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LATN 101-001: Latin I
Fall Semester 2011 |
 |
From small beginnings, the Romans took over supreme power in their world.
Their language, Latin, was a powerful tool of their rise, rule, and legacy.
It can be the beginning of great things for you, too. This course opens a way in.
As you master Latin, you will become able to read great literature as it was originally written:
we'll start from Day One with comedies of Plautus, one of the great ancient masters of the genre.
They'll be adapted for accessibility, to start, but you'll be putting together the elements of the
original toolkit and an authentic understanding of how Latin's structures build expression.
You will gain insight into how all languages work to represent ideas and communicate between people.
As we learn what's the most valuable thing in Euclio's house, who's really sleeping in
Amphitruo's bed, and more, you'll extend your knowledge of Latin words, forms, and syntax in a
progression optimized for reading strength. You'll also be getting to know important parts of literary
and cultural history that stretch from the Classical past (Greek, Roman, and multicultural) through
the medieval West to the modern world. The principles of language you master will also help you learn
foreign languages and use English more adroitly.
We will work to four main Learning Objectives (plus the fifth, of having fun
with them):
- that you gain familiarity with basic vocabulary in common use in ancient Latin,
including both the words and how they change form to reflect different grammatical
functions
- that you gain familiarity with Latin's basic principles for combining words to describe
ideas and make meaningful statements
- that you put your understanding of Latin words, their forms, and their combinations
together into the synthesis of reading
- that you learn from your reading about Roman cultural contexts
MWF 8:15am-9:05am
Dumbach Hall 235 - new room!
Dr. Jacqueline Long
Office Hours:
TTh 8:45am-9:45am, Crown Center 579
or by appointment |
Telecommunication:
773-508-3654
jlong1@luc.edu |
Textbooks
- Peter Jones and Keith Sidwell, Reading Latin, 2 vols.
(Cambridge UP 1986)
- Recommended: Norma Goldman, English Grammar for
Students of Latin, 3rd edn. (2004)
- On-line resource: Concepts
for the study of Latin and the links that follow from there
Schedule of Assignments
- Assignments will be determined by the class's progress. Depending on the length of the
reading associated with each Section of the text (1A, 1B, etc.), we will usually spend from two
to four sessions on each. Keep up with memorization rigorously, and be sure to identify and
resolve any questions you have with the material as soon as possible, so that you will be able
to keep pace with the class.
- You are the master of your own learning. You must be your own advocate for your learning.
Your instructor is a resource.
- At the same time, you are all partners in one another's learning, and I'm very happy whenever
I can improve my own understanding. We owe one another a supportive, collegial common space and
thoughtful exchange. Distractions are a problem we need to avoid. Laptop computers, cell phones,
recording equipment, Blackberries, iPods, and other electronic devices capable of being used for
communication or entertainment may not be used in the classroom during class meetings. If you
carry any of them with you, they must remain turned off and put away. Noisy or smelly food should
not come into the classroom. Private conversations should be conducted outside of class time.
- You become responsible for the Learning Vocabulary for each Section
(highlighted below the Running Vocabulary)
as soon as we enter upon that Section. Begin memorizing immediately!
- You become responsible for forms and grammar covered in each Section
as soon as we discuss the forms and concepts involved. Be sure you understand
concepts discussed in class well enough to be able to apply them on your own.
Practice recognizing and generating forms from as soon as we come to new rules.
Continue practicing old rules on new vocabulary that uses them.
- Drills keyed to each Section are available in Blackboard
for you to practice vocabulary and forms. The drills as such are not graded
within assessment for the course, but regular practice with them will show up very clearly in
growing proficiency. Take and re-take them as many times as you like. They'll become available
as soon as we come to the Section or cover the forms: work with them to help master new material
and spot-check back periodically to make sure you stay on top of what we've
done before. These targeted exercises complement your practice reading Latin text, by sharpening your skills.
- Re-read the Latin text frequently. Alternate reading for drill ("if
a Roman
soldier suddenly appeared out from nowhere threatening me with a sword, could I
tell him what word that is, if I looked it up in the dictionary, what form it's
in here, and why it's in that particular form?"), reading for comprehension ("what
is the text saying? and how do I know that's what it's saying?"), and reading
steadily ("can I follow the meaning without getting lost?"). Understanding the conventions of
a language is a vital first step in acquiring it, but fluency is very largely a matter of habit.
Practice makes perfect. Do it.
- Class-time will include short summary quizzes roughly every two weeks,
around the schedule of more formal examinations and breaks.
Dates to watch out for:
| M 8/29 |
First day of class.
Study aid: guide to pronunciation of
Classical Latin
Study aid: introduction to grammatical concepts |
| M 9/5 |
Labor Day: no classes
|
| F 9/9 |
Short quiz as well as ongoing classwork. |
| F 9/23 |
Short quiz as well as ongoing classwork. |
| F 10/7 |
Midterm examination. |
| M-T 10/10-11 |
Fall Break: no classes.
|
| F 10/21 |
Short quiz as well as ongoing classwork. |
| F 11/4 |
Short quiz as well as ongoing classwork. |
| F 11/18 |
Short quiz as well as ongoing classwork. |
| W-F 11/23-25 |
Thanksgiving Break: no classes.
|
| M 12/5 |
Short quiz as well as ongoing classwork. |
| F 12/9 |
Last day of class. |
| W 12/14 |
Study Day: no classes or exams till 4:15 PM.
|
M 12/19
9:00am - 11:00am |
Final examination.
See Loyola's Fall 2011
Final
Exam Schedule.
|
Grades will be based on:
| Participation (beyond attendance: includes oral translation and discussion) |
10% |
| Written homework |
cumulative average = 15% |
| Short quizzes and daily microquizzes (microquizzes averaged in at 1/10 the rate) |
cumulative average = 25% |
| Midterm exam |
20% |
| Final exam |
30% |
| Penalty for excessive
absences (see below) |
particiation-assessment loses 2.5% for
each absence
falling within the definition of excess
(see below) |
The "midterm grade" will reflect the weighted average, pro-rated,
of the components completed to date: participation, homework and quizzes
to date and the midterm exam.
Attendance and other policies
Language skills grow by practice.
If you miss work, you lose momentum,
and lost momentum blocks your growth.
Class is a forum both for getting help from your colleagues and instructor
and for giving help on problems you have mastered,
as well as for sharing ideas and insights.
Even your questions help us all to find our way through problems
in an alien language.
Be there.
Prepared is better than unprepared.
Prompt is better than late.
Obviously, leaving class before the end of the period also prevents you
from participating in all the activities of the class meeting.
Nonetheless, even unprepared attendance, late arrival, or premature departure is better than
missing out completely - just don't disrupt your fellow students.
Since unregulated self-interest, as set forth above, doesn't always
motivate quite enough, a penalty for excessive absences has been
instituted. Absences shall be defined as
excessive, as follows:
- Each unexcused absence beyone a total of three absences,
excused or unexcused. That is, excused absences kill your budget of
unexcused absences.
- Repeated chronic lateness (more than 10 minutes) and early departure shall be counted
as partial absences. Nevertheless, it is better to attend even part of
a class, than to miss it entirely. Just don't disturb your
colleagues.
- Absences will be totalled over the whole semester.
If despite all this motivation, absolute, non-negotiable necessity
nevertheless intemperately demands that you must miss class,
please let me know as far in advance as possible.
Legitimate absences (serious illness, court appearances)
should be documented in writing (n.b.: appointments with Loyola
faculty and administrators should be scheduled at times
that do not conflict with courses for which you are registered).
Written homework, when assigned,
is due at the beginning of class.
Quizzes and exams can be rescheduled only for truly dire and documented
reasons.
Bring clean, lined paper and pens that don't smear.
Write legibly and spell correctly. Thanks!
Internet resources
- Allen &
Greenough is a reference grammar with sections on forms and syntax.
If you click to "View text chunked by:" section or subsection, the "Table of Contents" box
below offers topics by which to navigate.
Part of the
Perseus Digital Library.
- Lewis
& Short On-Line offers look-up access to a detailed reference dictionary.
Type in the the dictionary-entry form of the word for which you wish to search,
press the "search" bar, then if the "short definition" in the bar that appears next
doesn't tell you all you need to know, select "Elem. Lewis" (briefer notices) or "Lewis & Short"
(full information in the detailed reference dictionary) under "Dictionaries." Also part of the
Perseus Digital Library.
- Early Roman Calendar,
an overview presented by Calendars
through the Ages.
- Nuntii Latini,
current news briefs in Latin. Produced by YLE, the Finnish
Broadcasting Company, edited by Professor Emeritus Tuomo
Pekkanen and Docent Reijo Pitkaranta of Helsinki University.
- Latin Weather Reports,
produced by The Weather
Underground, Inc.
Additional University resources
- Loyola's Office of Academic Advising and Support Services,
on the Web and in the Sullivan Center for Student Services on the Lakeshore Campus, offers packages of advice called
Academic Success Tools about
things like strategies for active learning, time management, tests, reading, and note-taking.
The also schedule workshops in these areas and
other concerns like financial planning and picking a major.
The Sullivan Center also helps provide Services for Students with Disabilities.
- The Tutoring Center
(physically in the Sullivan Center; peer-counselors) and the
Writing Centers (sponsored
by the Department of English: graduate students with expertise in writing pedagogy; main location
at Klarchek Information Commons 221, annexes in the
Sullivan Center, Suite 206A, and on the Water Tower Campus, 25 East Pearson 605) both offer
consultation services.
Academic honesty, a.k.a. the life's blood of the intellect:
- Any practice of academic dishonesty (cheating, plagiarism,
obstructing the work of other students, etc.) perpetrated in this
course will result in failure of the course.
Do not do it.
- For basic principles and definitions, see the subsection on "Academic Integrity"
in the
General
Academic Standards and Regulations and the College of Arts and Sciences'
Academic
Integrity Statement. The Department of Classical Studies'
Policy on Academic
Integrity
incorporates these documents. We also recommend you consult the helpful discussion of
The Use and Misuse of Source
Materials, provided by Loyola's
Writing Center.
- Loyola University requires that all instances of academic dishonesty must be reported to the
chairperson of the department involved and to the academic Dean of the student's College.
- Learning is wholly personal: it only happens if you do it yourself. Your University
record should be certifying only what has really happened.
Revised 1 December 2011 by
jlong1@luc.edu
http://www.luc.edu/classicalstudies/