2014-2015 Latin 3 Advanced

Course Description

Latin 3 Advanced

Contact info:

Dr. Donal McGay

Radnor High School

Email: donal.mcgay@rtsd.org (preferred)

Phone: 610-293-0855 ext. 3660

Curriculum Vitae

B.A. in Greek and Latin, cum laude, Gettysburg College

M.A. and Ph.D. in Classics, Fordham University.

Dissertation: The Manuscript Tradition of Demosthenes:

Oration 54, Against Conon.

Researched in many European libraries, incl. The Vatican Library

Lived in Rome for one year (2000)– visited all major architectural

sites and collected a digital photo library of 4, 000 + images

2 for 1: Wife is also a professor of Classics at Villanova Univ.

Summer of 1998: studied at the American School of Classical

Studies at Athens

Used to be live-in caretaker and docent of historic house

museum in The Bronx, NY. The Valentine-Varian House. (next page)

13th century

manuscript

Welcome back to school and, more importantly,

welcome to Latin 3! 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 3 offers a more in-depth study of the language,

history, myths and culture of the Romans. After a

review of Latin 2, 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 II - This is a state book that you will sign out at the

beginning of the year, COVER, and return at the end of the year.

A composition book (preferably college-ruled) for all written

homework, classnotes, and observation lists.

A 3 ring binder with a Latin section to organize notes and handouts.

(Students will receive many handouts.) Suggestion: (1) get a 1½ inch binder

with college-ruled paper (Students could divide the binders by: vocab

handouts, grammar handouts, or by chapters, etc.);

(2) Plastic sheet protectors for handouts that are referred to often.

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 vocabulary 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 grade- so bring everything EVERY

DAY!

Recommended Materials and websites:

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.

www.quizlet.com; www.youtube.com : especially good for

vocab.

Quarterly Schedule

First Quarter:

Review of Latin 2

Unit VII: chapters 31-33

Unit VIII: chapters 34-37

Project: TBD, 20 Fun Facts or

Ancient Dress-Up Day

Second Quarter:

Unit IX: chapter 38-42

Project: Saturnalia Scroll, but also

begin Annual Philadelphia

Classical Society Competition

Midterm Examination up to Ch.

42*

* = subject to

change

Third Quarter:

Unit X: chapters 43-45

Unit XI: chapters 46-47*

National Latin Exam + Medusa Myth Exam

Project: Annual Philadelphia Classical Society Competition

Fourth Quarter:

Unit XI: chapters 48-49*

Unit XII: chapters 50-54*

Project: TBD

Final Examination up to Ch. 54*

Monday Tuesday Block Day Friday

Week 1 Translation

Day/Work

book Day

[HW]

[HW] Vocabulary Quiz + turn in vocabulary cards

[HW]

Week 2 Translation Day/Work

book Day

[HW]

[HW] Grammar & Translation Quiz

(turn in optional grammar cards)

Culture

Day [HW]

•A Typical Bi-weekly schedule

(approximate and subject to change as necessary)

Grade Distribution

Each Quarter:

65% - “Assessments” : Grammar/Translation Quizzes and Tests, +

Projects/Presentations, Vocabulary Cards and Vocabulary

Quizzes/Tests (Wednesdays)

20% - Homework and Class work

15 % - 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 following

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.

Optional Grammar Cards

For each chapter, you may make grammar cards

for up to 5% extra credit on that chapter’s

grammar quiz. Grammar cards should be made

from the “Grammar card” documents.

Projects & Presentations:

Time permitting, one project or presentation will be

assigned each quarter. These will include a Dress-

Up As an Ancient Day, the annual Philadelphia

Classical Society Project, poster projects, models,

PowerPoints, and others.

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.

*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.

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. 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 HW 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 18

out 20 HW/CW, then your HW grade is 90% for this

category. In addition, I will give each HW a letter grade as

feedback on the quality of the work. 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!!!

How to Identify a HW in the

Composition Book

HW FORMAT: The top line of every

HW should include the following

information:

Exercise #....page number(s)…due date

Homework Webpage

Your class Homework Page on my Website

you have a special HW page dedicated to your

class. See Schoology.

There should never be any blank stares, mouths

agape, protests or other displays of confusion

over what the assigned HW is. You should

never be at a loss since we have this page !!!

Ignorance is not an excuse.

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 for Participation and

Behavior Each student will begin the marking period with an

80% participation grade. This grade will be increased by

active participation that greatly impresses the teacher, or

will be reduced due to disruptive or inappropriate

behavior or by lack of preparedness.

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, though I will grant you six. Sign out on the

list. No food or drink in class, especially in disposable

plastic bottles. Let’s save the environment!

Class Participation:

No character Assassination…

Technology

Unauthorized use of

technology during instructional time

(taking out cell phones, playing games

on devices, etc.) means you are not

giving your full, undivided attention to

the study of Latin. It also means you

are not participating in class. Ergo,

such infractions will incur the

automatic loss of 10 points from your

daily participation-behavior grade.

Culture Days

Every other Friday (the one following a grammar quiz), we will

discuss Roman mythology, legends, history, culture, and other

non-grammar topics. We will also use these days to prepare for

the National Latin Exam and the Medusa Mythology Exam which

are given in the spring. The other days of the week we will

concentrate on learning the Latin language.

NB: I will put two or three questions from the information

discussed during culture days on the weekly quizzes.

Absences 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. 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.

“In-The-Building-Rule”

The “In-The-Building-Rule”: If you miss

Latin class on a certain day, but are in the

building for any part of that day, you must

see me and turn in the HW assignment in

order to get credit.

Extra Help & Resources

If a student needs help outside of class he/she should see me ASAP

to schedule a meeting.

For updated information and practice opportunities throughout the

year, check out the class website.

Visit Schoology

Quizlet

YouTube

A final word on grades

Since class time is directed to the learning of

Latin and Roman culture, and since grades are

private concerns, it is forbidden to discuss

grades or the grading policy during class. Please

make an appointment with me to discuss your

personal grades. Also, I do not “give” grades.

Rather you earn them. If you learn the Latin

and participate eagerly, good grades will certainly

follow.

How to Succeed in Latin:

A Summary of the

Course Description and

Expectations…

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. If you score an A

on a vocab quiz, you are exempt from making cards for the

next chapter.

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

the optional grammar flash cards to prepare for these

Block Day assessments.

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.

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.

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.

A brief, and thus not exhaustive, list of appropriate and inappropriate behavior.

Active Participation/Behavior that

impresses

Non-Participation/Behavior that does NOT

impress

1. Active Participation during class

2. Active Participation in group activities

3. Being seated on time

4. Being prepared for class with books,

writing implements,

composition book and homework

1. Raising hand

2. Following Directions

3. Paying attention

4. Asking questions

5. Good attitude/Enthusiasm

6. Signing out when leaving class

7. Listening to others

8. Seeking me outside of class for extra

help

9. Waiting for the bell before packing up

to leave

1. Holding conversations

2. Cross Talking

3. Using a cellphone

4. Unauthorized use of technology

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 only the following)

and send it to me in email:

We have read this course description and understand the

requirements and policies of the Latin 3 Advanced

course.

Phrase of the Day

Latin: Carpe diem!

English: Seize the day!

Authorship: Quintus Horatius Flaccus, aka “Horace”

(65 bce – 6 bce) – famous Augustan Age poet and

Epicurean

Derivatives: carpal, carpal tunnel syndrome,

metacarpal; diary, quotidian, diurnal, per diem

Your Interpretation: Carpe really means “to pluck” a

flower or piece of fruit off a tree, so Horace suggests

that we should make the most out of the day as if we

were enjoying the smell of a flower or the sweet taste of

a fresh fruit.