Syllabus

Latin 120, sec 006

Magister Whitchurch

Spring 2006

Elementary Latin

Herter 114

MWF 1:25 - 2:15

Contact Info:

Office: Herter 542
Office Hours: T R 1:30 – 2:20, also by appt
Email: bwhitchu@classics.umass.edu
Tel.: 545-5781

Required Text: Balme and Moorwood: Oxford Latin Course: Part II, 2nd edition

* Bring to every class meeting *

Website: This will be a useful resource as we proceed with the class and it will be important that you check it regularly for announcements. At the URL below you can do any one of the following:

  • Access the course syllabus
  • Download hand - outs
  • Contact the instructor or fellow students in the course
  • See the homework assignment for the day
  • Read important announcements

URL: www.people.umass.edu/bwhitchu

Course Objectives:

Principally, the goal of this course is to introduce you to the elements of Latin which will begin to help you become better acquainted with the Romans through their written texts. The Romans were, and still are, a fascinating people and it is my aim to show how this is so.

This course will also give you experience in listening, writing and pronouncing Latin. In addition, the study of Latin will aid you in improving study skills, appreciating languages in general and will even improve your skills in writing and speaking English.

Course Expectations:

  • Attendance and Participation: These are mandatory for this course – they also constitute crucial elements in a language course and credit will be awarded on a daily basis. You will receive a score of 1 for being present and a score of 0 if you are not. The only exception to this will be if you provide me with a university approved excuse with the appropriate document(s) and signature(s) before the day of your absence. You are responsible for having a contact person to find out what was covered for the class that you missed.
  • Homework: This is another crucial element to a language course and will be assigned for each class meeting. You will not learn Latin if you do not work with it at home on a daily basis. Only one of these homework assignments will be graded each week, making a total of 15 throughout the semester. A graded homework assignment will be announced the class meeting before it is due. Late work will not be graded – if you are going to be absent on the day a graded homework is due you need to inform me and drop off the assignment in the folder attached my office door before the beginning of class that day.
  • Graded Quizzes: There will be one graded quiz each week that we do not have exams, making a 12 total throughout the semester. Graded quizzes will be announced the class meeting before we take them and you will be able to drop the two lowest. Students are responsible for having a contact person if absent for such announcements. To find out about make-ups, see the “policies” section below.
  • Exams: We will have two exams throughout the course of the semester. Here are the days on which they will be held: Exam I => March 6th  Exam II => April 21st. Do not miss these days. To find out about make-ups, see the “policies” section below.
  • Final: TBA once available, during final exam period.

Policies:

  • Make-ups: A university approved reason is necessary for the makeup of a quiz, exam or final. I must be informed ahead of time in writing along with suitable documentation for makeups with university approved reasons.
  • Academic Honesty: I will not tolerate academic dishonesty of any kind, nor will the university as indicated in Academic Regulations, 2005 – 2006 p. 6: “No form of cheating, plagiarism, fabrication or facilitating of dishonesty will be condoned in the University Community.” Those who violate this will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of university policy. To read more about this, consult the following URL: http://www.umass.edu/registrar/media/academicregs05.pdfh

Grading:

          Item                                                                      Percentage  
Preparation and participation                                             5%
Homework                                                                            20%
Quizzes                                                                                 35%
Exams and Final                                                                 40%
                                                                

Grade Scale:

A = 93 - 100

C = 73 - 76

A - = 90 - 92

C - = 72 - 70

B+ = 87 - 89

D + = 67 - 69

B = 83 - 89

D = 60 - 66

B - = 80 - 82

F = 0 - 59

C + = 77 - 79

Back to Latin 120 home page