Course syllabus

Salvete discipuli... welcome to Latin 200!

 

CONTACT DETAILS

Lecturer : Christina Robertson

Email : crob077@aucklanduni.ac.nz

Room : Room 802, level 8, Arts 1

Office hour : Room 305, level 3, Arts 1. Monday 2pm, or by appointment

 

WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO:

  • Learn and revise grammar We will cover the material from Chs 30-40 in Wheelock’s Latin 7th edition. This will complete your study of the fundamentals of Latin grammar. Exercises can include: translation from Latin, composing into Latin, parsing morphology, explaining grammar, etc etc. Once we complete this study of the grammar, you will know all the rules of the Latin language.
  • Practice reading Latin prose We will read selections from Latin prose, given out in class for you to prepare at home, or sometimes to practice reading ‘unseen’ in class. This will help you to: solidify your understanding of vocabulary and grammar, develop your understanding of Latin prose style, and expand your knowledge of Roman culture and history.
  • Practice reading Latin poetry We will read small selections of Latin poetry, assigned in class. Poetry employs some different techniques and conventions from Latin prose; we will focus on learning the basics of poetic style, vocabulary, word order, and metre so that you can feel confident confronting poetry later on!

 

COURSE OBJECTIVES:

The combination of learning grammar and reading texts will help you to: develop your skills at reading and understanding Latin, increase your vocabulary, and solidify your grasp of grammar. Reading selections of both prose and poetry will allow you to compare and contrast literature in different styles and genres. Completing this course will also prepare you to enter higher-level units in Latin literature.

 

IN THIS COURSE YOU WILL:

  • Revise your knowledge of Latin grammar and extend your understanding of complex constructions;
  • Learn new vocabulary;
  • Read Latin by ancient authors;
  • Do in-class and take-home exercises, translating phrases and sentences from Latin-English and from English-Latin, and practising morphology;
  • Develop your skills sight-reading Latin, by practicing translating unseen Latin passages; and,
  • Develop your understanding of the rules of Latin scansion, and practice reading in metre. 

 

 ASSESSMENT:

50% Coursework

50% Final exam

 

SET TEXT:

  • F. M. Wheelock Wheelock’s Latin: The Classic Introductory Latin Course. Revised by R. LaFleur. Seventh Edition. HarperCollins, New York, 2011.

 

FORMAT AND EXPECTATIONS: 

This is a small language-learning class, so as much as possible our classroom will be interactive, not lecture-based. This is very much a participatory course. I expect you to come prepared having done the assigned readings, either from Wheelock, or from handouts. I expect you to prepare Latin material if instructed, to memorise rules of new constructions and any new morphology, and to contribute to each class.

 

FAQs

Q Do I need my own copy of Wheelock’s? Will I need a dictionary?

A Yes and yes. We will use Wheelock's a lot in class so you need to have your own copy. I don’t mind which brand/size dictionary you bring, but you do need to have one with you in class.

Do I need a specific grammar reference book?

It's not mandatory. It can be good to have a grammar to consult that isn't Wheelock's, if you find the explanations in Wheelock's hard to follow. If you want to have a grammar, I recommend one (or more!) of the following:

  • B. H. Kennedy, Kennedy’s Revised Latin Primer. Ed. and rev. by J. Mountford. London, Longman, 1962 (any edition is useful); or
  • B. L. Gildersleeve and G. Lodge, Latin Grammar. London, Bristol Classical Press, 1997 (any edition is useful); or
  • A. B. Greenough et al., Allen & Greenough's New Latin Grammar. Ginn & Company, 1903. Digitised by Dickinson College Commentaries, http://dcc.dickinson.edu/allen-greenough/.

Q Is this a lecture course?

No - this is a small, interactive language-learning class.

Q Are the classes recorded? What if I miss a class?

Classes are not recorded, because they are very participatory. If you miss a class, you can contact me and I will explain what you missed; a 'study buddy' in the class is also always good to get notes from!

 

 Workload and deadlines for submission of coursework:           

The University of Auckland's expectation is that students spend 10 hours per week on a 15-point course, including time in class and personal study. Students should manage their academic workload and other commitments accordingly. Deadlines for coursework are set by course convenors and will be advertised in course material. You should submit your work on time. In extreme circumstances, such as illness, you may seek an extension but you may be required to provide supporting information before the assignment is due. Late assignments without a pre-approved extension may be penalised by loss of marks – check course information for details.

Course summary:

Date Details Due