Course Description and Objectives

Students in Latin 201 continue to learn to comprehend, speak, and write Latin.  Like all Latin courses at Western, this course focuses on building long-term ("keep using it") knowledge rather than short-term ("cram it for the quiz and forget five minutes later") memorization.  The course is immersive: all students must participate in Latin rather than English. Etiam hunc cōnspectum scholārum Latīne scrīpsissem, nisi quod diāconī atque aliī studiōrum ūniversitātis ministrī fortasse quererentur.

Latin 201 provides you with five General University Requirement (GUR) credits in the Communications Block B; you need to complete Block A (English 101) and take one course from Blocks B or C. If you have taken Latin 103, you should already have completed your Communications Block B requirement; if not, this course will satisfy it.

Latin 201 focuses on the following GUR competencies:

• GUR Competency 1: "Analyze and communicate ideas effectively in oral, written, and visual forms."
• GUR Competency 2: "Analyze and interpret information from varied sources, including print and visual media."
• GUR Competnecy 4: "Identify and analyze complex problems."
• GUR Competency 6: "Explore, imagine and create."

Instructor

Miller Krause ( miller.krause@wwu.edu )

Office Hours: in Miller Hall 122D every day from 2:30 to 3:30 PM.

Class Time and Location

This class meets every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, from 1:00 PM to 2:20 PM in Miller Hall 135.  The first class is Wednesday, September 25, and the last on Friday, December 6. We do not, however, meet on Monday, November 11 (Veterans' Day) nor on Wednesday, November 27 nor on Friday, November 29 (Thanksgiving Break). The Registrar's office has scheduled the final examination period for Tuesday, December 10, from 3:30 PM to 5:30 PM.

Textbook

We'll be using a mix of materials that Eduardo and I have prepared.  You won't need to purchase any textbook; I've already got Eduardo's materials printed and ready to distribute.  Bring a three-ring binder the first day of class.

I've placed links to several online dictionaries under Subsidia on the Modules page; the Logeion link is very useful because it compiles several dictionaries, including the expensive and comprehensive Lewis and Short, in a free and easy-to-use interface. If you find paper dictionaries easier to use, you'll find plenty for sale online. If you want a visual dictionary that shows you pictures and Latin words, though, you should think about getting the Visuelles Wörterbuch, Latein-Deutsch directly from amazon.de (the German version of Amazon) or another European source (less than $15 including 2 week shipping) instead of an American reseller, because the American importers quadruple the price.

University Services for Students

I am more than happy to make accommodations for students with disabilities or other special needs. So that the Disability Access Center (DAC, formerly DRS) can ensure that your needs are being met appropriately, all requests for accommodation must be made through the MyDAC system every quarter: accommodations do not automatically roll-over into future quarters. New students should enroll with the DAC office to receive accommodations.

Web: disability.wwu.edu
Email: drs@wwu.edu
Phone: (360) 650-3083

The Student Health Center not only provides primary care services but handles documentation of medical issues for you, making your life easier.

Web: studenthealth.wwu.edu
Phone: (360) 650-3400

In the case of a family or personal crisis or emergency, please contact the Office of Student Life. During a personal or family crisis, the office of the Office of Student Life can coordinate arrangements with all of your professors for you, making your life easier.

Web: wp.wwu.edu/officeofstudentlife
Phone: (360) 650-3450

Academic Honesty

Don't commit academic dishonesty. See the University's Academic Honesty Policy and Procedure and explore the University's Academic Integrity website.

Grading

Grading Scale

Course Requirements

First and foremost, this is a foreign language class, so I teach it in the target language. We shall cover the syllabus the first day, but after that the language of instruction will be Latin. All assignments, quizzes, and tests should be written in Latin.  All conversation in class should be conducted in Latin.  Sī quid nēscīs Latīne dīcere, semper potes rogāre, "Quōmodo Latīne dīcitur __________?"  

Præsentia Participātiōque (10%)

Attendance in class and active participation are important: you learn a language by interacting in it.  That said, I realize that emergencies arise, so I excuse 10% of the quarter (three absences for a MWF class) without any cause needed.

Athletes and anyone planning on missing class for athletics, university-sponsored events, military duty, or religious holidays should inform me of absences in advance. That lets me excuse absences and add time to Canvas assignments for those students in advance. Within the first two weeks of class, give me a letter listing the games/matches/meets, events, military service, or holidays requiring absences for the quarter, so that I can plan ahead to help you stay on track. I like planning ahead.

Pēnsa Diurna (20%)

There will be frequent homework assignments that you should complete before class and have ready to discuss and turn in during class.

Pēnsa in Pugillāribus Scrībenda (20%)

Every week, you will have a writing assignment in pugillāribus, in the writing notebooks that you've kept since Latin 101.  While the pēnsa minōra target specific things we discuss in class, the pēnsa in pugillāribus scrībenda ask you to make more personal statements in Latin, building up to the kinds of declamatory exercises that we practice in Latin 202 and 203.  You do not have to tell the truth: writing good fiction often gives you better practice than writing uncomfortable truths. Aim for elegance and interest.

Probātiōnēs Minōrēs (20%)

Expect both announced and unannounced quizzes, written or oral.  

Probātiōnēs Mājōrēs (20%)

Each major unit (one of Eduardo's chapters) save the final one will have a major test.  Major tests are serious business and a social activity: you may collaborate on them in class, so long as you speak only in Latin.  We shall omit a test on the final chapter to avoid dead-week stress.

Probātiō Ultima (10%)

The final examination is cumulative over the entire quarter and is like the other major tests. The final exam, like the major tests, will allow collaboration, but only so long as you speak only in Latin.

Weekly Schedule

This syllabus is subject to change. Since this is a skills building course, the pace will have to depend on our progress as a class, so not everything is planned out in advance (which, as those of you who have taken my CLST courses know, is unusual and psychically traumatic for me). Because the syllabus is on Canvas, you will have the latest information available at all times.

Canvas provides feeds to which you can subscribe, to keep all your course info in your favorite calendar program like Apple's Calendar or Microsoft Outlook. For details, see the Canvas guides on using the Calendar.