5:45 PM
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS:
45
CREDITS:
3
PREREQUISITES:
Prerequisite: LAT 102 or permission of the instructor
OFFICE HOURS:
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COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This course is designed to offer the opportunity to read texts in the original to students with a basic level of Latin language preparation. The level of readings may range from intermediate to advanced. Language levels will be determined at the beginning of the course, and students will be arranged in suitable reading groups. Texts appropriate to each group’s level will be chosen by the professor and the individual students. Texts will vary, but advanced students may choose from among annotated editions of Cicero, Caesar, Catullus, Virgil, Ovid, and Livy. All groups will work independently and in weekly reading groups with the professor, when issues of language, grammar, and literary technique will be discussed.
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SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:
This course is an intensive continuation in learning the Latin language as such. This is NOT an historical survey course or a language in translation course!!! While a brief review of both English and Latin grammar is foreseen, students must have a comprehension of said grammar appropriate to an undergraduate university level, particularly with regard to Latin including:1) Good knowledge of all 5 declensions of nouns; 2) Good knowledge of both family groups of adjectives (those of 1st and 2nd declensions and those of 3rd declension)3) Good knowledge of all 4 verb conjugations and at least 3 irregular verbs (esse; posse; ire) in all 6 tenses in imperative, indicative, and subjunctive moods, active and passive voices. Latin like other languages is made of words (lexicon) and structure (syntax) or how the words are put together and arranged. In other words Latin is an inflected language (word endings) unlike English that is based on word order. Therefore, the study of Latin will be useful both as an introduction to another form of language structure as well as a preparation for modern languages that use similar structures (e.g. German, Greek, Russian). Readings will allow you to practice Latin narrative structure, i.e. how the words fall into phrases and sentences, and how paragraphs are built. Students will translate from Latin into English. LAT 282 will allow you to move to a 300+ level course at John Cabot University or another institution.
The course is divided into two sections: 1) Readings from a variety of Latin authors as a means and end to a proper "review" of previous Latin Studies (i.e. see "Course Aims" above). Experience indicates that this constitutes course work through the mid-term exam; 2) Course work from the mid-term exam through the final exam focuses on an analysis of selections from Vergil's Aeneid, and Tacitus' Annales including particular attention to the use of the subjunctive mood and the historical, political, and social context in which Caesar Augustus' lead propagandist, Virgil, composed what remains arguably Roman Antiquity's flagship opus of Latin literature and the most unique of all Roman historiographer/propagandists, Tacitus. These two authors represent two bookends of both Latin literature imbued with political propaganda and, hence, a competitive hermeneutic to understanding modern religion, political science, international affairs, and economics…
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LEARNING OUTCOMES:
At the end of the course, students should be able to read complex narratives in Latin preparing them for future and more focused analyses of any given Latin author and to be knowledgeable in the outlines of the history, social context, and developments of the Roman world. Students will have translated portions of the original Virgil, Tacitus, Caesar, Martial, Ovid, Catullus, and many others, including inscriptions from various epochs lingering around Rome today. Most importantly, students will be thoroughly confident throughout their entire lives when confronted by Latin with the indispensable aid of a Latin lexicon (i.e. dictionary). A good Latin dictionary (there are few) is necessary for this course (consult the required reading and textbook section). Lexicons and textbooks may be purchased upon arrival in Rome. YES, ALL LEXICONS and TEXTBOOKS are REQUIRED. While "tools" such as the still incomplete and error-ridden Perseus Project may be helpful for the advanced student of Latin via one's "smart" tablet, such applications are useless and hinder learning the Latin language, rendering a beginning and intermediate student of Latin a...tool.
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TEXTBOOK:
| Book Title | Author | Publisher | ISBN number | Library Call Number | Comments | Format | Local Bookstore | Online Purchase |
| Cassell’s Latin Dictionary | D.P. Simpson | Wiley Publishing, Inc. | 978-0025225800 | | | | | |
| An Elementary Latin Dictionary | C.T. LEWIS | Oxford University Press | 0199102058 | | | | | |
| A Little Latin Reader | Mary C. English - Georgia L. Irby | Oxford University Press | 978-0-19-984622-1 | | | | | |
| Civis Romanus | Cobban & Colebourn | Bolchazy-Carducci Publishers, Inc. | 978-0-86516-569-4 | | | | | |
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REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
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GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
| Assignment | Guidelines | Weight |
| 6 quizzes | Three quizzes before mid-term and three after mid-term. The lowest quiz grade before and after the mid-term will be dropped. | 30% |
| Mid-term exam | The mid-term exam consists of an in class translation of a text from Latin into English. Time allotted is one hour and fifteen minutes. Use of the lexicon is permitted. | 30% |
| Final exam | The final exam consists of a translation from a passage of Vergil's "Aeneid" from the original Latin into English. The exam is to be reviewed during the time-slot designated and to be determined by the Registrar's office. | 30% |
| In class reviews of readings and translations | Students are to regularly prepare assigned readings and translations from Latin texts into English. Comprehension and progress will be evaluated in class. | 10% |
-ASSESSMENT CRITERIA:
AWork of this quality directly addresses the question or problem raised and provides a coherent argument displaying an extensive knowledge of relevant information or content. This type of work demonstrates the ability to critically evaluate concepts and theory and has an element of novelty and originality. There is clear evidence of a significant amount of reading beyond that required for the course. (95-100% A; 90-94% A-)
BThis is highly competent level of performance and directly addresses the question or problem raised.There is a demonstration of some ability to critically evaluatetheory and concepts and relate them to practice. Discussions reflect the student’s own arguments and are not simply a repetition of standard lecture andreference material. The work does not suffer from any major errors or omissions and provides evidence of reading beyond the required assignments. (88-89% B+; 83-87% B; 80-82% B-)
CThis is an acceptable level of performance and provides answers that are clear but limited, reflecting the information offered in the lectures and reference readings. (78-79% C+; 73-77% C; 70-72% C-)
DThis level of performances demonstrates that the student lacks a coherent grasp of the material.Important information is omitted and irrelevant points included.In effect, the student has barely done enough to persuade the instructor that s/he should not fail. (60-69% D)
FThis work fails to show any knowledge or understanding of the issues raised in the question. Most of the material in the answer is irrelevant. (59% F)
-ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS:
Class attendance is essential to a meaningful comprehension of material. No points will be added or deducted from the course grade for absences, but it remains in the students' interests to be present in order to learn the language and avoid falling behind.
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ACADEMIC HONESTY
As stated in the university catalog, any student who commits an act of academic
dishonesty will receive a failing grade on the work in which the dishonesty occurred.
In addition, acts of academic dishonesty, irrespective of the weight of the assignment,
may result in the student receiving a failing grade in the course. Instances of
academic dishonesty will be reported to the Dean of Academic Affairs. A student
who is reported twice for academic dishonesty is subject to summary dismissal from
the University. In such a case, the Academic Council will then make a recommendation
to the President, who will make the final decision.
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STUDENTS WITH LEARNING OR OTHER DISABILITIES
John Cabot University does not discriminate on the basis of disability or handicap.
Students with approved accommodations must inform their professors at the beginning
of the term. Please see the website for the complete policy.
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SCHEDULE
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LESSONS I THROUGH XXVIII:
- Lesson One:
- Introduction
- Syllabus and Course Prospectus
- Use of the Lexicon
- Lesson Two:
- Quiz
- Sight translation of readings: Aeneas and Iulus; Camilla; Romulus and Remus; The Founding of Rome; The Horatii
- Lesson Three:
- in class review of assigned readings: Mucius Scaevola; Coriolanus; Manlius and the Gauls; Regulus; The Consuls
- Lesson Four:
- in class review of assigned readings: The Patricians and Plebeians; The Dictator: Cincinnatus;
The Dictator: Fabius Maximus; The Senate; The Censors: Appius Claudius, Cato; The Tribunes: the Gracchi, Cato Minor
- Lesson Five:
- sight translation of readings: Provincial Government: Verres; Provincial Government: Cicero; A Letter from Cicero in Asia
- i n class review of assigned readings: Stories of Cato the Younger; Cicero junior, Student; Augustus and His Grandson;
An African Story: the Boy and the Dolphin; "Little Boots": the Childhood of the Emperor Gaius; Marcus Aurelius to His Tutor
- Lesson Six:
- Quiz
- sight translation of readings: The Story of Papirius; Roman Education: Horace; A New School at Comum
- in class review of assigned readings: The Civil War: Cato minor; The Death of Caesar; Octavian: the Heir of Caesar; Octavian and Antony; the Rule of Augustus
- Lesson Seven:
- in class review of assigned readings: Ultima Thule; Verulamium I: A.D. 80; The Great Fire
- Lesson Eight:
- in class review of assigned readings: The Early Emperors; The Conquest of Britain; Agricola in Britain
- Lesson Nine:
- in class review of assigned readings: Verulamium II: A.D. 180; Constantine; Verulamium III: A.D. 368
- Lesson Ten:
- Quiz
- in class review of assigned readings: Horace and the Bore; The Streets of Rome; Town and Country: Pliny's Villa
- Lesson Eleven:
- in class review of assigned readings: Slaves and Freedmen; One View of Roman Games; Catastrophae at Fidenae
- Grammar One: Conjugating the Subjunctive Mood in All Tenses Active and Passive Voice
- Lesson Twelve:
- in class review of assigned readings: The Eruption of Vesuvius I; The Eruption of Vesuvius II; Pliny and the Christians
- Grammar Two: Uses of the Subjunctive Part One
- Lesson Thirteen:
- in class review of assigned readings: Martial
- Grammar Three: Uses of the Subjunctive Part Two
- Lesson Fourteen:
- MID-TERM EXAM IN AULA (use of lexicon permitted; exam covers all Latin grammar excluding the subjunctive mood)
- Lesson Fifteen: (N.B. - the amount of text successfully to be reviewed depends primarily on student course progress)
- Introduction to Virgil's Aeneid: Augustan propaganda; Phoenician/Carthaginian vs. Greek roots; Raffaello's Parnassus
- Lesson Sixteen:
- in class review of assigned readings: BOOK I
- Lesson Seventeen:
- Quiz
- in class review of assigned readings: BOOK I
- Lesson Eighteen:
- in class review of assigned readings: BOOK II
- Lesson Nineteen:
- in class review of assigned readings: BOOK II
- Lesson Twenty:
- in class review of assigned readings: BOOK III
- Lesson Twenty-One:
- Quiz
- in class review of assigned readings: BOOK III
- Lesson Twenty-Two:
- in class review of assigned readings: BOOK IV
- Lesson Twenty-Three:
- in class review of assigned readings: BOOK IV
- Lesson Twenty-Four:
- in class review of assigned readings: BOOK V
- Lesson Twenty-Five:
- Quiz
- in class review of assigned readings: BOOK V
- Lesson Twenty-Six:
- in class review of assigned readings: BOOK VI
- Lesson Twenty-Seven:
- in class review of assigned readings: BOOK VI
- Lesson Twenty-Eight:
- in class review for final exam
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