CL 105: Elementary Latin
MW 10:10 - 11:05 a.m.
Scribner Library 442
TuTh 9:40 - 11:00 a.m.LI 442
www.skidmore.edu/classics/courses/2000fall/cl105
NOTE: This printable copy of the course syllabus is accurate as of September 5th, 2000.
It is your responsibility to stay informed of course events and policies through the online
version, which will be updated constantly.
Overview.
Latin was originally an ancient Italian dialect. Common to Latium, the area around Rome, it
superseded other dialects as the Romans conquered the peninsula. Similarly, as the Romans
established an empire throughout Europe, Asia, and Africa, their language and culture spread
even farther. Lying at the heart of Western tradition, Latin is the foundation of Italian, Spanish,
French, and the other Romance languages, and has influenced greatly the development of
English.
Objectives.
The specific goals for this course are as follows: (1) to learn basic Latin grammar, syntax,
and vocabulary; (2) to understand the composition and style of Latin prose; and (3) to gain
access to the historical and cultural contexts in which the language flourished. Furthermore,
students will acquire universal skills of analysis and critical thinking, and will communicate
these skills both in class and in written exercises.
Instructor:
Professor Dan Curley
Office: 210 Ladd Hall
Hours: MWF 11:10 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Phone: x. 5463
Email: dcurley@skidmore.edu
Textbooks:
 Wheelock, F.M. Wheelock's Latin. 6th ed. Revised by R.A. LaFleur. HarperCollins
Publishers.
 Groton, A.H. and J.M. May. 38 Latin Stories. 5th ed. revised. Bolchazy-Carducci
Publishers, Inc.
Course requirements:
Class participation (20%). Class participation involves more than just attendance. You must
also keep up with the readings and assignments, and participate actively during our sessions.
Furthermore, I expect that you will come to class on time and that you will maintain an
environment that promotes the exchange of ideas.
CL 105: Elementary Latin
2
Course requirements (continued):
Assignments (20%). For almost every class you will be asked to prepare a translation
assignment — whether Latin to English or vice versa. Although we might review an entire
assignment in class, I will still collect your work at the end of each session. It is therefore
necessary that you follow the official CL 105 format (as detailed on the course website) for your
translations. Assignments that do not conform will not be accepted.
Examinations (40%). There will be two examinations, a midterm and a final. The midterm
will be held in class on Tuesday, October 24th. The final is scheduled for Monday, December
18th. Each exam is worth 20% of your final grade.
Quizzes (20%). Brief quizzes (around 15 - 20 minutes) will be administered every Tuesday.
As in previous terms, I will allow students the opportunity to correct their mistakes on quizzes
for half credit back. (This policy does not apply to exams.)
Be sure to consult the online Timetable to see when the assignments, quizzes, exams, and other
events have been scheduled.
Strategies for success.
While every student must approach Latin in his or her own way, it will prove worthwhile to
approach the language in an organized and systematic manner. Below are some strategies to
consider for success in CL 105.
Keep up with the workload. As simplistic as it sounds, this is perhaps the most useful
strategy, as well as the most difficult to follow. Our pace, on average, will be about one chapter
of Wheelock's text every two classes. This means that you should work with the language every
day. Don't save it all for the night before.
Review regularly. Again, this seems obvious, but regular review of past readings and
exercises, as well as essential grammar and vocabulary, will save you much trouble later on. I
recommend flash cards or some other mnemonic aid for vocabulary words.
Read, don't translate. That is, rather than memorizing an English translation of every
sentence or passage, focus on putting all of the pieces together in Latin. The result will be a
closer focus on the Latin — which is, after all, the primary objective of the course.
Compare, but don't confuse. Parallels can be drawn between Latin and other languages,
particularly English and Greek, and you may find such analogies useful. However, Latin is very
much its own animal, and you should take care to approach each chapter with an open mind and
a fresh perspective.
I hope that you will find CL 105 to be a challenging yet rewarding experience.
F O R T V N A
O M N I B V S
B O N A