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Department of Classical Studies Department of Classical Studies Latin 3100A: Latin Prose Selections Course Outline Course Details This year we will read in Latin substantial portions of Book I of Livy’s Ab Urbe Condita, a massive 142-book history of Rome from its foundations up until the time of Augustus. Book I covers the regal period, including many of the well-known episodes from legendary history: Aeneas, Romulus and Remus, Lucretia, and much more. We will focus on reading the text primarily for building confidence and skill in reading unadapted Latin prose, but will also read with a view to appreciating Livy’s literary talent as well. Prerequisite: Latin 2000 or permission of the Department Contact Details Office: Lawson 3206 (next to the main office) Email: [email protected] Phone: 519-661-2111 x87481 Office Hours: TBA Class Meetings The class meets MWF from 9:30-10:30 a.m. in Stevenson Hall 3101. Course Texts 1. Whiteley, J.L. and H.E. Gould, eds., Livy: Book 1. Bristol Classical Press (1991). ISBN 978-0862922962 [required] 2. Cassell's Latin Dictionary, ed. D.P. Simpson (Cassell's Pub., 1977). ISBN 0025225804 (or similar) 3. Allen & Greenough’s New Latin Grammar (Caratzas, 1931; repr. 2002). ISBN 089241331X. (optional; also available as a PDF in the course OWL site) 1 Course Policies Attendance You are expected to attend all class meetings, and to come prepared to engage with the assigned material. That is, you should have the assigned readings prepared in advance, and be able to translate and analyze the text alongside the class during our course meetings. Regular attendance make it easier for you to develop your skills in reading Latin; advance preparation will help you to review the material and ask questions about any difficult passages or syntactical constructions. Class Procedure At the beginning of each class meeting we will review lingering problems or questions from the previous session. We will proceed through the assignment sentence by sentence, taking turns at random. Students will read the sentence aloud in Latin, to gain proficiency in pronunciation; next, the Latin will be rendered into English, with special attention to verb tenses and moods. Third, we will analyze the grammatical elements of the sentence and review the syntax and morphology of its word components. Finally, we will consider the sentence or paragraph chunk in the larger context of the work as a whole. Please do not read from a written translation in class; rather, make a vocabulary/notes list that you can refer to if stuck, but focus instead on reading and understanding the Latin. Course Objectives The overall goal of this course is to increase students’ comfort with and ability to read unadapted Latin prose. Students will gain familiarity with common sentence types and word patterns and will be able to apply their knowledge of Latin syntax, morphology and vocabulary to the reading of Latin prose and that of other Classical Latin authors. A secondary objective of the course is to familiarize students with the literary, political, cultural and social issues current at the height of Livy’s career. Learning Outcomes At the end of this course students will have improved their command of Latin syntax and morphology. Successful students will be able to read Classical Latin prose with considerable speed and reading comprehension. Students will have become familiar with the ancillary tools for Latin study, including the use of dictionaries, grammars and commentaries both student-oriented and scholarly. In addition, students will have been introduced to the features common to Roman deliberative oratory, and to the political, legal and cultural issues in the late Republic. More broadly, students will have sharpened their skills in analytical and critical thinking. Grade Assessment Classroom engagement 10% Quizzes 20% Midterm I (Oct. 14) 20% Midterm II (Nov. 18) 20% Final Exam (date TBD) 30% 2 Quiz and Exam Information The quizzes and exams will assess your ability in two important aspects of learning Latin: your ability to translate into idiomatic English and your understanding of the grammatical components of the passages. Quizzes will take place during the first 15 minutes of class on select Fridays (see schedule) and will be drawn from material we have covered in class. Make- up quizzes will be permitted at the discretion of the instructor (please inform me in advance if you will miss a class with a quiz). The midterm exams will test your ability to translate, identify grammatical forms and constructions and also your ability to read Latin that you haven’t seen before. The second midterm will test material covered since the first midterm; the final exam will be cumulative, but will focus on material covered since the second midterm. Important Policies for all Western Courses Note from the Dean of Arts and Humanities You are responsible for ensuring that you have successfully completed all course prerequisites and that you have not taken an antirequisite course. Lack of prerequisites may not be used as basis of appeal. If you are not eligible for a course, you may be removed from it at any time, and you will receive no adjustment to your fees. These decisions cannot be appealed. Plagiarism and Academic Dishonesty Students must write their essays and assignments in their own words. Whenever students take an idea, or a passage of text from another author, they must acknowledge their debt both by using quotation marks where appropriate and by proper referencing such as footnotes or citations. Plagiarism is a major academic offence (see Scholastic Offence Policy in the Western Academic Calendar). Policy on Accommodation for Medical Illness http://www.uwo.ca/univsec/pdf/academic_policies/appeals/accommodation_medical.pdf [downloadable Student Medical Certificate (SMC): https://studentservices.uwo.ca/secure/medical_document.pdf] Students seeking academic accommodation on medical grounds for any missed tests, exams and/or assignments worth 10% or more of their final grade must apply to the Office of the Dean of their home faculty and provide documentation. ACADEMIC ACCOMMODATION CANNOT BE GRANTED BY THE INSTRUCTOR OR DEPARTMENT. Accessibility Policy Western has many services and programs that support the personal, physical, social and academic needs of students with disabilities. For more information and links to these services: http://accessibility.uwo.ca/ Mental Health Students who are in emotional/mental distress should refer to Mental Health@Western http://www.health.uwo.ca/mental_health/ for a complete list of options about how to obtain help. 3 Schedule of Assignments (subject to change as necessary) Sept. 09 introduction to course Oct. 26 Livy 1.15 + quiz #3 Sept. 12 grammar review & reading practice Oct. 28 Fall Break Sept. 14 grammar review & reading practice Oct. 31 Livy 1.16 Sept. 16 Livy 1.1.1-1.5 Nov. 02 Livy 1.24 Sept. 19 Livy 1.1.6-1.11 Nov. 04 Livy 1.25 + quiz #4 Sept. 21 Livy 1.2 Nov. 07 Livy 1.46 Sept. 23 Livy 1.3 Nov. 09 Livy 1.47 Sept. 26 Livy 1.4 Nov. 11 Livy 1.48 + quiz #5 Sept. 28 Livy 1.5 Nov. 14 Livy 1.49 Sept. 30 Livy 1.6 + quiz #1 Nov. 16 Livy 1.55 Oct. 03 Livy 1.7 Nov. 18 Midterm #2 Oct. 05 Livy 1.8 Nov. 21 Livy 1.56 Oct. 07 Livy 1.9 + quiz #2 Nov. 23 Livy 1.57 Oct. 10 Thanksgiving Nov. 25 Livy 1.58 + quiz #6 Oct. 12 Livy 1.10 Nov. 28 Livy 1.59 Oct. 14 Midterm #1 Nov. 30 Livy 1.60 Oct. 17 Livy 1.11 Dec. 02 Bonus episodes! Oct. 19 Livy 1.12 Dec. 05 Bonus episodes! Oct. 21 Livy 1.13 Dec. 07 Review Oct. 24 Livy 1.14 Final Exam to be scheduled by the Office of the Registrar. This schedule subject to change if necessary. 4 .
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