Intermediate Latin I  Dr. John Harris       Office: BUS 207aLATN 2302.001                                              h: 903-566-4985Spring 2012 w: 903-565-5701     

              email: jharris@uttyler.eduOffice Hours:

MWF: 9-10, 11-12 TTh:  8:30-9:30, 10:45-12:30

Required TextsScudder’s Second Year Latin, revised by Charles Jenney, Jr. Pearson Prentice Hall (1990). ISBN-10: 013797390X; ISBN-13: 978-0137973903.

ObjectivesTo continue developing your knowledge of Latin grammar and vocabulary, with particular focus on translation from Latin to English. This semester, our specific objective is to build a mastery of complex structures commonly used in Latin prose (such as the subjunctive and gerundive phrases). We shall continue translating selections from Julius Caesar’s De Bello Gallico for most of the term; but after Spring Break, we will do short selections from Cicero’s Disputationes Tusculani and from early Roman prose works such as Cato’s and Varro’s.

RationaleThe great utility in studying this ancient tongue is in acquiring an ability to translate the texts of Roman authors and in understanding the many deep relationships between Latin and other European languages. Our concentration this semester will therefore be upon learning grammar and vocabulary with a view to translating Roman texts of historical significance, and specifically one of Caesar’s greatest compositions.

Required Work/GradingThis is technically a hybrid course, meaning that regular class meetings will be largely replaced by online collaboration. I will arrange group meetings far more frequently than the formally scheduled every-third-week format, but we will retain a high degree of flexibility. The experience of previous semesters has taught me that assignments can be very successfully managed for a class like this through the Internet. I have therefore devised a method whereby all assignments may be submitted through e-mail exchanges.

Homework (35%): The assignments in this category may be found in our textbook. The work I desire to see completed for each week is listed under that week on the schedule below, but it may also be submitted at a later date with no penalty. After about the first half of the semester, when we are entirely done with our review and our readings are beginning to grow longer, homework exercises will become lighter, giving way entirely to quizzes during the final weeks.

Routine Quizzes (60%): These are purely online exercises—I shall not consume precious class time on them. After every reading assignment, you will find a series of questions posted on Blackboard which pertain to that reading. The questions will rarely ask for blunt translation. Rather, they will invite you to analyze the grammar of certain passages, or perhaps pose several “reading comprehension” questions. You may submit these quizzes to

me electronically at your own speed, or you may hand in a hard copy. Please beware off falling so far behind that a large backlog of work builds up: our flexible format could be a snare for those who are not well disciplined. You may re-take quizzes without penalty for a higher grade if you request to do so AND if the original quiz and the request are submitted to me within two weeks of the assignment. I cannot realistically revisit the first week’s material in the last week of classes because a student is having afterthoughts about his or her performance, so I must be somewhat strict about deadlines here. The overall quiz grade is the largest component of your final grade because I think it best reflects the degree of genuine comprehension you have of the course’s matter, and also (as the Schedule below reveals) because we shall do more of these exercises than any other kind of graded activity.

Mid-Term and Final Exams (40%: 20% each): Both of these exams involve some degree of translation but, like the quizzes, will also ask you to analyze the material. They will be posted on Blackboard at least a week in advance of the deadline for their completion. As the schedule below implies, they are really nothing more than exceptionally long and in-depth quizzes over the eighth and the fifteenth week’s reading. During those weeks, you will have no other assignments.

Schedule of Assignments

Week One: Caesar’s Commentarii de Bello Gallico, Sections 21-23January 12-20 “Caesar’s Plans to Surprise…”, “The

Plan Fails”, “Caesar Turns to Bibracte”

Week Two: Caesar’s Commentarii de Bello Gallico, Sections 24-26.January 23-27 “Both Sides Prepare for Battle”, “The Helvetians

Are Forced Back…”, “Helvetians Are Defeated”

Week Three: Caesar’s Commentarii de Bello Gallico, Sections 27-29Jan. 30-Feb. 3 “Helvetians Beg for Peace”, “Helvetians Are Sent

Back to Their Homes”, “Number of Helvetians & Allies”

Week Four Caesar’s Commentarii de Bello Gallico, Sections 49-52February 6-10 “Caesar Builds a Second Camp”, “The Germans Attack

Camp”, “Caesar Forces Decisive Battle”, “DesperateFighting”

Week Five Caesar’s Commentarii de Bello Gallico, Sections 53-54, Book II 1-3February 13-17 “The Germans Are Beaten”, “Campaign Finished”,

“The Belgae Form a League”, “Caesar Enlists TwoLegions”, “Remi Declare Loyalty to Romans”

Week Six: Caesar’s Commentarii de Bello Gallico, Sections 4-6February 20-24 “Remi Give Caesar Important Info”, “Caesar Welcomes

The Remi as Allies”, “Belgae Attack Bibrax”

Week Seven Caesar’s Commentarii de Bello Gallico, Sections 7-10

Feb. 27-March 2 “Caesar Relieves Bibrax”, “Caesar Strengthens Fortifications”,“Cavalry Skirmishing”, “Caesar Prevents Belgae…”

Week Eight Caesar’s Commentarii de Bello Gallico, I.21-II.10March 5-9

Mid-Term Exam drawn from reading assigned above (questions similar to those on quizzes, but more abundant).

S P R I N G B R E A K

Week Nine Caesar’s Commentarii de Bello Gallico, Sections 11-15March 19-23 “Belgae Retreat”, “Noviodonum Surrenders”,

“Caesar Marches Against Bellovaci”, “DiviciacusPleads for Bellovaci”, “Bellovaci & Ambiani Surrender”

Week Ten Caesar’s Commentarii de Bello Gallico, Sections 16-19March 26-30 “Nervii & Allies Await Caesar”, “Nervii Plan Surprise

Attack”, “Romans Make Camp”, “Suddenly theNervii Emerge”

Week Eleven Caesar’s Commentarii de Bello Gallico, Sections 20-24April 2-6 “Caesar Moves Swiftly”, “Caesar’s Brief Speech”,

“Difficulties of Roman Position”, “Nervii Gain RomanCamp”, “Situation Seems Hopeless”

Week Twelve: Caesar’s Commentarii de Bello Gallico, Sections 25-28April 9-13 “Caesar Rushes into Fight”, “A Double Battle Front”,

“Nervii Are Wiped Out”, “Remnant of Nervii Surrender”

Week Thirteen: Cicero’s Disputationes TusculaniApril 16-20 Selections from Book V, Sections 68-102

Week Fourteen: Cicero’s Disputationes Tusculani, 7-9 (pp. 187-190)April 23-27 Selections from Book V, Sections 68-102

Week Fifteen: Selections from early Latin prose (Cato and Varro)April 30-May 3

Final Exam drawn from reading assigned above; please submit no later than Midnight of May 8.