Upper School Curriculum Guide

The study of Classics—Latin and Greek language, literature, culture, and history—remains one of the strongest foundations of a truly liberal education and helps students keep alive a vital link with major sources of contemporary American culture. The broad objective is to develop understanding of the cultural heritage of Greece and Rome and its influence on our modern world; the discipline of translation of Latin and Greek texts has the added benefit of developing precision in both thought and expression. Through their study of Latin and Greek, students learn a tremendous amount about English grammar, which helps strengthen their written and oral expression in English. Classics students also gain a great advantage in the expansion of their English vocabulary, since over 60% of English is derived from Latin and/or Greek; furthermore, Latin and Greek are the primary sources of the Romance languages, so Classics students have a strong foundation for possible future study of modern languages.

Instruction in Latin at RCDS includes not only grammar and vocabulary but also readings in Latin that provide opportunities for in-depth study of Roman and Greek history, society, culture, religion, and mythology. Over the course of their program of Latin study at RCDS, students read texts written by the Roman authors Cicero, Caesar, Vergil, Catullus, Horace, Ovid, Augustus and others, along with relevant historical analysis and literary criticism. Upon completion of Latin 3 or Honors Latin 3, students continue their study of Latin and the ancient Roman world through literature-based courses, such as AP Latin and the post-AP Honors Latin 5, and through Classics Civilizations courses, such as Latin 4 / 5: The Roman Republic and The Roman Empire.  Ancient Greek instruction focuses on Attic (Athenian) grammar and vocabulary, leading in the upper levels to the study of the prose of Lysias, Plato, and Herodotus, and the poetry of Homer.

Course Selection Guidelines

(Ancient Greek is open to students in Grades 10, 11, and 12. It is absent from this chart because it does not fulfill the RCDS language requirement.)

LATIN 1
The two primary aims of the Elementary Latin course are for students to develop complete mastery of fundamental grammatical forms and a high degree of facility in reading Latin. Through discussion, consistent reinforcement, and application, students thoroughly learn grammatical principles, morphology (word-endings), and vocabulary necessary to read Latin passages about Roman life, culture, and history. By studying Latin vocabulary and by engaging daily with a language that requires great attention to details of all kinds, students learn a great deal about English words derived from Latin and undoubtedly strengthen their ability to write grammatically sound English. (1 unit; Grades 9, 10, 11, 12)

LATIN 2
Because Latin is an intensely cumulative discipline, this course offers consistent practice and reinforcement of concepts previously studied. Throughout the year, students continue to acquire new grammatical forms and vocabulary, as well as to practice and review those from Latin 1. Students develop and refine their translation skills, and by year’s end are successfully reading passages of connected prose adapted from various Roman authors, such as Cicero and Caesar, with increased facility and speed. Throughout the course, students study topics of Roman and Greek culture and history relevant to the Latin readings. (1 unit; Grades 9, 10, 11, 12)

HONORS LATIN 2
This course moves more quickly and covers more material than Latin 2. By year’s end, students have learned almost all of Latin grammar and have begun to focus on reading unadapted passages of connected prose by a variety of Roman authors, such as Eutropius, Cicero, Caesar, and Livy. Through their readings of these texts, students learn about the history, culture, and politics of the Roman Republic. In Honors Latin 2, there is increasing emphasis on identification and proper translation of increasingly complex grammatical concepts. Students requiring regular assistance (once or more per week) from a tutor to maintain the minimum grade will be counseled to move to Latin 2. (1 unit; Grades 9, 10, 11, 12)

HONORS INTENSIVE LATIN
A general note about the Intensive Language Program: The Honors Intensive language program at RCDS is designed for students who wish to pursue the study of two foreign languages simultaneously. The Upper School offers Honors Intensive language courses in French, Latin, and Spanish. Students must have shown superior achievement in the study of one foreign language before picking up an Intensive language course. The stated aim of all Intensive language courses offered at RCDS is to cover two years of material in one year and therefore to prepare students for the third-year level. It is the expectation of both the Classics Department and the Modern Languages Department that students taking an Honors Intensive language course will continue the study of those two languages simultaneously for the entire tenure of their stay at RCDS. Students - and advisors and families of students - who wish to begin an Honors Intensive language class should be aware that adding a second language through this program is, in almost every case, a multi-year commitment and thus will have a significant impact on a student’s course selection and academic program as a whole.

This course is designed for the student who, having demonstrated mastery of the grammatical principles of one foreign language, has an interest in acquiring Latin at an accelerated pace (i.e., covering Latin 1 and 2 in one year). Grammatical forms and constructions are introduced in quick succession, with an emphasis on ever-increasing fluency and speed of reading. By the end of the course, students are able to read slightly adapted passages of Latin prose from authors like Caesar, Cicero, and Pliny. Students are expected to continue the sequence in their first foreign language concurrently with Honor Intensive Latin, at least through the fourth year. It is assumed that students in Honors Intensive Latin will demonstrate self-motivation and the ability to work independently; thus, students requiring regular assistance (once or more per week) from a tutor to maintain the minimum grade will be counseled to move to Latin 1. (1 unit; Grades 9-12, by permission. Prerequisite: superior achievement in Spanish, French, or Chinese.)

LATIN 3
This course completes the acquisition of the remaining grammar skills not covered in Latin 2 and begins the reading of unadapted passages of Latin authors, both prose and poetry. The beginning of the course is focused on the review of the grammar concepts learned in Latin 2 combined with reading passages about Greek and Latin mythology. Students continue to acquire new grammatical forms and vocabulary in order to develop and refine their translation skills. When grammar instruction is complete in the second semester, students shift their focus to connected Latin prose, with readings from Eutropius, Cicero, and Caesar. (1 unit; Grades 10, 11, 12)

HONORS LATIN 3
This course moves more quickly and covers more material than Latin 3. Students read more extensively from a variety of Roman authors in both prose and poetry, developing facility with advanced grammar and syntax while engaging in literary analysis through class discussions and comprehension exercises. When grammar instruction is complete, students turn their focus to various Roman authors, reading unadapted selections from Caesar, Cicero, and Vergil. This course prepares students for AP Latin. Students requiring regular assistance (once or more per week) from a tutor to maintain the minimum grade will be counseled to move to Latin 3. (1 unit; Grades 10, 11, 12, by permission)

AP LATIN
AP Latin is designed for students who have successfully completed Honors Latin 3. Students read extensively from the various texts required by the College Board AP syllabus (Pliny, Seneca, Vergil) and also from texts of the teacher’s choice. Students learn to read Latin prose and poetry with an eye toward precise and literal translation, historical context, and literary analysis. Students write essays (in English), in which they develop clear arguments that demonstrate comprehension and sophisticated literary analysis of the Latin text, always using the Latin itself for textual support, and participate in literature-based projects. Analytical themes that run throughout the entire course include Roman daily life, political strife, war and imperialism, comparative studies of religion and custom, and rhetorical strategy. Students taking the AP Latin course will be prepared to take the AP Latin exam in May. Students requiring regular assistance (once or more per week) from a tutor to maintain the minimum grade will be counseled to move to Latin 4. (1 unit; Grades 11, 12, by permission)

LATIN 4/5: THE ROMAN REPUBLIC
In this year-long course, cross-listed in the Classics and History & Social Science Departments, students will examine thoroughly the origins, political systems, expansion, conquests, socioeconomic patterns, and culture of the Roman Republic, a topic that has tremendous relevance for students of classics, history, and anyone who wants better to understand the origins of our own political system.  Students will practice and improve their critical thinking skills by learning how to assess varying perspectives, analyze political, cultural, and economic development over time, think carefully about how we know what we know about this time period, and explore the diversity of Rome while also investigating the ways in which the Romans welcomed and “othered” certain groups of people. The first semester will trace the origins, development, and eventual disintegration of the Roman Republic, from the expulsion of the Roman Kings in 501 BCE up to the death of Augustus in 14 CE. In the second semester, the course becomes a student-directed, research-based course, with students engaging in autonomous exploration of a topic of particular and individual interest, thereby developing and honing essential skills in research, analytical reading and writing, communication, and creativity.  While much of the syllabus will be consistent for all students, those taking the course for Classics credit will read primary sources in Latin, while those taking the course for History credit will read additional sources in English.  (1 unit - either Classics or History & Social Science; Grades 11 and 12; Prerequisites - if taking for Classics credit, completion of Latin 3 or Honors Latin 3; for History & Social Science credit, department approval required; To be offered in alternating years with The Roman Republic/Latin 4/5: The Roman Republic)

LATIN 4/5: The Roman Empire
The focus of this year-long course, cross-listed in the Classics and History & Social Science Departments, is the Roman Empire, a topic that has tremendous relevance for students of history and students of classics, as well as for anyone who wants better to understand the origins of our own political system and how those political systems change over time.  Students will grapple with questions of authority, power, and censorship, and make inquiries into the nature of autocracy and what it means for existing political systems and individual participants in government.  Beginning with the collapse of the Roman Republic and the rise of Octavian, the course will offer a deep dive into the establishment, maintenance, and final fall of the Roman Empire through an investigation of its beginnings in civil war, the changes undergone by Republican political systems, the expansion of Roman territory through conquest, important socioeconomic patterns, and culture of all types, including religion, art, architecture, and Roman daily life. Through this thorough examination, students will enhance their critical thinking skills and their ability to assess varying perspectives, analyze political, cultural, and economic development over time, think carefully about how we know what we know about the Romans, and explore the diversity of the Empire while also examining how the Romans welcomed some and “othered” other groups.  Through autonomous exploration of a topic of particular and individual interest, students will develop essential skills in research, analytical reading and writing, communication, and creativity.  While much of the syllabus will be consistent for all students, those taking the course for Classics credit will read primary sources in Latin, while those taking the course for History credit will read additional sources in English. (1 unit - either Classics or History & Social Science; Grades 11 and 12; Prerequisites - if taking for Classics credit, completion of Latin 3 or Honors Latin 3; for History & Social Science credit, department approval required; To be offered in alternating years with The Roman Republic/Latin 4/5: The Roman Republic)

HONORS LATIN 5
For students who have successfully completed AP Latin, this Latin literature course offers an opportunity to delve more deeply into poetry and prose. In this advanced seminar course, students read a significant amount of diverse Latin prose and poetry: equal emphasis is placed on improving both speed and accuracy of translations and on developing the ability to contextualize this literature within the broader narrative of Roman history. The syllabus for this course is centered on the literature of the tumultuous and intellectually rich period encompassing the end of the Roman Republic and Augustus’ long reign, and students grapple with the upheaval brought about by the transition from Republic to Empire. The choice of individual authors and texts is partly student-driven, and may include readings from, among others, Vergil, Horace, Ovid, Augustus, and Livy. Along with consistent textual and literary analysis, throughout the year, students complete various independent inquiries. (1 unit; Grades 11, 12, by permission)

ADVANCED TOPICS IN LATIN LANGUAGE & LITERATURE
This course is designed for students who have successfully completed Honors Latin 5 and who wish to continue their study of Classics at RCDS. Primarily consisting of in-depth readings of various Roman authors and texts chosen by students in consultation with the teacher, this course includes elements of Latin prose composition, exploration of classical scholarship, and historical and cultural contextualization of Latin literature. Past topics of student exploration include Roman oratory, Roman literacy, the intersections between politics and art, and Greek influences on Roman culture and literature. The final month of the course will be devoted to individual capstone projects. (1 unit; Grade 12, by permission)

ANCIENT GREEK
Note: This course may not be taken to fulfill the language requirement.
The Ancient Greek program at RCDS introduces students to Attic (Athenian) Greek. Greek 1 focuses on the acquisition of a non-Roman alphabet, the system of accentuation, grammar, and vocabulary, and  reading and writing passages of Attic Greek. In Greek 2 and 3, students read the poetry of Homer and the prose of Lysias and Plato, while continuing their acquisition of additional vocabulary and increasingly advanced grammar. Approximately once a cycle, upper-level Greek students teach the Greek 1 course. Please see the Department Chair and Mr. Murray for more details. (Grades 10,11,12)