BOSTON LATIN ACADEMY
LATIN 3 HONORS
2015–2016 SYLLABUS
Course Information
Instructor Information
Prerequisite: passing grade in Latin 2 or Latin 2B Instructor: Mr. Richard Freed
Course Text: Latin for Americans III (LFA 3)
Room/Office: 326
Required Materials: binder, paper, pens, pencils,
a 4-color (red/green/black/blue) click pen (or
colored pens)
Office hours: Tu, W, Th 1:40-2:30
(and by appointment)
Email: rfreed@bostonpublicschools.org
Latin 3 Honors Overview:
Students in Latin 3 Honors will read prose and poetry in the original Latin. Students will read, analyze,
translate, and understand the language which Cicero, Pliny the Younger, Vergil, and Ovid wrote and the culture in
which they lived. By reading the words that these authors wrote 2000 years ago, students will be able to better
understand their own life and times in comparison. We study the past in order to understand the present and to
make a better future.
Students will be expected to take the Latin 3 (Prose) National Latin Exam in March. Students will be well
prepared to take the SAT II subject test in June, and are strongly encouraged to do so. Students will be well
prepared to continue to AP Latin next year, and are strongly encouraged to do so.
Latin 3 Honors Essential Questions:
Analysis: How do you correctly analyze a Latin word in the text? (Morphology)
Syntax: How do you connect the form of a word to the correct usage?
Translation: How do you translate using the correct analysis and syntax?
Comprehension: What does the text mean and how do you know that?
Connection: Why do we read this text? How does it connect to modern times?
Writing Craft: What tools do writers use to persuade others and or enhance their work? Why?
Historical Significance: Why is this author and work significant in Roman / world history?
Latin 3 Honors Objectives/Outcomes:
Students will be able:
 to recognize the form of each word in a sentence
 to recognize the use of each word in a sentence
 to translate the Latin correctly according to the analysis and syntax
 to summarize the meaning of the text in their own words and show evidence by citing Latin
 to relate ancient themes and ideas to modern day events and products
 to understand the craft of writing rhetoric and poetry
 to connect the Latin passage and its author to its place in Roman and world history
Unit/Term Guide
Topics Covered
Term
How do we know about the Ancient
World?
Epic: Founding a Nation
The Word: Speaking & Writing
Mythology & Art
Pliny the Younger’s letters on
Vesuvius, Christians, etc.
Vergil’s Aeneid (selections)
Cicero’s oration In Catilinam I
Ovid (selections)
Term I
Term II
Term III
Term IV
Latin 3 Honors
GRADING POLICY
Homework: The goal of homework is to reinforce what was learned in class, allow for individual practice, and
prepare for the next class. Consequently, homework is assigned every night in this class, and should take on
average 30–60 minutes to complete. As an honors class, allow approximately 50% more time for this class’s
assignments. A homework assignment may be written work, reading and taking notes, reviewing for an exam or
quiz, or preparing for presentations. There may be issues that are unusually difficult. In this case, you need to
write down what you know, what you have tried and the questions you will ask the following day. Daily
homework is due at the beginning of class on the next day of school. Homework will be checked frequently, and
collected occasionally. Work missed due to absence must be made up within 5 days, in accordance with school
policy. Homework might not always be collected/evaluated, but students are still expected to complete all
assigned tasks to the best of their ability.
Class work: Class work is a task or activity that is done in class, either jointly or individually by students. If
students do not complete a class work assignment, they may be asked to complete that assignment at a later time
or for homework. Class work might not always be collected/evaluated, but students are still expected to complete
all assigned tasks to the best of their ability. Daily attendance and participation are mandatory and essential to
success in this class. The classwork grade includes written assignments collected in class, as well as active and
constructive participation.
Assessments: The final grade for each term will be based on both formative and summative
assessments. Formative assessments may include, but are not limited to, homework assignments, class work and
notebook checks. Summative assessments may include, but are not limited to, portfolios, projects, quizzes and
tests. Additionally, there will be common assessments given throughout the year.
Projects: Independent student-generated projects will accompany the coursework. Projects must be turned in, on
time, to the teacher. Late projects will lose twenty-five percentage points for each day late. The student may be
called upon to present his/her project to the class, for a presentation grade. The tentative schedule of projects is as
follows:
Unit/Term Guide
Project
Term
How do we know about the Ancient
World?
Epic: Founding a Nation
Create a replica of an ancient
building
Compare the foundation stories of
Rome & the United States
Give a speech on an important
modern-day issue
Explore the depiction of a Classical
myth in later art and music
Term I
The Word: Speaking & Writing
Mythology & Art
Detailed break down of grades is as follows:
Homework
Class work
Tests & Quizzes
Project
Total
15 %
15 %
50 %
20 %
100 %
Term II
Term III
Term IV
STANDARD TERM GRADING POLICY
The following grading policy provides a set of guidelines that ensures uniformity but allows for flexibility among
individual teachers.
●
Course grades must be supported by recorded numerical and letter grades.
●
Students must be given a numerical grade at the end of each term.
●
If a student has more than 3 unexcused absences in a term, he/she will receive a grade of “No Credit”
(NC) even if the student would have otherwise earned a passing grade. If he/she has not earned a passing
grade, he/she will receive an “F”. Note that skipping class and unexcused tardiness resulting in missing
class are considered unexcused absences.
●
Until an absence is excused, all work assigned during that time of absence will not receive credit. For
absence and tardy policies, please refer to the student handbook.
●
All make-up tests shall receive full credit and must be completed within 5 (five) school days, unless there
are extenuating circumstances.
Student Expectations: Observe all school rules with focus on the following:
● Students are expected to be in the classroom on time.
● Follow classroom procedures.
● Treat other students and teachers with respect and care.
● Be cooperative and not disruptive.
● Study and complete assigned work.
● Learn and master required content.
Expected Consequences: Warnings, Detentions, Parent Contact (as needed depending on situation), Removal
from Class (when necessary).
Parent Expectations:
● Read through course expectations and assignments.
● Monitor students’ progress by way of the Student Informational System.
● Connect directly with the teacher when there is a concern or issue via phone or email.
Plagiarism, Cheating, and Academic Integrity
Plagiarism is the practice of copying words, sentences, images, or ideas for use in written or oral assessments
without giving proper credit to the source. Cheating is defined as the giving or receiving of illegal help on
anything that has been determined by the teacher to be an individual effort. Both are considered serious offenses
and will significantly affect your course grade. Please refer to the Student Code of Conduct for additional
information.
Be aware that I have read most of the available translations. I can easily detect the use of online “translation”
tools. Do not cheat yourself by attempting to memorize a translation, or, worse yet, plagiarize it.
Latin 3 Honors (Freed) 2015–2016
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