AP Latin Syllabus 2012-2013 Magistra Jen Whinney Room 209 ...

Magistra Jen Whinney 

Room 209 

jwhinney@ucityschools.org 

AP Latin Syllabus 2012-2013 

Objectives: 

This AP Latin course is designed to give students the experiences needed to be successful on the 

College Board AP Latin exam. This course’s goals are to develop student’s abilities to translate the 

required passages from Vergil’s Aeneid and Caesar’s De bello Gallico into English as literally as possible, 

to help them understand the context of the written passages (including the political, historical, literary and 

cultural background of each author and text), and to help them understand the reasons behind the 

particular style of writing and the rhetorical devices employed. 

The course should also help students be successful in analyzing Latin passages to understand how 

and why the author uses the language in a particular way and the effects he is hoping to produce. Students 

will learn to analyze the text and draw their own logical conclusions. This course should give students 

tools to read Latin prose and poetry aloud and with accurate comprehension and appreciation. For the 

Vergil text, students will learn dactylic hexameter and how it is used to enhance the text and create effect 

through scanning the poetry. 

Course Overview and Class Procedure: 

Because our class time is shared with Latin 4, our classes will be broken down into two types: Translation 

Days and Reading Days. Class types will alternate unless otherwise notified by instructor. 

Translation Days: Students will work individually or as a group to complete the following assignments 

Daily: 

• Create literal translation of an assigned passage from the required Vergil and Caesar passages 

Formulate and answer questions about passage content, grammar, literary techniques and 

vocabulary, 

• Complete worksheets related to specific passages and complete questions as they read through the 

passage, 

At least once a week: 

• Read selections from passages aloud 

• Scan and read passages aloud in meter 

At least once a month: 

• Compose essays involving analysis, discussion of motives, political and social relevance and 

themes of a passage with emphasis on finding evidence in Latin text to support ideas 

Reading Days: Students will work with the instructor on the following activities: 

Daily: 

• Review prepared literal translation and discuss the specific terminology used to refer to grammar 

and literary devices (See Grammar and Syntax from AP Latin Curriculum Framework) 

• Take notes on commentary (teacher or text) during translation

At least once a week: 

• Present both student and teacher led presentations and discussions of cultural and historical 

topics, characters, geography of the ancient world, and relevant literary techniques 

• Read unseen passages of both poetry and prose from authors such as Cicero, Catullus, Ovid, 

Sallust and Pliny, including non-syllabus based passages from Vergil and Caesar and answer 

comprehension, stylistic and grammar questions on the passages. 

Students will be expected to work independently and to keep pace with the schedule of readings. 

Tests and Quizzes: 

Students take a quiz over the assigned passages each week. Questions may include literal translation of a 

section of a passage; short answers on identifying themes and uses of the language including specific 

terminology for grammar and literary devices; relevant vocabulary, grammar, scansion, historical and 

cultural content and literary techniques. 

Tests will be given every after students have read and analyzed key passages, roughly after 200 lines. 

Tests will cover same content as quizzes but also add an essay component involving discussion of 

motives, political and social relevance and themes. Emphasis will be on finding evidence in the Latin text 

to support their ideas. Objective questions will cover English readings over the selected books in 

conjunction with required Latin passages. 

Textbook and Materials 

1. The Aeneid in Latin: Book 1.1-209, 418-440, 494-578; Book 2.40-56, 201- 

249, 268-297, 559-620; Book 4.160-218, 259-361, 659-705; Book 

6.295-332, 384-425, 450-476, 847-899. (Clyde Pharr Text) 

Grading 

2. The Gallic Wars in Latin: Book 1.1-7; Book 4.24-35, Book 5.24-48; Book 

6.13-20. (Text not yet decided on) 

3. Entire Aeneid in English translation (Books 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, and 12 read during year) 

Recommended translations: Robert Fagles, Sarah Ruden, Robert 

Fitzgerald, Allen Mandelbaum, C. Day Lewis, David West, Rolfe Humphries 

4. The Gallic Wars in English translation: Books 1, 6, and 7 (provided by instructor). 

Supplementary Articles to be provided by instructor. 

15% Translation day assignments: worksheets on grammar, culture or language; essays, 

20% Review day assignments: translations; presentations on culture; sight reading; reading aloud 

25% Quizzes: translation and vocabulary 

30% Tests 

10% Individual research and terminology projects

Course Schedule 

First Semester: Vergil’s Aeneid 

Week 1: Review Latin grammar and discuss entire Aeneid in translation Chapters 1-12 including cultural 

background information. 

Week 2: Aeneid Book 1:1-60 

Week 3: Aeneid Book 1: 61-120 


Week 5: Aeneid Book 1: 182-209, 418-440 


Week 7: Aeneid Book 2:40-56, 201-249 

Week 8: Aeneid Book 2: 268-297, 559-589 







Week 15: Review for exam on Aeneid Books 1,2,4 and 6 

Second Semester: Caesar’s De bello Gallico 

Week 1: Discuss De bello Gallico in translation Books 1-7 including background information 

Week 2: De bello Gallico Book 1: Chapter 1 

Week 3: De bello Gallico Book 1: Chapters 2-3 






Week 9: De bello Gallico Book 4: Chapters 35 and first sentence of Chapter 36 (Eodem die legati… 

venerunt.) 







Week 16: De bello Gallico Book 6: Chapters 19-20 and Review for AP exam 

Week 17: Review De bello Gallico Book 1, 4, 5 and 6 and Aenied Book 1, 2, 4, 6 for AP Exam 

Grammar and Syntax from AP Latin Curriculum Framework 

gerund, gerundive, supine, result clause, purpose clause, relative clause of characteristic, 

relative clause of purpose, indirect discourse (statement, question, command), conditions, 

apodosis, protasis, moods, jussive/hortatory subjunctive, periphrastics, deponent, genitive 

(partitive, with impersonal verbs, certain adjectives, and verbs of remembering or forgetting), 

dative (possession, purpose, with compound or special verbs, agent, reference), accusative 

(duration of time, respect, with Greek middle participle), ablative (absolute, separation, 

comparison, specification, cause, description degree of difference, special verbs, time when, 

time within which).

AP Latin Syllabus 2012-2013 Magistra Jen Whinney Room 209 ...

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?