GREEK II
(LCL 2152)
Professor:
Office:
Telephone:
E-mail:
Classes:
Office Hours:
Jitse H.F. Dijkstra
DMS, room 10110 (10th floor)
562-5800 (ext. 1325)
jdijkstr@uottawa.ca
Tuesday, 1:00-2:20 (KED B004)
Thursday, 11:30-12:50 (SMD 429)
Friday, 11:30-12:50 (DMS 8161)
Thursday, 1:00-2:00
Friday, 1:00-2:00
or by appointment
Aim of the course
Introduction to the basics of ancient Greek grammar and vocabulary, in continuation of
Greek I.
Text Book
H. Hansen, G.M. Quinn, Greek: An Intensive Course (New York, Fordham University
Press, 19872). Available at Benjamin Books, 122 Osgoode (just east of King Edward).
Price: ca. $55 + GST.
Evaluation
Assignments:
Quizzes
Tests:
Final exam:
10 %
20 %
40 %
30 %
Preparation
The study of Greek requires consistent, though not excessive work. It is far better to do a
little each day than a lot the night before class. So set aside a certain amount of time at
the same time every day and to review. This will make studying for the tests and exams
much easier, and thus give you more time for other, more difficult courses.
Classes
Classes usually take the form of review of assignment and/or vocabulary, discussion of
new grammar and vocabulary, and practice of that new information by doing drills.
Class attendance, assignments and quizzes
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Class attendance and active participation in class are mandatory. This course is an
intensive course that is given three times a week and requires steady preparation for each
class (see above). This means that if you have missed a class, you will automatically be
behind and it is very difficult when learning ancient languages to catch up. You therefore
have to be absolutely present at each class. Failure to attend will result in an INC and
exceptions for missed classes will only be made if there is a good reason for it (doctor’s
note required).
You must also prepare the required assignments and quizzes. This will be ensured
by checking whether you have done the exercises assigned as homework before each
class or handing them in as an assignment. If you have not done the exercises assigned as
homework or you have done them incompletely, 0.1 (out of 10) will be distracted from
your assignment mark. In addition, you will be regularly required to hand in assignments,
the average of which will constitute 10 % of the final mark. You will also be assigned
paradigms and/or parts of the vocabulary list for each class. These are regularly tested in
quizzes at the beginning of the Friday class. The average of all marks for quizzes results
in 20 % of your final mark. You can miss one assignment or quiz without penalty with a
valid reason (in other words, missing an assignment or quiz without valid reason will
result in an INC!).
Tests
You must learn the vocabulary, grammar and vocabulary notes as you come to it. You
must take time each week to review what you have learned. All you should do for each
test and the final exam is to review. If you have to study, you have not been reviewing
properly. Clues for this is your progress with the assignments (do you make a lot of
mistakes? Do you have to look up words and grammar from previous chapters?) and your
marks on the quizzes (are they below what you had expected?). If so, you need to stop
and review. There is nothing wrong with going back and checking your assignments once
they are done, but you should not have to look up material from previous chapters as you
go.
The assignments and quizzes serve to aid you in the review process. After each
completed unit, a test will be given to review the materials learned so far. The frequent
testing will give you a good idea of where you stand in your progress in learning Greek
(remember that the average of the tests is worth more than the final exam!). The focus of
each test will be on the unit that has just been completed, but it will be understood that
you know the vocabulary and grammar of previous units and so in fact the tests are
cumulative. This will be stimulated by the review of previous units in the textbook and
assignments to review grammar and/or words by the professor. If you still feel that you
have forgotten words or aspects of grammar, then review.
Final exam
A cumulative, final exam (30% of final mark) will be given at the end of the course,
which will test all the knowledge acquired throughout term.
Course schedule
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The homework and dates of the tests depend on how much progress we make in class and
are therefore impossible to predict. Assignments and quizzes will be announced in the
previous class, the date of tests will be announced as early as possible so that the student
has enough time to prepare.
Student Support
The
professor
will
put
the
course
outline
on
his
website
at
http://artsites.uottawa.ca/dijkstra/ (choose ‘courses’ and then ‘Greek II’) throughout the
semester, as well as any supporting materials for the course. The professor is also
available through e-mail for any questions or to make an appointment.
Other Recommendations
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Making note cards with Greek forms on one side and English on the other is a
good way to review, esp. if you have to spend time on the bus coming to and
going from campus. You can do Greek to English or English to Greek.
Make sure you regularly review your assignments, vocabulary and tests: check
each one over when you get it back or it is discussed in class; make sure that you
understand why something was wrong; and make sure you never get the same
thing wrong twice.
I cannot teach you Greek. No one can teach you Greek. You must learn it. It is all
up to you. All I can do is show you what to learn, organize it, help you to
understand it, give you practice, correct your mistakes, and give you hints and
shortcuts on how to learn.
Come and see me as soon as you are having any problems. Do not wait for the
first test, do not wait until the end of the month, but come and see me and we will
find out what the problems are. As said, once you are getting behind, it is very
difficult to catch up again: so do not wait!
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