Latin 2  2012-2013
Radnor High School
Dr. Donal McGay
Email (preferred): donal.mcgay@rtsd.org
Phone: 610-293-0855 ext. 3520
Welcome back to school and, more importantly, welcome to Latin 2! The following guidelines
will ensure that you begin the year on bono pede or on the right foot. Please read the course
expectations carefully and share them with your parents. Then digitally sign the end of this document
and email your acknowledgement that you have read and understood the course description and the
policies for this course.
Latin 2 offers a more in-depth study of the language, history, myths and culture of the Romans.
After a review of Latin 1, we will continue reading Latin right away as we follow a typical, yet
fictitious, senatorial Roman family called the Cornelii who lived in the first century AD. Through
each of their episodes, we will learn about the ancient Roman way of life (history, myths, culture, etc.)
while studying the language of the Romans and the connections between Latin and English idiom.
Books, workbooks and materials
Required:
 Ecce Romani IB and IIA- These are state books that you will sign out at the beginning of the year,
COVER, and return at the end of the year.
 a Composition book for all written homework, class work and class notes.
 a section in a 3 ring binder for Latin to house and organize notes and handouts.
 a 3-Prong Portfolio With 2 Pockets to house graded work- this will be kept in the classroom.
 lots of #2 pencils and/or blue or black pens, colored pens (for corrections-green, red, pink, purple, etc.)
 lots of 3” x 5” index cards for vocab and derivatives (get a brick of cards and keep them at home)
**Failure to bring necessary materials to class means you learn less AND reduces your class participation gradeso bring everything EVERY DAY!
Recommended items and websites, in addition to my website:
 A grammar insert or quick reference guide: Spark Notes Latin Grammar, or “Graphic Latin Grammar.”
 Latin- English dictionary: Harper Collins, Bantam, Larousse and Oxford are all good editions.
 www.nd.edu/~archives/latgramm.htm is also a great online Latin/English dictionary.
 www.wordinfo.info is a wonderful resource for vocabulary and Greek and Latin derivatives!!!
ABSENCES (please see the Student Handbook) :
 If you miss class for any reason other than illness/accident, you are expected to be prepared,
with homework complete, on the next class day. I expect you to email me the reason for your
absence no later than the day of the absence. Field trips and other planned absences do not excuse
you from homework and test preparation. Please notify me in advance if you plan to miss class so
that I can give you the work ahead of time.
 Work missed due to an excused absence must be made up in a timely fashion. (Please see
homework policy) The student is responsible to come speak with me to make the necessary arrangements
– although you may think I live under my desk, I don’t and I will not seek you out. 
If a student needs help outside of class he/she should see me ASAP to schedule a meeting. You can
most often find me in the World Language Office.
For updated information and practice opportunities throughout the year, check out the class website,
under Dr. McGay-Latin 2. Navigate to this from rtsd.org via the “Schools” tab, then RHS, then
Teacher Web Pages.
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 A Typical Fortnight Schedule (approximate and subject to change as necessary)
Monday
Tuesday
Block Day: Wed or Thurs
Friday
Vocabulary Quiz + turn in
Translation
Week 1
[HW]
[HW]
Week 2
Day/Workbook
Day [HW]
Translation
Day/Workbook
Day [HW]
vocabulary cards
Grammar & Translation Quiz
[HW]
Quarterly Schedule
First Quarter:
Review of Latin 1
Unit IV: chapters 18-21
begin Unit V: chapters 22-23
Project: Ancient Dress-Up Day or TBD
Culture Day
[HW]
Third Quarter:
Unit VII: chapters 28-33
National Latin Exam + Medusa Myth Exam
Project: Annual Philadelphia Classical
Society Competition
Second Quarter:
Unit V: chapter 24
Unit VI: chapters 25-27
Project: TBD, but begin Annual Philadelphia
Fourth Quarter:
Unit VIII: chapters 34-37
Unit IX: chapters 38-39, time permitting
Project: TBD
Final Examination
Classical Society Competition
Midterm Examination up to Ch. 27
Grade Distribution
Each Quarter:
60% - “Assessments” : Quizzes and Tests,Vocabulary Cards, Projects/Presentations, etc.
20% - Homework and Class work
20% - Class Participation and Behavior
Assessments: Every Block Day we will have an assessment. Typically for each chapter, the first week there
will be a vocabulary/derivative quiz, and the next week a quiz on that chapter’s grammatical
concepts, forms, reading comprehension passages, and translations. Cultural questions may
appear on any quiz. There may also be a test per each unit, following the completion of each
review chapter in the textbook.
Projects & Presentations: Time permitting, one project or presentation will be assigned each quarter. These
may include a Dress-Up As an Ancient Day, the annual Philadelphia Classical Society project,
poster projects, models, PowerPoints, and others. Grades for projects will be counted in the
“Assessment” category.
Vocabulary Cards: For each chapter, you must make vocabulary cards from the prepared lists ON-LINE as per
the instructions on the vocabulary card info sheet. If you score an A on a vocab quiz, you are
exempt from making cards for the next chapter. 
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*Honor Code*:
In addition to observing the honor code for quizzes, tests and all assigned work both
during and outside of class, I will refuse to write a college recommendation for any student
found cheating or cutting a Latin class. Initial here:
Homework is a necessary tool for reinforcing language concepts, and for preparing for
assessments. Think of HW as practicing Latin, much in the same way you would practice a
musical instrument or practice drills in sports. HW is never busy work! All HW MUST be
written in the composition book, unless otherwise stated. HW that should be in the
composition book, but isn’t will be subject to a penalty.
Scoring: Homework/Class work is worth 20% of your grade. Each HW/CW will have a point
value, typically one point per assignment although some assignments may be more valuable. So,
for example, if you properly complete 45 out 50 HW/CW, then your HW grade is 90% for this
category. No credit will be given for missed, late, unexcused or not properly done homework.
“Properly” done HW means [1] the HW is ready on time at the beginning of class, and [2] all of
the HW was attempted. No late HW will be accepted. And again, if you don’t remember what
the assignment is, check the Latin 2 HW page on the web!!!
Homework:
HW FORMAT: The top line of every HW should include the following information:
Exercise #....page number(s)…due date
Homework Webpage: Follow your class Homework Page on my website.
Participation and Behavior: All students are expected to behave like good citizens and participate actively in
class. This includes appropriate student behavior: e.g., arriving to class on time, sitting in your
assigned seat, being eager to stay in class (instead of looking for reasons to leave), volunteering
answers (always by raising a hand), asking questions, giving examples, voicing concerns or
uncertainty, etc. It’s OK to be brilliant, and it’s also OK to need clarification during a lesson, but it is
not OK to keep silent when something doesn’t make sense. Remember, if you do not understand
something, there is a strong possibility that someone else in the class also does not understand (there
are no “dumb” questions!). We will have an encouraging and fruitful class environment in which
students will not be afraid to contribute and ask questions.
Scoring: Scoring for Participation and Behavior is very similar to the method for grading HW, in that each
student must earn points out of a category of total points. Students earn points for active
classroom participation and for behavior that is respectful to other students, to the teacher, to the
class lesson, materials and the physical classroom.
Minimize the times you need to leave the classroom to go to the bathroom, locker, nurse, etc. You should not
need to excuse yourself more than four times per quarter. Sign out on the list. No food or drink in class,
especially in disposable plastic bottles. Let’s save the environment!
 Cell phone use during instructional time is a distraction and means you are not giving your full,
undivided attention to the study of Latin. It also means you are not participating in class. Ergo, cell phone
use is prohibited in class and will incur the automatic loss of your daily participation-behavior grade.
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How to Succeed in Latin: A Summary of the Course Description and Expectations
1. Vocabulary. Stay on top of the vocabulary per chapter. Learning the vocabulary will help
you in all other facets of the course, and thus, your vocabulary grade on quizzes and cards is
a good indicator of whether you are mastering Latin. Also, learning the Latin vocabulary will
expand your English vocabulary, and prepare you for the SAT’s and in writing and making
formal speeches in other classes. When learning a new word, try to visualize the word or think
of some mnemonic association.
Vocab Quizzes on Block Days: There are lists in each chapter in the textbook, and I will give
you unit vocabulary lists. In addition, I have vocabulary lists with derivatives on my teacher
webpage: MAKE VOCABULARY CARDS from my vocabulary lists on my teacher web page.
Feel free to download and save these lists. There are extra credit opportunities in making the
cards: you get an extra point for adding macrons. See the special handout “How To Make
Vocabulary Cards” for more directions.
2. Grammar/Translations on Block Days: To do well on grammar assessments, make sure you
understand the chapter worksheets. Chapter worksheets, which will offer practice of forms,
grammar, and translations, will be very similar (not the same) to the actual quizzes. I also
suggest making grammar flash cards to prepare for these Block Day assessments.
3. Homework: Stay on top of doing homework! Homework is a necessary tool for reinforcing
language concepts and for preparing for assessments. Think of HW as practicing Latin, much
in the same way you would practice a musical instrument or practice drills in sports. If you
need to check what the HW is, look at the HW webpage dedicated to your class on my
teacher website.
All written Homework should be put in the composition book, unless otherwise directed.
4. Composition Book… A great way to keep organized!: All written homework and all class
notes, that are not on a worksheet, should be written in the composition book. The comp
book will be another great resource for reviewing for assessments.
5. My webpage: In addition to the HW page, my webpage presents review exercises,
games, resources and links to other resources.
6. Class Participation: Get involved whether you understand the material or not. Please ask
questions when something is not clear. In addition, when we are going over readings and
translations, I am looking for active involvement.

Every class is worth one point (like HW) – you have to impress me to earn the point for the
class. You are in control of this grade, though ultimately the teacher holds final judgment.
A brief, and thus not exhaustive, list of appropriate behavior.
Active Participation/Behavior that
Non-Participation/Behavior that does NOT
impresses
impress
1. Active Participation during class
1. Holding conversations
2. Active Participation in group
2. Cross Talking
activities
3. Using a cellphone
3. Being seated on time
4. Unauthorized use of technology
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4. Being prepared for class with
books, writing implements,
composition book and homework
5. Raising hand
6. Following Directions
7. Paying attention
8. Asking questions
9. Good attitude/Enthusiasm
10. Signing out when leaving class
11. Listening to others
12. Seeking me outside of class for
extra help
13. Waiting for the bell before packing
up to leave
5. Not raising hand
6. Not following directions
7. Asking to leave class excessively
8. Not paying attention
9. Putting head on desk
10. Reading non-Latin materials or
books
11. Being negative or antagonistic
towards self, other students and the
teacher
12. Disruptive behavior
13. Being destructive to property
(school’s, other students’, teacher’s,
personal)
14. Discussing grades in class
15. Packing up before the bell rings
Copy and Paste the following and send it to me in email:
We have read this course description and understand the requirements and policies of the Latin 2 CP course.
_____________________________________
Student’s Name
_______________
Date
_____________________________________
Parent’s/Guardian’s Name
_______________
Date
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