Latin 11

 
Elementary Latin I
Fall 2003

INSTRUCTOR: Robert W. Cape, Jr., Associate Professor of Classics
OFFICE:     AD 310       PHONE: x2241       MAIL: 61653       EMAIL: rcape@austincollege.edu
OFFICE HOURS: 11:00-12:00 MF, 1:30-2:30 T, & by appointment or just dropping by.

REQUIRED TEXTS:
  • Maurice Balm and James Morwood. Oxford Latin Course, Part I. 2nd ed. New York: Oxford University Press, 1996.
  • Maurice Balm and James Morwood. Oxford Latin Course, Part II. 2nd ed. New York: Oxford University Press, 1996.
  • Robert W. Cape, Jr., Internet Workbook for the Oxford Latin Course (1999-2003)   [http://artemis.austincollege.edu/acad/cml/rcape/latin/index.html]

    • OBJECTIVES:

    Latin 11 is first in the sequence of elementary and intermediate courses designed to introduce students to the Latin language and Roman culture. Our goals are to learn how to read Latin with precision and understanding, and to appreciate Latin as a transmitter of ideas and culture. Interest in Latin and the Romans has been growing in recent years and our methods of teaching are quite different from the traditional grammar/translation approach that once characterized the Latin classroom (e.g., in the movie "Goodbye, Mr. Chips," and satirized in "Monty Python's Life of Brian"). Moreover, with a constant stream of new archaeological finds we are learning new things about the Romans every day. Ancient history does not stand still.

    The goals for Latin 11, to "read Latin with precision and understanding, and to appreciate Latin as a transmitter of ideas and culture," are processes rather than endpoints in an educational curriculum. In order to realize them in a manner appropriate to the first semester Latin course, by the end of the semester students should be able to:

    1. recognize the forms and understand the functions of noun cases, with and without prepositions;
    2. recognize all regular adjective forms and understand the uses of adjectives and the principle of agreement;
    3. recognize regular verb forms and sum, esse in the present tense, active, indicative;
    4. read consistently with good understanding simple connected sentences dealing with a variety of basic issues in Roman society;
    5. understand simple spoken expressions and transcribe them;
    6. write simple fixed expressions and limited memorized material and some recombinations thereof;
    7. demonstrate an understanding of Roman culture at the time of Augustus.

    It is expected that each student will achieve these objectives at his or her own level, depending on individual time, energy, and commitment to learning the material.

    Attendance and Participation:

    Because this is a performance class, regular attendance is required of all students. Students are expected to be prepared for and to participate actively in every class. Lack of preparation is no excuse for not attending. Since learning a language is a sequential process and any class sessions or homework missed can seriously affect future performance, only three absences will be allowed. Each absence after the third will lower the total grade by three percentage points. With eight absences (equals two weeks) a student may be dropped from the course.

    Assignments and Grading:

    Homework assignments are given daily for the next day's class. These are to be completed prior to the class meeting and will be the basis for that day's participation. In addition, about once a week there will be a written homework assignment to be turned in at the beginning of class. Students are responsible for finding out what the homework assignment is if they have missed a class. Homework, quizzes and exams missed during an absence cannot be made up except under exceptional circumstances.

    A short, 10-15 minute quiz will be given every week. These quizzes are meant to help students review material recently covered and serve as diagnostic instruments to indicate how well they are progressing in discrete areas of grammar, vocabulary, and comprehension. The midterm and final are comprehensive exams which measure the student's total progress at specific points in the course. The midterm will be given during the sixth or seventh week of class; the exact date will be announced at least two weeks in advance. The final will be given at the regularly scheduled time, 9:00 - 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, December 10. The midterm and final may include "take-home" sections.

    Grade percentages:
    weekly quizzes 35%
    written homework 10%
    attendance and participation 15%
    midterm 20%
    final 20%

    Austin College's Standards of Academic Integrity are assumed to apply to your work for this course. The Academic Integrity Policy can be found in the "Student Conduct" section of The Austin College Environment. All work must be your own. Infringments of the Academic Integrity Policy may result in failing grades on assignments, for the course, or withdrawal from the course.

    [Bob Cape's Homepage] [Classical and Modern Languages] 
    Robert W. Cape, Jr., Associate Professor of Classics
Classical & Modern Languages
900 N. Grand Avenue, Suite 61653
Sherman, TX 75090-4440
phone: (903) 813-2241  fax: (903) 813-2011
    Mail comments to rcape@austincollege.edu