CL 201: Intermediate Latin — Caesar
MWF 10:10 - 11:05 a.m.
www.skidmore.edu/classics/courses/2001spring/cl201/
Skidmore College
TLC 301
NOTE: This printable copy of the course syllabus is accurate as of January 27, 2001.
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superseded other dialects as the Romans conquered the peninsula.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.
In this course students continue their acquisition of Latin grammar, syntax, and vocabulary
by reading the commentaries of Julius Caesar on his own campaigns against the people of Gaul.
We shall devote some time to discussing the nature of Caesar’s writings, as well as the peoples
he onquered — particularly the Druids, by whose mysterious ways Caesar was both fascinated
and appalled.
Objectives.
The specific goals for this course are as follows: (1) to learn intermediate Latin grammar,
syntax, and vocabulary; (2) to understand the composition and style of Latin prose; (3) to
understand the form, content, and scope of Caesar’s writings; and (4) to gain access to the
historical and cultural contexts in which Latin 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 11:15 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.
 Caesar: De Bello Gallico I. Edited by Colin Ewan. Bristol. 1993.
 Caesar: De Bello Gallico VI. Edited by E. C. Kennedy. Bristol. 1982.
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Course requirements:
Class participation (30%). 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.
Assignments (10%). For the classes in which we explore Wheelock's text 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. When we turn to Caesar, however, I generally will not ask you to turn in translations of
the readings. Rather, I will assess your understanding of the Latin on the basis of your
performance in class (which is why the Class participation component is larger than last term).
Whenever a written assignment is due, it is necessary that you follow the official CL 201 format
(see website) for your translations. Assignments that do not conform will not be accepted.
Examinations (30%). The only exam in this class will be the final, which is scheduled for
Monday, May 7, from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. The traditional midterm exam will be replaced by larger
quizzes see below).
Quizzes (30%). Periodic take-home quizzes will be the norm in this class. The quizzes
themselves will ask you to read the text of Caesar in detail — exact details will be given when
the quizzes are handed out. (One note in advance: You will be expected to work entirely on
your own.) Unlike my policy in previous terms, students will not be given the opportunity to
correct their mistakes on quizzes, due to the fact that they are take-home exercises. The one
exception to all of this is the very first quiz, which will be given after our formal exploration of
Wheelock. The quiz will be taken in class, and you will have the chance to correct your mistakes
for half credit back.
Consult the Timetable to see when the assignments, quizzes, exam, 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 201.
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 a rather large
paragraph of Caesarean Latin per class. 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.
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Strategies for success (continued).
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 201 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