BOSTON LATIN SCHOOL Classics Department Course Name Latin 4 Course Description This course will continue students' experience in reading original Latin prose and will introduce them to Latin poetry, including scansion and figures of speech. The year will begin with a thorough review of forms and vocabulary during which time students will read selections from Caesar’s De Bellō Gallicō. Next students will read from Cicero’s oration ​ ​ against Catiline, from the mythological poetry of Ovid, from the private letters of Pliny, and, if time permits, from Tacitus' Annals, and the private letters of Pliny. Latin 4 students must of course demonstrate proficiency in translation skills, but ​ must also move beyond mere translation to develop their own understanding, on firm textual evidence, about what they read. Capable Latin 4 students are expected to take the SAT II subject exam in Latin and strongly encouraged to enroll in AP Latin Vergil/Caesar and/or Greek 1 and/or Latin Poetry at the usual time next spring. Units of study ● Unit 1: Grammar ● Unit 2: Caesar ● Unit 3: Cicero ● Unit 4: Ovid ● Unit 5: Pliny ● Unit 6: Tacitus (if time allows) Essential Questions ● What skills are necessary to analyze, read, and demonstrate fuller comprehension of Roman history and Latin literature with increasing proficiency? ● How can Latin constructions be rendered into accurate and fluent English, particularly ones which have no direct English counterpart (i.e. Indirect Statement, Ablative Absolute, and Impersonal Passives). ● What important events led to the downfall of the Roman republic? ● How does Cicero’s thinking, as revealed in his writings, further elucidate traditional Roman values during the Republican era and the seeds of its downfall? ● How do the Roman Republic and its failure inform the thinking of the Founding Fathers of the United States and the Constitution of the United States of America? ● What does the Augustan era demonstrate about the nature of authoritarian regimes, the philosophy undergirding the growth of empire and its impact on both individuals and other cultures? ● What structural and thematic elements are present in Ovid’s Metamorphoses and how does this work ​ ​ comment upon the Augustan regime? ● What is the historical importance of epistolary texts? ● How does Pliny’s depiction of the eruption of Mount Vesuvius inform our understanding of unforeseen natural disasters and the role individuals play in times of crisis? Content-Specific Objectives Students will be able to… ● analyze and translate Latin sentences and exercises literally with appropriate assistance ● recognize and produce morphological and syntactic structures ● analyze, translate literally, and read with comprehension, with appropriate assistance, both seen and unseen authentic Latin passages ● scan Latin dactylic hexameter ● use the Latin text to support arguments and display critical thought about the texts Core Competencies BLS identified eight essential competencies that span all content areas and grade levels. Students will engage with subject matter and reach proficiency in their coursework by practicing the following skills and by living out the listed values ● Reading - Students will utilize higher order thinking skills as they read authentic material from a variety of perspectives, cultures, and disciplines. ● Writing - Students will write competently and creatively, having mastered language conventions including rhetorical, stylistic, and grammatical structures. ● Speaking and Presenting - Students will communicate clearly and effectively in prepared and extemporaneous speech. ● Researching - Students will generate questions and use informed research and technological methodologies to evaluate information and synthesize new and innovative ideas. ● Problem Solving - Students will develop and apply problem solving skills across disciplines and settings. ● Social Responsibility - Students will be open minded, respectful, responsible, and engaged members of the school community. ● Civic Engagement - Students will demonstrate leadership through active involvement and advocacy within the larger community. ● Global Awareness - Students will demonstrate their global understanding and growth as engaged global citizens through work in class and the larger community. Reading Syllabus ● C. Iuli Caesaris Commentarii De Bello Gallico (Selections from Book 4) ​ ​ ● M. Tulli Ciceronis oratio in L. Sergium Catilinam in senatu habita prima ​ ● P. Ovidi Nasonis Metamorphoses (Deucalion and Pyrrha and other select stories) ​ ​ ● C. Plini Caecili Secundi Epistulae Selectae (6. 16 and 10. 96-97) ​ ​ ● Corneli Taciti Annales 15. 44 (if time allows) ​ ​ Common Assessments Latin 4 teachers will administer three common National Latin Exams throughout the year (September, January, and June), analyze student performance data and adjust instructional practice to further student achievement on these exams. ​ Progress toward this goal will be measured by tracking the group average on each of these three assessments, identifying commonly missed questions, and reinforcing these concepts through work in class. Latin 4 teachers will also administer a common summative exam in the middle of the year and at the end of the year. .