LATIN 300 A Winter 2022: Introductory Latin, Accelerated
Mon-Fri 11:30 AM-12:20 PM, RAI 109
Instructor: Joseph Bringman
Email: bringj@uw.edu
Office: Denny Hall 400K
Office Hours (via Zoom): Wednesdays 3:00-4:00 PM & by appointment
Course Coördinator: Professor Alexander Hollmann (hollmann@uw.edu)
Welcome to ancient Rome! First year Latin courses give you direct access to the thoughts and writings of the ancient Romans and allow you to explore the dynamic and often dangerous cultural, social and political world in which they wrote. Learning to interpret and use an ancient language requires you to explore unknown areas and think in new ways. Our focus is on Latin as a literary language. Course activities are designed to foster a collegial and collaborative atmosphere and to encourage you to make strong connections between the ancient language and literature we are exploring together and your other interests, passions, and pursuits. Students who complete Latin 300 will be able to enroll in Latin 103 in Spring.
Course Goals:
Through your work in the course this term you will demonstrate that you can:
- Read and translate short selections from ancient Roman authors and compose simple sentences in Latin
- Understand and explain the literary, historical and cultural context of texts by ancient Roman authors
- Analyze and explain Latin grammar and syntax, including subordinate clauses and the uses of the subjunctive
- Analyze and describe the influence of the Latin language on subsequent languages and literatures
By completing the first-year sequence you equip yourself to begin our second year courses (305, 306, 307), in which students begin to read some of the most influential Roman authors and continue to expand their familiarity with Latin. Our second year courses cover selections of Caesar, Horace, and Catullus (305), Cicero and Ovid (306), and Virgil (307).
Required textbook:
- Wheelock's Latin. (7th ed.) This book explains Latin grammar and syntax and contains many short readings from ancient Roman authors and many practice exercises.
- Thirty-Eight Latin Stories (5th ed.). This book contains Latin passages for translation and is designed to accompany Wheelock’s Latin.
- There is also an excellent free online Latin dictionary available via this link: http://logeion.uchicago.edu/.
Course Policies
- Please check the course Canvas page daily; this is how I will communicate with you about pertinent information (such as changes to assignments, or if class needs to be cancelled for some reason).
- For each chapter of Wheelock students will be responsible for learning new forms (verbs, nouns, adjectives, etc.), memorizing the list of vocabulary in the chapter, and translating selected sentences from Latin into English and from English into Latin.
- Attending class is the best way to gain familiarity and facility with the material. If you are not able to come to class, you will find all materials that I use in class posted to our Canvas page. I do not share notes from class, so if you do miss a class, it is your responsibility to get the notes from that day. If you are feeling sick, please do not come to class. Attendance is not a component of your grade.
- Technology: Feel free to use laptops or tablets in class but please do not use them for anything not directly related to class. Appropriate use of a dictionary app or logeion (i.e. not during tests) is welcome.
- All tests and the final are cumulative.
- Make-up Policy (Tests): Students will be able to request a makeup test if they receive a grade of 75% or below. If the student obtains a higher grade, the instructor will change the student’s recorded grade for the test accordingly. Please note that only one makeup test per test is allowed and that it is the student’s responsibility to approach the instructor to request a makeup. The request should be made as soon as possible after receiving the initial grade.
- Email Policy: I will respond to emails by the end of the next working day (which means that if you email me on Friday afternoon, I may not respond until Monday afternoon). All email correspondence should be polite, professional and should include LAT 300 in the subject line. Please keep in mind that our email correspondence is a public record according to RCW 42.56, the Washington State Public Records Act, and I have the right to share said correspondence with my supervisor or other authorities if I think it is necessary (more information at https://itconnect.uw.edu/work/appropriate-use/public-records-act/). I cannot discuss grades during class or via e-mail due to university policy, but only during office hours and by appointment. If a student has questions regarding tests, homework or any other matter, I will be more than happy to discuss that during office hours via Zoom.
- Posting course materials is not allowed without my written authorization.
Grade Scale
|
Percentage Earned |
Grade-Point Equivalent |
Percentage Earned |
Grade-Point Equivalent |
|
100-95 |
4.0 |
74 |
2.1 |
|
94 |
3.9 |
73 |
2.0 |
|
93 |
3.8 |
72 |
1.9 |
|
92 |
3.7 |
71 |
1.8 |
|
91 |
3.6 |
70 |
1.7 |
|
90-89 |
3.5 |
69 |
1.6 |
|
88-87 |
3.4 |
68 |
1.5 |
|
86 |
3.3 |
67 |
1.4 |
|
85 |
3.2 |
66 |
1.3 |
|
84 |
3.1 |
65 |
1.2 |
|
83 |
3.0 |
64 |
1.1 |
|
82 |
2.9 |
63 |
1.0 |
|
81 |
2.8 |
62 |
0.9 |
|
80 |
2.7 |
61 |
0.8 |
|
79 |
2.6 |
60 |
0.7 |
|
78 |
2.5 |
59 and x < 59 |
0.0 |
|
77 |
2.4 |
|
|
|
76 |
2.3 |
|
|
|
75 |
2.2 |
|
|
Grading:
Grades will be calculated on the basis of the following percentages:
Homework Assignments 30%
Canvas Tests (4 total) 50%
Vocabulary Quizzes 5%
Final Project 15%
Homework: Homework assignments will be drawn from Wheelock and 38 Latin Stories, which will be graded on their completion. You will submit the homework on Canvas before class on the day they are due. Please do not consult the internet when completing homework (See note on Academic Integrity on the last page of the syllabus).
Vocabulary Quizzes: There will be weekly short vocabulary quizzes at the start of class on Thursdays.
Tests: There will be four Canvas tests over the course of the quarter. Each test will open at 9:30am on Friday and close at 5pm on Sunday. The tests will be open book and open note. However, there will be a time limit on the tests. I design the tests to take no more than 50 minutes. On test days we will *not* meet for class in-person. Instead you may have that time to take the test if you so choose.
Final Project: This will be an open book translation of a short Latin passage. It will be due on March 16 by 4:30pm, to be submitted on Canvas. More details for this will be distributed as we approach the end of the quarter.
*I reserve the right to modify this syllabus at any time with notification to students*
Important UW policy-related things to know:
UW Face Coverings Policy: The University of Washington requires all persons to wear face
coverings in the classroom and other indoor areas. More information can be found online at
https://www.ehs.washington.edu/system/files/resources/COVID-19-face-cover-policy.pdf
UW’s Religious Accommodations Policy: “Washington state law requires that UW develop a policy for accommodation of student absences or significant hardship due to reasons of faith or conscience, or for organized religious activities. The UW’s policy, including more information about how to request an accommodation, is available at Religious Accommodations Policy (https://registrar.washington.edu/staffandfaculty/religious-accommodations-policy/). Accommodations must be requested within the first two weeks of this course using https://registrar.washington.edu/students/religious-accommodations-request/ , the Religious Accommodations Request form.”
UW’s Student Conduct Code: “The University of Washington Student Conduct Code (WAC 478-121) defines prohibited academic and behavioral conduct and describes how the University holds students accountable as they pursue their academic goals. Allegations of misconduct by students may be referred to the appropriate campus office for investigation and resolution. More information can be found online at https://www.washington.edu/studentconduct/”
UW Disability Resources: Access and Accommodations: Your experience in this class is important to me. If you have already established accommodations with Disability Resources for Students (DRS), please communicate your approved accommodations to me at your earliest convenience so we can discuss your needs in this course.
If you have not yet established services through DRS, but have a temporary health condition or permanent disability that requires accommodations (conditions include but not limited to; mental health, attention-related, learning, vision, hearing, physical or health impacts), you are welcome to contact DRS at 206-543-8924 or uwdrs@uw.edu or disability.uw.edu. DRS offers resources and coordinates reasonable accommodations for students with disabilities and/or temporary health conditions. Reasonable accommodations are established through an interactive process between you, your instructor(s) and DRS. It is the policy and practice of the University of Washington to create inclusive and accessible learning environments consistent with federal and state law.
Academic Integrity: University of Washington students are expected to practice high standards of academic and professional honesty and integrity as outlined here: http://depts.washington.edu/grading/pdf/AcademicResponsibility.pdf