All
of these are free; the product is of varying quality. Caveat
araneo-fluitator! (Let the web-surfer beware!) Let me know
about any broken links you find.
Versions
of Whitaker's WORDS, a superb freeware program that parses and
briefly defines Latin words, can be downloaded from
AbleMedia's site (for Mac OS X, for Windows of various
flavors, DOS, LINUX and OS/2). It's probably archived at many
other places online if you search for it.
There's
a great cross-platform program (freeware versions available
for Mac, Windows, & Linux) called Diogenes, generously created by
Peter Heslin. It's a great dictionary and parsing program for
Latin and Greek (should you need it).
This might be
more useful later on, but the National Latin Exam has an online
practice app that can generate quizzes of varying
lengths for various levels of Latin.
In
addition to the above free programs/sites, there are various
not-free options (which you can seek out for yourself at the Mac
App Store, Google Play or what have you). These aren't necessary or
required. Read the assignments; do the homework; come to class.
That's the secret to doing well in this course. You know that
voice in your head? The one that's saying, "That is the old way.
I can work smarter, not harder, and do just as well or better AS
LONG AS I BUY THIS SHINY NEW THINGLET!" That voice? It's trying
to destroy you.
However: all practice is good, and if you actually make use of
these things, they might be useful for you.
There's
an okay pair of programs for mobile platforms (one for iOS,
one for Android) by a guy named Joel Gwynn. They're designed
to go along with Wheelock's Latin, and there's a free demo for
each where you can work through the first few chapters without
plonking down any coin.
Liberation Philology has a
simple interface (suitable for phones) for review and
self-quizzing of Latin vocabulary and grammar. It's pretty
cheap, very reliable, and there are versions for iOS and
Android. If you like the format, they have equivalent apps for a lot of
other languages: Ancient Greek, Old Norse, Italian,
Russian, etc.
The popular
(and free) language learning app Duolingo has added Latin
to their languages. It might be of some kind of use. Anything
that helps you practice Latin is inherently good for your
Latin, but this app isn't designed to go with our course (or vice
versa).
Format:
Electrifying
grammatical lectures; exercises and readings in Lingua
Latina and its Companion as assigned. Balloons!Prizes!!EVERYONE A WINNER!!! (Your
results may vary. "Balloons" is used here in a metaphorical
sense. Prizes consist of nuggets of pure incorporeal knowledge.
Void where prohibited.)
2. Expectations
for Learning: This is a 2-part, nine-month-long course divided
into two semesters for administrative convenience. At the end of
it, you'll be able to read the Latin language. That's the
target, and you will hit it if you persist. Along the way we'll
get practice in speaking, listening, even writing Latin. But the
ultimate goal is to be able to read Latin.
Sidebar: Why read Latin? It will improve your grasp of English
vocabulary and grammar. It will enable you to travel through
time and speak to some of the greatest minds in history in their
own language. It will enable you to read people's Latin tattoos
and spot the mistakes.
Grading:
Attendance/Participation Daily attendance and
participation are required.
30%
(15% attendance + 15% homework)
Quizzes
(vocabulary & memorization)
30%
Tests
(translation & parsing)
40%
FINE
PRINT:
The lowest of the five tests and quizzes will drop
except for the final quiz and exam, which must receive a passing
grade for the student to pass the course. No one can pass the
course without taking and passing the final exam.
Re attendance: I
realize that we're still in a pandemic and there may be
other legitimate reasons not to make it to class; there
will be ways to earn back attendance points (e.g. pop
quizzes on low-attendance days). But: the default should
be attendance, not absent with an excuse.
The peculiarities of our semester schedule mean
that this class has two final exam periods. The first (Tuesday,
December 10; 11:30-1:30) will be a voluntary review session, at
which we'll go over a practice test. The true and genuinely
final exam will be on Thursday, December 12; 11:30-1:30.
There will be no class on the following days: Monday September 2
(Labor Day), October 7-8 (Fall Break), November 11 (Veterans
Day), November 27-29 (Thanksgiving Break).
No one can pass the course without taking and
passing the final exam.
The maximum level of extra credit that will be
counted toward the final grade = 5% of the total course points.
Missed assignments may not be made up, except by
prior arrangement with the instructor.
"Outside of a dog, a book is a man's best friend.
Inside of a dog, it's too dark to read"--Groucho Marx
The instructor reserves the right to recognize
significant improvement (or decline) in student performance when
awarding the final grade.
The syllabus is subject to change at the
discretion of the instructor; changes will be announced in class
and posted on-line.
No incompletes will be issued, except for pressing
reasons and by prior arrangement with the instructor.
