Academic Latin 1 Course Description

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2011-12 Academic Latin 1

Course Description

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Contact info:

Dr. Donal McGay

Radnor High School

Email:

[email protected]

(preferred)

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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 (see next page)

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Welcome back to school and, more importantly,

welcome to Academic Latin 1! The following guidelines

will ensure that you begin the year on bono pede or on the

right foot. Please read them carefully and share them with

your parents.

Academic Latin 1 gives the students a broad introduction to

the language, history, myths and culture of the Romans.

We will begin reading Latin right away, learning about the

ancient Roman way of life while picking up the language

and learning about our own! More than half of all English

words come from Latin. By learning Latin vocabulary, you

will understand and master a great number of English

words in a short time and be better prepared for SATs,

ACTs, college and acquire other skills!

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Books, workbooks and materials Required:

 Ecce Romani I A- 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.)

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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.

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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, under Dr. McGay-Latin 2.

Navigate to this from rtsd.org via the “Schools” tab, then RHS, then

Teacher Web Pages.

*Honor Code*: In addition to observing the honor code for quizzes, tests and all assigned work outside of class, I will refuse to

write a college recommendation for any student found cheating or cutting a Latin class. Initial on the document.

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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. I expect you

to email me the reason for your absence no later than the

day of the absence. 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

in the student handbook.) 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

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Quarterly Schedule

First Quarter:

Review of Latin 1 Unit I: chapters 1-3

Project: Ancient Dress-Up Day Second Quarter:

Unit I: chapters – 4-6 Project: TBD

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Third Quarter: Unit I: chapter 7

Unit II: chapters 8-9

Project: Annual Philadelphia Classical Society Competition Fourth Quarter:

Unit II: chapters 10-12 Project: TBD

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Grade Distribution

Each Quarter:

 45% - Grammar, Translation, Vocabulary, and

Culture Quizzes and Tests, Vocabulary Cards

(“Assessment” in HAC)

 25%- Projects/Presentations

15% - Class Participation

15% - Homework

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Class Participation



All students are expected to participate

actively in class. This includes arriving to

class on time, volunteering answers, asking

questions, giving examples, and voicing

concerns or uncertainty. Remember, if you

do not understand something, there is a

strong possibility that someone else in the

class also does not understand… so do not be

afraid to ask me to re-explain or clarify

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Class Participation (cont.)





Scoring: Each student will start with 100

points total for each quarter. -5 pts will be

deducted for every incident of inappropriate or

disruptive action or speech.





Try to minimize the times you need to leave

the classroom to go to the bathroom, locker,

nurse, etc.

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Homework





Scoring: Each student will start with 100

points total for each quarter. (Yeah! You

already have an A!!!  )



- 5 pts will be deducted for every unexcused,

missed homework



- You must make up homework for days that

you are absent excused within 2 days or that too

will result in a 5 point deduction



- You will receive a homework pass for bringing

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Homework Pages



#1 = My Website – Homework Page



#2 = Latin 1 Academic HW Planner

–

you need

to sign up at the following website

novaplanner.com/student.html?course=200&term

=9&section=338

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Quizzes



There will be a quiz following the

completion of each chapter in the

textbook. Quizzes include, but are not

limited to, a reading section, a culture

section, several vocabulary and grammar

sections, & translation sections. There will

also be quizzes on readings, derivatives and

culture.

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Tests



There will be a test following the

completion of each review chapter in

the textbook. Tests include, but are

not limited to, a reading section, a

culture section, several vocabulary and

grammar sections, & translation

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Vocabulary Cards – Flash Cards



For each chapter, you must

make vocabulary cards from the

prepared lists ON-LINE as per

the instructions on the

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Projects & Presentations:



At least one project or presentation will be

assigned each quarter. These will include poster

projects, models, PowerPoints, and others.

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Honor Code



You must observe the honor code for quizzes,

tests and all assigned work outside of class.

Radnor’s Academic Honor Code can be found

on the school’s website under “Our School.”

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NLE Days

The second half of Block Days or NLE days, 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 NLE days on the weekly quizzes.