Intermediate Latin I
Dr. John Harris
LATN 2302.001
Spring 2012
Office: BUS 207a
h: 903-566-4985
w: 903-565-5701
email: jharris@uttyler.edu
Office Hours:
MWF: 9-10, 11-12
TTh: 8:30-9:30, 10:45-12:30
Required Texts
Scudder’s Second Year Latin, revised by Charles Jenney, Jr. Pearson Prentice Hall (1990).
ISBN-10: 013797390X; ISBN-13: 978-0137973903.
Objectives
To continue developing your knowledge of Latin grammar and vocabulary, with particular
focus on translation from Latin to English. This semester, our specific objective is to build a
mastery of complex structures commonly used in Latin prose (such as the subjunctive and
gerundive phrases). We shall continue translating selections from Julius Caesar’s De Bello
Gallico for most of the term; but after Spring Break, we will do short selections from Cicero’s
Disputationes Tusculani and from early Roman prose works such as Cato’s and Varro’s.
Rationale
The great utility in studying this ancient tongue is in acquiring an ability to translate the
texts of Roman authors and in understanding the many deep relationships between Latin
and other European languages. Our concentration this semester will therefore be upon
learning grammar and vocabulary with a view to translating Roman texts of historical
significance, and specifically one of Caesar’s greatest compositions.
Required Work/Grading
This is technically a hybrid course, meaning that regular class meetings will be largely
replaced by online collaboration. I will arrange group meetings far more frequently than
the formally scheduled every-third-week format, but we will retain a high degree of
flexibility.
The experience of previous semesters has taught me that assignments can be very
successfully managed for a class like this through the Internet. I have therefore devised a
method whereby all assignments may be submitted through e-mail exchanges.
Homework (35%): The assignments in this category may be found in our textbook. The
work I desire to see completed for each week is listed under that week on the schedule
below, but it may also be submitted at a later date with no penalty. After about the first half
of the semester, when we are entirely done with our review and our readings are beginning
to grow longer, homework exercises will become lighter, giving way entirely to quizzes
during the final weeks.
Routine Quizzes (60%): These are purely online exercises—I shall not consume precious
class time on them. After every reading assignment, you will find a series of questions
posted on Blackboard which pertain to that reading. The questions will rarely ask for blunt
translation. Rather, they will invite you to analyze the grammar of certain passages, or
perhaps pose several “reading comprehension” questions. You may submit these quizzes to
me electronically at your own speed, or you may hand in a hard copy. Please beware off
falling so far behind that a large backlog of work builds up: our flexible format could be a
snare for those who are not well disciplined.
You may re-take quizzes without penalty for a higher grade if you request to do so AND if
the original quiz and the request are submitted to me within two weeks of the assignment. I
cannot realistically revisit the first week’s material in the last week of classes because a
student is having afterthoughts about his or her performance, so I must be somewhat strict
about deadlines here.
The overall quiz grade is the largest component of your final grade because I think it best
reflects the degree of genuine comprehension you have of the course’s matter, and also (as
the Schedule below reveals) because we shall do more of these exercises than any other
kind of graded activity.
Mid-Term and Final Exams (40%: 20% each): Both of these exams involve some degree
of translation but, like the quizzes, will also ask you to analyze the material. They will be
posted on Blackboard at least a week in advance of the deadline for their completion. As the
schedule below implies, they are really nothing more than exceptionally long and in-depth
quizzes over the eighth and the fifteenth week’s reading. During those weeks, you will have
no other assignments.
Schedule of Assignments
Week One: Caesar’s Commentarii de Bello Gallico, Sections 21-23
January 12-20
“Caesar’s Plans to Surprise…”, “The
Plan Fails”, “Caesar Turns to Bibracte”
Week Two: Caesar’s Commentarii de Bello Gallico, Sections 24-26.
January 23-27
“Both Sides Prepare for Battle”, “The Helvetians
Are Forced Back…”, “Helvetians Are Defeated”
Week Three: Caesar’s Commentarii de Bello Gallico, Sections 27-29
Jan. 30-Feb. 3
“Helvetians Beg for Peace”, “Helvetians Are Sent
Back to Their Homes”, “Number of Helvetians & Allies”
Week Four Caesar’s Commentarii de Bello Gallico, Sections 49-52
February 6-10
“Caesar Builds a Second Camp”, “The Germans Attack
Camp”, “Caesar Forces Decisive Battle”, “Desperate
Fighting”
Week Five Caesar’s Commentarii de Bello Gallico, Sections 53-54, Book II 1-3
February 13-17
“The Germans Are Beaten”, “Campaign Finished”,
“The Belgae Form a League”, “Caesar Enlists Two
Legions”, “Remi Declare Loyalty to Romans”
Week Six: Caesar’s Commentarii de Bello Gallico, Sections 4-6
February 20-24
“Remi Give Caesar Important
Welcomes
The Remi as Allies”, “Belgae Attack Bibrax”
Week Seven Caesar’s Commentarii de Bello Gallico, Sections 7-10
Info”,
“Caesar
Feb. 27-March 2
“Caesar Relieves Bibrax”, “Caesar Strengthens Fortifications”,
“Cavalry Skirmishing”, “Caesar Prevents Belgae…”
Week Eight Caesar’s Commentarii de Bello Gallico, I.21-II.10
March 5-9
Mid-Term Exam drawn from reading assigned above
(questions similar to those on quizzes, but more abundant).
S P R I N G B R E A K
Week Nine Caesar’s Commentarii de Bello Gallico, Sections 11-15
March 19-23
“Belgae Retreat”, “Noviodonum Surrenders”,
“Caesar Marches Against Bellovaci”, “Diviciacus
Pleads for Bellovaci”, “Bellovaci & Ambiani Surrender”
Week Ten Caesar’s Commentarii de Bello Gallico, Sections 16-19
March 26-30
“Nervii & Allies Await Caesar”, “Nervii Plan Surprise
Attack”, “Romans Make Camp”, “Suddenly the
Nervii Emerge”
Week Eleven Caesar’s Commentarii de Bello Gallico, Sections 20-24
April 2-6
“Caesar Moves Swiftly”, “Caesar’s Brief Speech”,
“Difficulties of Roman Position”, “Nervii Gain Roman
Camp”, “Situation Seems Hopeless”
Week Twelve: Caesar’s Commentarii de Bello Gallico, Sections 25-28
April 9-13
“Caesar Rushes into Fight”, “A Double Battle Front”,
“Nervii Are Wiped Out”, “Remnant of Nervii Surrender”
Week Thirteen: Cicero’s Disputationes Tusculani
April 16-20
Selections from Book V, Sections 68-102
Week Fourteen: Cicero’s Disputationes Tusculani, 7-9 (pp. 187-190)
April 23-27
Selections from Book V, Sections 68-102
Week Fifteen: Selections from early Latin prose (Cato and Varro)
April 30-May 3
Final Exam drawn from reading assigned above;
please submit no later than Midnight of May 8.