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Unit outline_

LATN3604: Latin Republican Poetry

Semester 1, 2024 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

This unit expands students' knowledge of the poetry of the Republic and Augustan era through study of one or more important texts from this influential period in Rome's literary history. The focus of the unit will be on the interpretation, literary appreciation and generic and/or historical background of the texts. Language skills will continue to be tested and developed by periodic exercises in unseen translation.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit Classics and Ancient History
Credit points 6
Prerequisites
? 
12 credit points at 2000 level in Latin
Corequisites
? 
None
Prohibitions
? 
None
Assumed knowledge
? 

None

Available to study abroad and exchange students

Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator Anne Rogerson, anne.rogerson@sydney.edu.au
The census date for this unit availability is 2 April 2024
Type Description Weight Due Length
Supervised exam
? 
Exam
Exam, involving translation of and comment on passages from the set texts
45% Formal exam period 2 hours
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7
Small test In-class tests
Short in-class tests requiring translation of and comment on seen passages
10% Multiple weeks 250 words x 2
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO7 LO5
Assignment Essay
An essay on a self-devised topic relating to the set texts
45% Week 13
Due date: 23 May 2024 at 23:59
2,000 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6

Assessment summary

  • In-class translation and comment tests: There will be three short in-class tests requiring translation of and comment on seen passages to assess understanding of the Latin and of elegiac style and themes. The best two of three will count to the final grade.
  • Essay: A 2,000-word essay will require discussion of how either Ovid or Sulpicia respond to earlier Roman elegy.
  • Exam: The final exam will be held in the formal exam period. You will be asked to translate and comment on a selection of passages from the poems studied. You will be also be required to scan three elegiac couplets. A sample exam will be provided.

Assessment criteria

Fail (Below 50%)

Work not of an acceptable standard.

  • demonstrates very limited ability to translate parts of the Latin of the prescribed texts
  • shows little or no understanding of the content of the prescribed texts
  • demonstrates little awareness of literary features of the literature being studied
  • recognises few grammatical forms
  • recognises only a few words in unprepared passages of Latin verse and a very limited capacity to identify their syntactic relations

Low Pass (50-54%)

Work of an acceptable standard.

  • demonstrates a limited ability to translate parts of the Latin of the prescribed texts
  • shows some understanding of the content of the prescribed texts
  • demonstrates a partial awareness of literary features of the literature being studied
  • recognises some grammatical forms
  • demonstrates knowledge of a number of words in an unprepared passages of Latin verse and some awareness of their syntactic relations

Medium Pass (55-59%)

Work of a satisfactory standard.

  • demonstrates the ability to translate parts of the Latin of the prescribed texts
  • shows understanding of much of the content of the prescribed texts
  • recognises and comments at a basic level on some literary and stylistic features of the literature being studied
  • recognises many grammatical forms and demonstrates a basic understanding of their function
  • presents a translation into English of unprepared passages Latin verse which manages to make sense of some contents even if it shows little understanding of the passage as a whole.

High Pass (60-64%)

Competent work, though Honours is not recommended.

  • demonstrates an ability to translate much of the Latin of the prescribed texts with some accuracy reflecting a basic understanding of the context and intention of the original
  • shows a basic understanding of the content of the prescribed texts
  • demonstrates some general knowledge of literary forms and an awareness of the stylistic features of the literature being studied
  • recognises most grammatical forms and demonstrates a sound understanding of their function
  • presents a translation into English of unprepared passages of Latin verse which shows an understanding of much of the passage being read, but not the passage as a whole.

Low Credit (65-69%)

Competent work of considerable merit, demonstrating potential to complete Honours work, though further development needed to do so successfully.

  • demonstrates an ability to translate the Latin of the prescribed texts into English in a manner which reflects the meaning and tone of the original with accuracy
  • shows knowledge and understanding of the content and the cultural and historical background of the prescribed texts
  • demonstrates a good understanding of the literary qualities and stylistic features of the literature being studied
  • recognises all grammatical forms and demonstrates a thorough understanding of their function
  • presents a generally accurate translation into English of unprepared passages of Latin verse conveying the overall sense of the original.

High Credit (70-74%)

Highly competent work, demonstrating clear capacity to complete Honours successfully.

  • demonstrates an ability to translate the Latin of the prescribed texts into English in a manner which reflects the meaning and tone of the original with accuracy
  • shows knowledge and understanding of the content and the cultural and historical background of the prescribed texts
  • demonstrates a good understanding of the literary qualities and stylistic features of the literature being studied
  • recognises all grammatical forms and demonstrates a thorough understanding of their function
  • presents a generally accurate translation into English of unprepared passages of Latin verse conveying the overall sense of the original

Distinction (75-84%)

Work of a superior standard.

  • demonstrates a superior ability to translate the Classical Greek or Latin of the prescribed texts into English in a manner which closely reflects the meaning and tone of the original
  • shows extensive knowledge and understanding of the content and the cultural and historical background of the prescribed texts
  • demonstrates a thorough understanding and an appreciation of the literary qualities and stylistic features of the literature being studied
  • shows a thorough control of grammatical forms and demonstrates a comprehensive understanding of their functions
  • presents an accurate translation into English of unprepared passages of Latin verse, reflecting the meaning and tone of the original.

High Distinction (85%+)

Work of exceptional standard.

  • demonstrates exceptional proficiency in the translation of the Latin of the prescribed texts into English with unfailing precision and accuracy
  • shows a profound knowledge and understanding of the content and the cultural and historical background of the prescribed texts
  • demonstrates an exceptionally deep understanding and appreciation of the literary qualities and stylistic features of the literature being studied
  • shows a complete mastery of grammatical forms and demonstrates a precise understanding of their functions
  • presents a precise and accurate translation into English of unprepared passages of Latin verse, perfectly reproducing the meaning and tone of the original.

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

  • Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
  • After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and automated writing tools

You may only use generative AI and automated writing tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator. If you do use these tools, you must acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section. The assessment instructions or unit outline will give guidance of the types of tools that are permitted and how the tools should be used.

Your final submitted work must be your own, original work. You must acknowledge any use of generative AI tools that have been used in the assessment, and any material that forms part of your submission must be appropriately referenced. For guidance on how to acknowledge the use of AI, please refer to the AI in Education Canvas site.

The unapproved use of these tools or unacknowledged use will be considered a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy and penalties may apply.

Studiosity is permitted unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission as detailed on the Learning Hub’s Canvas page.

Outside assessment tasks, generative AI tools may be used to support your learning. The AI in Education Canvas site contains a number of productive ways that students are using AI to improve their learning.

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

Support for students

The Support for Students Policy 2023 reflects the University’s commitment to supporting students in their academic journey and making the University safe for students. It is important that you read and understand this policy so that you are familiar with the range of support services available to you and understand how to engage with them.

The University uses email as its primary source of communication with students who need support under the Support for Students Policy 2023. Make sure you check your University email regularly and respond to any communications received from the University.

Learning resources and detailed information about weekly assessment and learning activities can be accessed via Canvas. It is essential that you visit your unit of study Canvas site to ensure you are up to date with all of your tasks.

If you are having difficulties completing your studies, or are feeling unsure about your progress, we are here to help. You can access the support services offered by the University at any time:

Support and Services (including health and wellbeing services, financial support and learning support)
Course planning and administration
Meet with an Academic Adviser

WK Topic Learning activity Learning outcomes
Multiple weeks Introductory seminars on elegy, Catullus, Tibullus, Propertius and Ovid Lecture (1 hr) LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Translation and discussion of the set texts (detailed schedule available in Canvas) Seminar (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7
In-class set text translation and comment assessments Practical (1 hr) LO1 LO4 LO5 LO7

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Required readings

The set texts are detailed on the Canvas site: we will be reading selections of elegiac poetry by Catullus, Tibullus, Propertius, Ovid and Sulpicia.

All poems to be read may be found in Paul Allen Miller's (2002), Latin erotic elegy: an anthology and reader, which is available online via the library website and also offers helpful commentary and notes (https://sydney.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/permalink/61USYD_INST/1c0ug48/alma991014710029705106)

A bibliography listing other commentaries, and a wide range of articles, chapters, and monographs will be available on the Canvas site.

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

  • LO1. Critically analyse the Latin poetry of Republican Rome, paying close attention to poets’ use of language to construct meaning
  • LO2. Demonstrate an advanced understanding of one or more genres of Latin poetry
  • LO3. Demonstrate competence in the terminology and theory used in the academic study of Latin literature
  • LO4. Demonstrate an understanding of the ways in which Latin literature reflects the cultural and political concerns of Roman society
  • LO5. Construct and defend coherent and valid evidence-based arguments about Latin literature and its interpretation
  • LO6. Demonstrate high-level skills in critical thinking, and the ability to work independently and creatively
  • LO7. Translate the Latin poetry of Republican Rome accurately into English

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1 Depth of disciplinary expertise

Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.

GQ2 Critical thinking and problem solving

Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.

GQ3 Oral and written communication

Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.

GQ4 Information and digital literacy

Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.

GQ5 Inventiveness

Generating novel ideas and solutions.

GQ6 Cultural competence

Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.

GQ7 Interdisciplinary effectiveness

Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.

GQ8 Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity

An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.

GQ9 Influence

Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes Graduate qualities
GQ1 GQ2 GQ3 GQ4 GQ5 GQ6 GQ7 GQ8 GQ9

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

Over several iterations of 3,000 level Latin units I have used student feedback to inform my text choices, adjust the amount and difficulty of the texts read, rebalance assessment weighting and types, and plan the reading schedule of the unit.

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.