LATN 201.01: Intermediate Latin I
(CRN: 75200)
Autumn 2016
I. Course Information:
Prerequisites: LATN 102 or equivalent
Location: LA 304
Time: MWF 11:00 - 11:50 a.m.
II. Instructor's Contact Information:
Instructor:Dr. Barbara Weinlich, Visiting Associate Professor of Classics
Office: LA 429
Email:
Office Hours: MWF 10:00 - 10:50 a.m. and by appointment (happily)
III. Latin Tutor's Contact Information:
Tutor: Stacia Graham, M.A.
Office: LA 407
Email:
IV. Course Description:
LATN 201 is the beginning course of the Intermediate study of Latin. In this course we
will move beyond the basic, grammar-focused study of Latin and read significant amounts of unadapted Latin prose from the classical period. The first eleven weeks will be focusing on the First Catilinarian Oration by Cicero, a Roman statesman and lawyer of the first century BC, who was also the most famous Roman orator. In the remaining four weeks we will read selections from Seneca the Younger, a Roman Stoic philosopher and writer of the early first century C.E., who was a tutor and later adviser of the emperor Nero. Aside from reviewing and expanding your knowledge of grammar as well as honing your translation skills, you will develop a basic understanding of Rome's political situation in the Late Republic and Early Empire.
V. Learning Outcomes:
LATN 201 focuses on two main learning outcomes:
1.) That you will develop specific skills necessary for extensive reading. This means
a) that you will internalize your recognition of grammar;
b) that you develop an extensive vocabulary; and
c) that you recognize syntactic patterns.
2.) That you will acquire a basic understanding of Rome's political situation in the Late Republic and Early Empire by
a) doing little search-projects and report your results to the class participants; and
b) by being assigned the persona of a Roman senator, known to history, who was involved in the so-called crisis of Catiline, and later on the persona of a Roman senator, known to history, who was experiencing the rule of the emperor Nero.
VI. Course Format:
Consider this course a game. For most of the semester, you will be put in the shoes of a historical person, more specifically, of a Roman senator who was involved in the so-called crisis of Catiline. You will be assigned a name and a profile that you will be asked to further explore, and you will respond to Cicero and Catiline after having translated Cicero's First Oration against Catiline with a speech of your own (see below) in week 11 (November 7 & 9). For the remaining 4 weeks of the semester, you will then be put in the shoes of a historical person, more specifically, of a Roman senator who was experiencing the rule of the emperor Nero.
You begin this course at 1st level, with 0 experience. You gain experience by showing up to and participating in reading and discussing passages of Cicero's speech in class, completing assignments of various kinds (see below) in preparation for each class meeting, and by taking 10 quizzes (see below), 2 tests (see below), and a final exam (see below). You will note that slightly more experience can be awarded than needed to reach the 20th level, the highest level attainable.
A typical class day will consist of a mix of in-class presentations, the review and discussion of passages assigned as homework, and / or in-class translation done individually, in pairs, small groups, or as a whole class with instructor supervision.
The goal of each class day is to ensure that work done at home is accurate and well understood, that you are developing proper translation techniques, and that you are gaining an understanding of the historical contexts.
Due to the fast pace of the course and the varied level of previous language instruction you may have had, assignments will be given on a daily basis. All assignments will be posted on Moodle. All quizzes and tests will be announced. The final exam is scheduled for Wednesday, December 14, 8:00 - 10:00 a.m.
VII. Required Texts:
(1) Wheelock's Latin, 7th ed. (2011), ISBN: 0061997226
(2) Cicero's First Catilinarian Oration (1997), ISBN: 0865163413
(3) A Seneca Reader: Selections from Prose and Tragedy (2011), ISBN: 9780865167582
VIII. Recommended Texts:
(1) Cassell's Latin-English Dictionary (1987), ISBN: 0020133405
(2) Wheelock's Latin GrammarQuick! (2007), ISBN: 0865166668
IX. Experience Points & Levels:
Engagement & Participation in Game Sessions:165xp (33 @ 5 xp each)
Assigned Readings for Homework:90 xp (18 @ 5 xp each)
Senator's Comments:120 xp (4 @ 30 xp each)
Mini-(Re-)Search Projects:120 xp (4 @ 30 xp each)
Senator's Speech:100 xp
Quizzes:100 xp (10 @ 10 xp each)
One-hour Tests:200 xp (2 @ 100 xp each)
Final Exam: 130 xp______
Total Possible XP 1,025 xp
Final Grades will be determined by what level you reach:
20th level1,000 xpA, and laudatio sempiterna
19th level 930 xpA
18th level 900 xpA-
17th level 870 xpB+
16th level 830 xpB
15th level 800 xpB-
14th level 770 xpC+
13th level 730 xpC
12th level 700 xpC-
11th level 670 xpD+
10th level 630 xpD
9th level 510 xp F
8th level 410 xp
7th level 320 xp
6th level 240 xp
5th level 170 xp
4th level 110 xp
3rd level 60 xp
2nd level 20 xp
1st level 0 xp
X. Engagement & Participation in Game Sessions:
Engagement and participation in game sessions (= in class) involves attendance, preparation, and in-class participation. Engagement and participation in game sessions is defined minimally as regular attendance. Engagement and participation in game sessions is defined maximally as attendance at all game sessions and active participation in the game based on the completion of all assignments. Defined maximally, engagement and participation in game sessions means (1) active listening, and (2) intelligent and informed participation in homework reviews and in-session drills. As a rule of thumb, you should prepare 2 (two) hours for each class meeting.
In each class meeting you can earn experience points on a 0-5 scale:
0 for absent, 2 for being present but incapable of participation, 3 for being a good sport, 4 for engaging andbeing a good sport, and 5 for active, effective participation.
Note: If you miss one class, it will probably not severely impact your progress towards the goals of this course (and so your course grade), provided that you complete all scheduled assignments and activities. However, if you miss more than one class(whether excused or not), you will risk earning a low or evena failing course grade. Be on time.If you are late, talk to me after class.
XI. Assigned Readings for Homework:
Assigned readings for homework(= translations) should be written legibly, preferably skipping every other line to allow comments. Please write your translation on separate sheets, since they will be collected frequently.
For each homework you will be able to earn experience points on a 0-5 scale:
0 for nothing turned in, 2 for handing in an assigned readingthat reflects an attempt at completing the assignment and, at least, attempting to wrestle with the material,3 for work that reflects good comprehension of the basic grammar concepts and a minimal level of mastery of the material,4 for work that reflects very good comprehension of the basic grammar concepts and a very good mastery of the material, and 5 for work that reflects excellent comprehension of the basic grammar concepts and excellent mastery of the material
Note: Late assignments may be turned in for correction but you will not earn experience points.
XII. Senator's Comments:
Imagine you would post an informal comment on what's going on politically on facebook. Four times over the semester you will be asked to write a short personal comment on a text passage that we read. The comment will be made in Latinand are designed to make you more linguistically aware, more grammatically aware, to reinforce the vocabulary and to give you a sense of achievement on this long journey toward mastering the translation of Cicero's First Catilinarian Oration and selected texts from Seneca. Each comment will comprise 4-5 mid-sized sentences in Latin. Additional information will be given on accompanying handouts and on Moodle. For each comment you will be able to earn experience points on a 1-30 scale.
XIII. Mini (Re)-Search Projects:
Each game participant will be tasked with 4 (four) small search projects. '(Re-)search project' means researching a piece of information for the upcoming game session and sharing it with the other game participants in an oral presentation. The minimum length of your mini search project's presentation is 5 minutes, the maximum 10. Accompanying handouts are welcomed. For each mini-(re-)search project you will be able to earn experience points on a 1-30 scale.
XIV. Senator's Speech:
In week 11 (November 7 and 9) you will respond to Cicero and Catiline after having translated Cicero's First Oration against Catiline with a speech of your own -- that should, of course, be consistent with the profile of the senator that you impersonate. The exposition of your speech will be in Latin; the remainder of your speech will be in English. Your speech will be 6-7 pages long (double-spaced, 1-inch margins all around, Times New Roman font, paginated, proofread). You will receive both a game-booklet and specific instructions for writing your speech well ahead. The same goes for the profile of the senator whom you impersonate. Your speech is due on Monday, November 7, at 11:00 a.m. Failure to turn in the speech on time will result in a lowering of the grade. You will be able to earn experience points on a 0-100 scale.
XV. Quizzes:
Will give you a feedback on your developing proper translation techniques. All quizzes will be announced. The same goes for the material on which you will be quizzed. Quiz-assignments may range from identifying syntactical patterns to testing vocabulary to identifying a piece of grammar to translating a known passage. The length of each quiz is about 15 minutes. Quizzes will be given at the beginning of class. A total of 10 quizzes will count toward your xp-summary. For each quiz you will be able to earn experience points on a 0-10 scale.
Note: There are no makeup quizzes without proper documentation of illness or emergency. Even with documentation, makeups are at the sole discretion of the game master (= instructor).
XVI. Tests:
Two tests will give you a more comprehensive feedback on your developing proper translation techniques. The first test is scheduled for Wednesday, September 28, the second for Friday, October 28. The first test will draw on the readings and grammar covered in the first five weeks; the second test will draw on the readings and grammar covered in the four weeks after the first test. There will be a review session for each test. Aside from identifying syntactical patterns and other pieces of grammar, test-assignments may include translating both a known and an unknown passage. The length of each test is 50 minutes. For each test you will be able to earn experience points on a 0-100 scale.
Note: There are no makeup tests without proper documentation of illness or emergency. Even with documentation, makeups are at the sole discretion of the game master (= instructor).
XVII. Final Exam:
The final exam will give you an overall feedback on your developing proper translation techniques over this semester. It will focus on selectedpassages of the readings we did over the semester. Aside from identifying syntactical patterns and other pieces of grammar, final-exam assignments may include translating both a known and an unknown passage. The final exam is scheduled for scheduled for Wednesday, December 14, 8:00 - 10:00 a.m. You will be able to earn experience points on a 0-130 scale.
Note: There is no makeup of the final exam without proper documentation of illness or emergency. Even with documentation, makeups are at the sole discretion of the game master (= instructor).
XVI. Extra Credit:
Opportunities to earn Extra Credit at 10 points each will be given.
XVII. Course Website (Moodle):
Our game's course-website is your best friend and companion on your journey toward breaking the Enigma code. On our course-website you will find podcasts that give you an introduction to the assigned homework and / or to the next class meeting; all assignments; information about what you have to prepare / know for the next quiz.
XVIII. Academic Integrity & Intellectual Property:
All students must practice academic honesty. Academic misconduct is subject to an academic penalty by the course instructor and/or disciplinary sanction by the university.
All students need to be familiar with the Student Conduct Code. The Code is available for review online at
XIX. Credit / No Credit Option:
I expect you to take the course for a traditional letter grade.
XX. Accommodation of Learning Disabilities:
The University of Montana assures equal access to instruction through collaboration between students with disabilities, instructors, and Disability Services for Students. If you think you may have a disability adversely affecting your academic performance, and you have not already registered with Disability Services, please contact Disability Services in Lommasson Center 154 or 406.243.2243. I will work with you and Disability Services to provide an appropriate modification.
XXI. Field-trip: Leisure and Luxury in the Age of Nero: The Villas of Oplontis near Pompeii
What: Guided tour of the Exhibit & International Symposium on the Oplontis Project
Where: Museum of the Rockies, Bozeman
When: September 30, 2016 (day-trip)
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