Ancient Greek Elements I And II

Course Objectives

The purpose of these courses is to provide you with a foundation for reading works from the classical and Hellenistic periods of Greek antiquity in their original language--whether it be the Greek of the Homeric epics, the classical poets, philosophers, and historians, or the New Testament. At the same time, you will be learning a great deal about the structure of language, a study which will increase and deepen your understanding of English grammar and vocabulary.

The effort you will be required to put forth in confronting and mastering the grammatical categories and vocabulary of a language so different from English will be more than offset by the immediate access you will have to Greek literature. During the course of this semester we will read a major portion of the Gospel According to St. John--in its "real" Greek version. Moreover, by the end of the semester you will have an overview of Greek grammar sufficient to continue the narrative portions of the New Testament on your own and to begin reading a major work of the classical period (Xenophon's Anabasis) during the second semester.

Course Requirements

Final Grade Determination

Your raw score is calculated as follows: To this raw score I will add between 0 and three percentage points on the basis of your classroom translations and construings.

Letter Grades:

90-100=A; 80-89=B; 70-79=C; 60-69=D; below 60=F

Attendance:

You are expected to attend class unless prevented from doing so by illness or unavoidable accident; more than three unexcused absences are grounds for loss of credit in the course. If you have been absent it is your responsibility to ask fellow students about any announcements concerning assignment or schedule changes and to check the wall- basket outside my office door for any handouts distributed in your absence. Should I be absent, do not leave until someone has contacted the Departmental secretary in Room 318. She will issue an attendance sheet, as well as any assignments I have left.

Make-Ups:

Make-up exams are given and late assignments credited only with a documented or verifiable excuse.

Conduct:

Conduct which I deem disruptive will result, after two warnings, in dismissal from the class and an F for the course. Tape recording is not permitted.

Plagiarism:

Any attempt to represent another's work as your own will result in a non-negotiable F for the course.

Conferences:

If you are having difficulties, please come and discuss them with me once you have isolated the problem areas. Bear in mind that I can only explain: I cannot learn for you.

Office:

301D Linthicum Hall; Tels: 830-2258 (o); (202) 387-1276 (h)

E-Mail:

slegault@towson.edu, or click here