Latin: Prose Composition and Roman Rhetoric and Philosophy

Undergraduate course

Course description

Objectives and Content

The course offers a study of a selection of speeches and rhetorical and philosophical texts. In addition it will be given an introduction to the history of classical rhetoric by readings of central theoretical texts in translation.

Learning Outcomes

Knowledge

The candidate has

  • increased knowledge of Latin grammar and literary style through analysis of the texts studied
  • increased knowledge of the characteristic traits of the literature and culture that the study addresses.

Skills

The candidate can

  • translate moderately difficult English or Norwegian sentences into Latin
  • analyse, abstract and mediate Latin text

General competence

The candidate can

  • acquaint herself with the grammatical structure of a new language
  • mediate knowledge of grammatical structures in Latin

ECTS Credits

15

Level of Study

Bachelor

Semester of Instruction

Spring

Place of Instruction

Bergen
Required Previous Knowledge
At least one of the courses: LAT100, LAT102, LAT104, LAT105, LAT107
Recommended Previous Knowledge
We recommend that students have passed examination in at least 3 of the Latin courses on the 100-level.
Credit Reduction due to Course Overlap
None
Access to the Course
The course is open to everyone with study right at the University of Bergen.
Teaching and learning methods

Teaching is given in the form of a writing course, possibly also lectures on parts of the syllabus texts.

One single-hour class per week.

If less than five students register to a course, the Department may introduce reduced teaching; cf. the relevant guidelines on Mitt UiB (Canvas). On courses where reduced teaching may be given, the students will receive information at the start of the semester, before the 1. Feb. / 1. Sept. deadline for registering.

Compulsory Assignments and Attendance
None
Forms of Assessment

6-hour written exam, where the candidate will translate a text from Norwegian or English into Latin using a dictionary and answer questions from other parts of the syllabus.

The exam assignment will be given in the language of instruction in the course.

The exam answer can be submitted in Norwegian, Swedish, Danish or English.

Grading Scale
The grading scale used is A to F.
Assessment Semester
Spring. There is also assessment early in the following semester.
Reading List
The syllabus consists in a total of approximately 100 pages of Latin prose text (30 lines = 1 page), at least 50 of which are read in annotated editions. It also includes a summary presentation of classical rhetoric and philosophy, as well as relevant parts of handbooks of Latin grammar and prose style.
Course Evaluation
Students evaluate the course in accordance with the quality assurance system at UiB and the Department
Examination Support Material
Dictionary. The dictionary should be from Latin to native language or from Latin to another language of your choice. It should not contain inflection patterns: Johanssen, Nygaard etc., Latinsk ordbok, Cassell’s Latin Dictionary, or a dictionary of similar size.
Programme Committee
The programme board of Classical Philology
Course Coordinator
Faculty representatives from Classical Philology
Course Administrator
Department of Linguistic, Literary and Aesthetic Studies