Latin 201
Explorations in Latin Literature

Goals:

• To be able to read Latin effectively – read passages within our limits well, and puzzle out and make good guesses at passages of original Latin which exceed our expertise.
• To be able to read and translate Latin from a clean text -- i.e. without notes or prepared translations.  (This just requires a higher level of commitment to the text and is better for your reading in the long run.)
• To gain a strong structural knowledge of how the Latin language works, both through individual study and through work with peers and in class.
• To gain an understanding of the ways in which  non-literary writings in Latin as well as canonical Latin literature can provide us with insights into the Roman world.
• To gain an understanding of the social complexities of ancient Roman life, and how they were reflected in the writings, both literary and non-literary, of the time.

Requirements:

• Attendance is mandatory.  A lot of our class work will be organized in focus groups and your absences are problematic for others.  Three absences are allowed without penalty; after that 1 point per absence will be deducted from your final grade.  NOTE we may divide into groups for some classes and if your group is not required in class that day, I will let you know.  If your group IS required in class, you need to be there.
• A midterm and a final, 40% (20% each). 
• Daily work, 60%.  Daily work consists of homework, translations, and quizzes.  All grades count equally.  I will drop 2 grades.  The components of daily work, further explained:
  • Homework: I will assign homework from time to time, sometimes more intensely than others.  These assignments are to be completed individually and returned on the due date, usually the next class period.  Late homeworks receive a grade of 50%.
  • Quizzes: These are typically on vocabulary and forms -- the more mechanical material.  I'll tell you when one is coming up.
  • Translations: Several times during the semester you will have short translations to turn in. 
  • There is no extra credit.  I arranged things on purpose so that your grade in the course depends on consistent application and daily work, since this is the best way to master a language.

Textbooks:

• Auricula Meretricula  This is an amusing "constructed Latin" textbook taht is usually used in lower levels -- some of you may already have worked with it.  We will use it for review, for getting back into Latin for those who have been away, but mainly for speaking practice.  I hope you're willing to ham it up.
• Wheelock's Latin Grammar  We will use this textbook mainly for review, and for focusing study of the subjunctive for those who want to do formal work on it (as opposed to just looking at how it occurs in the readings).  There are a lot of resources for this text, so you can use it as a focus for online practice provided by various university sites.
• The War with Hannibal which we will start midterm for work with a steady & coherent narrative.
• Other readings be assigned, mostly from No Dictionaries Latin online.

Communication:

Safety: UNCW practices a zero-tolerance policy for violence and harassment of any kind.  Please do not violently harrass either your classmates or me.  For emergencies contact UNCW CARE at 962-2273, Campus Police at 962-3184, or Wilmington Police at 911.  For University or community resources visit http://uncw.edu/wrc/crisis.htm.

Semester Chart