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Introduction to Ancient Greek (Greek 2)
Spring 2011, TTh 1140-120, AB 343
Robin Mitchell-Boyask, Professor of Classics, 327 Anderson Hall,
1-3672, robin@temple.edu. Office hours: M 845-945 and TTh 1030-1130
Course web site: http://www.temple.edu/classics/greek2/
Subject web site: http://www.temple.edu/classics/greek/

updated 13 January 2011

Texts:
John Taylor, Greek to GSCE Part 2 (2^nd edition), Bristol Classical Press/Duckworth
John Taylor, Greek beyond GSCE, Bristol Classical Press/Duckworth

Overview: We will finish Part 2, which focuses on completing the verb system and the more irregular aspects of the third declension, as well as more complex sentence structures. Beyond will fill in the gaps in the verb system and other aspects of grammar and syntax. If all goes according to schedule, we will spend the last month of the term reading real, unadapted Greek (Plato, Thucydides, Lysias, et al.).

We stress learning Greek through reading progressively harder passages of the original language, a practice accompanied by memorizing important vocabulary and forms. It is very important that you not wander off or fall behind. Thus you will have a vocabulary quiz every Tuesday on the previous week's new words (there is a list at the end of each chapter) and a grammar and reading test three times during the semester, and a final. If you are going to miss a class, you must call or email me, and I will return your message as soon as I can with your assignment. There will be brief homework assignments for almost every class meeting. I also assign weekly vocabulary quizzes because memorizing a word's meaning then allows you to concentrate on its form when you are reading. Understanding a word rests on a combination of absolute meaning and contextual form. Learn the meaning and half the battle is won! An extra bonus here is that understanding Greek roots will increase your English vocabulary tremendously. Daily work is crucial; for any course you should spend two hours studying for every hour in class, so for this course you should devote eight hours each week if you would like to receive a high grade and actually learn to read Greek.

Grades:

• 7 quizzes on grammar and syntax (one after each chapter) 42%
  
• 6 vocabulary quizzes (handouts with most important words from the readings): 24%
• Final exam: 14%
• Homework: 10% (pass-fail, scored as a percentage of completed assignnments; see note below)
  
• Daily work: 10% (includes attendance and participation).

If you miss a quiz or test without notifying me in advance with justification, you may not make up the assignment.
Note that I will weigh the second half of the course more heavily than the first if you show real improvement as the semester progresses.

Homework: Ideally, a first-year class should meet three or four times each week. I am offering this section in recognition that there are students who need to have a TTh schedule. To compensate for the reduced number of meetings, there will be an assignment due by noon on Sunday each week, in addition to normal homework that is due Tuesday. I will post the assignment on Blackboard on Friday morning. Failure to complete that assignment on time will result in forfeiture of the credit. Normal homework may be handed in one meeting late and still receive credit.

Web help: Drills can be found here: http://www.cambridgescp.com/page.php?p=ag^top^home.

How to Study:

1. Make sure there are as few distractions as possible (chatty roommates, ESPN, music)
2. Review the reading and grammar we covered during the previous class meeting. If you find something does not make sense, make a note of it and ask questions during the next class meeting
3. Do whatever formal homework assignment I have given
4. Read ahead in the narrative. Do not worry if the reading seems confusing, but try to make notes about what, exactly, is confusing you
5. Working outside of class with other students really helps. Traditionally, students have gathered across from the elevators on the third floor of Anderson, or on the couches in the Classics module (Anderson 321)

Schedule: (Subject to modifications)

 

Week	Chapters	Grammar	Reading
Jan 18-20	9	Imperatives; impersonal verbs	myths
Jan 25-27	9
Feb 1-3	9-10	Indirect statement; result clauses	Herodotus
Feb 8-10	10	Alpha-contract verbs; irregular comparatives
Feb 15-17 10-	10-11	Subjunctive; optative; conditionals
Feb 22-24	11	Reading practice	Herodotus
Mar 1-3	11
Mar 15-17	Beyond 1	Indirect questions; correlatives; more on moods
Mar 22-24	1-2	Perfect tense; numerals
Mar 29-Apr 1	2	mi verbs; time clauses; fear clauses
Apr 5-7	3	Impersonal verbs; articular infinitive; verbal adjectives; 3rd person imperatives	Lycurgus and Thucydides
Apr 12-14	3-4		REAL GREEK: Thucydides, Xenophon, Plato, Plutarch
Apr 19-21	4-5
Apr 26-8	5		Readings subject to negotiation!!
May 3	5
May 10	Final exam 1-3 p.m.	review sessions can be scheduled

 

Important dates:

• Monday, 31 January: last day to drop a class
• Monday, 28 March: last day to withdraw from a class

Disability disclosure statement: Any student who has a need for accommodation based on the impact of a disability should contact me privately to discuss the specific situation as soon as possible. Contact Disability Resources at 215-204-1280 in 100 Ritter Annex to coordinate reasonable accommodations for students with documented disabilities.

Statement on Academic Freedom: Freedom to teach and freedom to learn are inseparable facets of academic freedom. The University has adopted a policy on Student and Faculty Academic Rights and Responsibilities (Policy # 03.70.02) which can be accessed through the following link: http://policies.temple.edu/getdoc.asp?policy_no=03.70.02.