May 21-June 29, 2001
Class meets: M,T,W,R 6:15-8:20 PM at 613 Hamilton
No class on Memorial Day, May 28th; replacement class will be on Friday June 1st
Instructor: Zsuzsanna Várhelyi
e-mail: zv2@columbia.edu
Office hours: T, R 5-6 at 618 Hamilton and by appointment
In the intensive elementary course we cover two semesters' work and our goal is mastery of the grammar and vocabulary covered in Wheelock's Latin. By the end of the course, students should be able to read simple Latin passages on their own and to go on to take courses on an intermediate level. In the last week of the semester we will read authentic Latin passages. We shall also aim at a basic understanding of the context of Latin texts we read in Roman civilization.
(available at Labyrinth Books: 112th St. between Broadway and Amsterdam)
1. F.M. Wheelock, R.A. LaFleur, Wheelock's Latin (6th ed.) ISBN: 0060956410
2. P.T. Comeau, R.A. LaFleur, Workbook for Wheelock's Latin (3rd ed.) ISBN: 0060956429
3. A.H. Groton, J.M. May, 38 Latin Stories ISBN: 0865162891
Please bring both Wheelock volumes to class every day.
Your successful completion of the course depends on sustained work throughout the six weeks, as the fast pace of the course allows little time for catching up if you fall behind. Your grade (calculated according to the percentages shown in the brackets) will be largely based on your day-by-day work.
1. Attendance, classroom participation, homework review (33%): You are expected to come to class prepared (allowing as much as 1.5+ hour preparation/day). Significant portions of homework are assigned in each class and the presentation of such assigned work in class counts towards your final grade. You are allowed three unexcused absences during the course, but it is your responsibility to make up the material covered.
2. Presentation (7%): A 10-minute presentation of an ancient auctor we cover in the course. A list of choices will be available in the first class.
3. Quizzes (20%): The four "weekly" quizzes (15-20 minutes, given always at the start of Monday's class, except for the midterm's Monday) help us follow your progress, based primarily on material discussed in class in the previous week. Short "pop" quizzes (5-10 minutes) may occur unannounced at the beginning of other classes, covering material from the previous class. Given the fast pace of the course, there will be no make-up quizzes.
4. Midterm (15%): given on June 11, based on material covered in the first three weeks, including grammar, vocabulary and translation. Only written excuses (medical or dean's office) will be accepted, and students excused must take a make-up examination.
5. Final exam (25%): this is also a cumulative exam, scheduled for June 29. The same guidelines apply for excuses as for the midterm.
We plan to cover seven units of Wheelock each week. A detailed description of weekly assignments, depending on our progress, will be available in the beginning of each week.