Module Syllabus 2022/23
This book contains the module syllabus for HPGR7013 Intensive Greek 1 2022/23. The module syllabus is our go-to document for information about module aims, learning outcomes, contacts, practicalities and assessment.
Module Code: HPGR7013
Credit points: 30
Pre-requisites/restrictions: n/a
Taught: Semester 1
Lecturer: James Oakley
GENERAL INFORMATION
This module introduces
the study of Greek to students with no previous knowledge of the language. The
module introduces students to basic key grammatical patterns and structures,
and a basic core vocabulary, so that they can identify the function performed
by the individual words in a Greek sentence and so translate short adapted
passages of ancient Greek. This module also introduces the student to
'dictionary skills': how to work back to the form of a Greek word to be looked
up, from its form in a text; how to take into account the range of meanings and
connotations many Greek words carry. Students will work on a variety of
grammatical exercises and on the reading and translation of specially adapted
texts. In so doing, students will slowly gain a solid foundation both to
progress to Intensive Greek II and to appreciate better the ancient world of
the Greeks.
COURSE MATERIALS AND
MOODLE
All information
regarding this course, including class handouts, this module syllabus,
assessment details and grammar podcasts will be available in the Moodle space
for this course. Further, the Moodle space for this course will offer you a
discussion board, where you can ask questions and discuss aspects of the course
with your fellow students and me. Please read the information provided on
Moodle carefully; Moodle will be the main interface for communication about
our module. If you have trouble accessing any of this material or the
Moodle space for this course in general, please contact me as soon as possible.
For live webinars and
submission of our formative, weekly "homework" assignments, we will
use Microsoft Teams. Please download the Teams app to your device from the
right-hand side bar here on Moodle and log on with your student log-in details.
An initial vidcast will showcase our Moodle page.
AIM(S)
To
enable students who have no or very little prior knowledge of the language to
gain a knowledge of ancient Greek grammar and syntax.
LEARNING
OUTCOMES
Upon
the successful completion of this module, the student should be able to
demonstrate:
·
the ability to
translate complex adapted passages;
·
a thorough
knowledge of grammar and syntax;
·
the ability to
acquire a basic vocabulary of approximately 500 words;
·
dictionary
skills.
Please feel free to contact me if you would like to
discuss any problems you may have concerning this
module. The easiest way to contact me is to email me at
j.oakley@uwtsd.ac.uk and set up an appointment for us to chat on Microsoft
Teams.
You can also ask questions (not confidential) on the
discussion board available in the Moodle space for this course. This is
particularly useful when you just need to quickly check something in the
material we cover each week - your fellow students can often help with an
answer, too!
ORGANISATION AND
ACCESS TO VIDCAST CLASSES
This 30 credit module
is taught via distance learning and class materials (e.g. vidcast lectures) are
provided on our Moodle page. Throughout the semester, you will find a
designated introductory lecture on new material covered each week, and either a
recorded follow-up webinar or a follow-up vidcast discussing common problems in
the non-assessed assignments.
Using class vidcasts:
All classes
introducing new material will be vidcast and available online. Vidcasts can be
viewed via Moodle links, but you can also download materials as podcasts and
mp3 files for use where you do not necessarily have full internet/computer
access.
Vidcasts & frequently
asked questions:
If you email a
question about the course that is of interest to everyone, I will address it in
a vidcast seminar or on the Moodle Q&A Forum rather than by return email,
so that everyone gets access to the information. Typical examples of this might
be questions about the contents of the exam nearing the exam period, or
questions about how to get access to a particular electronic resource, or how
to use the dictionary effectively. It is therefore important for you to
follow the vidcasts even if you cannot participate live.
Joining
the class live:
Distance learners are
encouraged to participate in classes online by joining the live webinars for
specifically for distance learners. This gives you the opportunity to take
active part in the work in the class room, to ask and answer questions live.
You can participate on a number of different levels that can flexibly fit the
setting from which you join - from the office during lunch, from the library,
from the living room or from your commute.
Live participation is
not compulsory - we know many of you juggle other important commitments as well
as your studies, and some of you will be in different time zones to most of us
- but occasionally joining the group live or following us regularly has been
appreciated by distance learners in the past as a way of getting peer support
for working through the material.
We will be using
Microsoft Teams, provided by the UWTSD and downloadable from the Student Hwb
webpage or via links to Microsoft apps in the right hand sidebar here on
Moodle. Please note that you will need to log in with your UWTSD log-in details
rather than any personal Teams account that you may have. You can run Teams on
a range of devices, e.g. smartphones, tablets, laptops or desktop
computers.
·
Join with audio and video through Microsoft
Teams: In order to do this effectively, you need a webcam and, preferably, a
headset. If you haven't got access to a microphone/headphones
headset, just using normal headphones will make a considerable difference in
avoiding echoes etc.
·
Join with audio only: here, too, a headset is
strongly recommended. If you like, you can combine this with chatting.
·
Join via live chat: listen in on the
classroom discussion, but submit your comments/questions via chat.
For all of the above,
it is advisable to make sure that your internet connection is reasonably
reliable and the signal not too weak before getting started. I am very happy to
make 'test calls' in preparation.
All assessment on
this module is online and ‘open book’. There are two assessment components
(described below).
Assessment Component 1 – 50%
Portfolio consisting of:
1. 1.
One hour online time test covering material up to and including Section 2 in Reading Greek. This time test will take
place on 4th
November. It will be available from 09.00 to 23.59 UK time.
1.2.
One hour online time test covering
material up to and including Section 5 in Reading Greek. This time test
will take place on 9th December. It will be available from 09.00 to
23.59 UK time.
Assessment Component 2 – 50%
One two-hour exam
The exam, which constitutes 50% of your final mark, will last 2 hours
and will occur in the January exam period. As for the time tests, you will be able to take the exam at any point
during the set day (UK times will apply), between 9 am and midnight. The exam
will cover content up to and including Section 7H in Reading Greek. This
will also be an online exam.
All assessments on
this module are ‘open book’, i.e. you may use aids such as dictionaries,
vocabulary lists, grammars, etc. The difficulty and extent of the assessments
is such that it is only possible to obtain a pass mark if sufficiently
prepared: you should not rely on being able to check or look up individual
answers. For both time tests and exam, preparatory quizzes will be provided so
that you can familiarise yourself with the format. Online quizzes can only be
attempted once and once started, must be completed within the set time limit of
one hour (time tests) or two hours (exam).
Although you are
allowed to use a dictionary during the time tests and the exam, this does not
mean that you will not have to learn any vocabulary and it is extremely
important that you build up a working vocabulary as soon as possible. You will
need to spend some time learning the vocabulary given at the beginning of each
unit („a little revision, and often‟ is the ideal practice for doing
this). The extra vocabulary underneath the texts should not be learned. You may
want to start a vocabulary booklet or vocabulary cards to help you memorise the
Greek and you may find it beneficial to test yourself at regular intervals.
Remember too that vocabulary is not really something which can be taught; it is
something which you must memorise for yourself.
Throughout
the semester, you should submit 'home work' for
feedback on a weekly basis. This work is not marked formally but aimed to help
you work through new material, grammatical and syntactical concepts.
In addition to
individual feedback, your submissions will form the basis for the weekly
'feedback webinars', where we will discuss and revise these assignments.
Our classes are structured around a gradual progression
through the material, moving slightly faster in the first half of the course,
and allowing slightly more time for the more complex material in the second
half. For this reason, you have more or longer assignments some weeks, and
shorter ones toward the end of the semester.
For the weekly assignments, we are using translations
from given sections in Reading Greek. Text and Vocabulary, jumping
into the Grammar and Exercises book on specific weeks only. By week,
our schedule for formative assignments is as follows:
2. Translation 1D -
16.10.22
3. Translation 2B - 23.10.22
4. Translation 3B - 30.10.22
5. Test exercise Three C-E
Grammar and Exercises
book, p. 69. 02.11.22 NB Wednesday!
6. Test exercise Four C-D Grammar and Exercises book,
p. 90-91. - 13.11.22
7. Translation 5B - 20.11.22
8. Test exercise Six Grammar and Exercises book,
p. 132-133. - 27.11.22
9. Translation 7D - 04.12.22
10. Test exercise Seven Grammar and Exercises book,
p. 158-159. 07.12.22 NB Wednesday!
You will submit these assignments via moodle.
Scaled marks
Students are advised
that in accordance with university policy, on CL7101 language marks over 70%
are scaled down using the following formula: any mark over 70 is divided by 3;
i.e. 100% becomes 80%. This is done in order to avoid skewing of final degree
results.
Special needs /
requirements
If you have any
special needs (e.g. dyslexia, visual impairment) that need to be taken into
account for the teaching of this module, please make sure that our Welfare
Officer, Dr Jeni Williams (j.m.williams@uwtsd.ac.uk), is made aware of this so
that we can make sure that we fully support you in your studies.
First (70%+): completes the translation very
well, with only a few minor slips or one major error; demonstrates a command of
the Latin/Greek exceptional for the level; demonstrates excellent grasp of
grammar, syntax, and vocabulary, and possibly stylistic sensitivity both in
Latin/Greek and in English. Within this class the following bands should also
be distinguished: (80-89%): fulfils the above criteria to an outstanding
degree; extremely accurate and independent translation, with no major and only
a few minor slips; English deployed in such a way as to communicate the nuances
and tone of the original. (90-100%): fulfils the above criteria to an
exceptional degree.
Upper second (60-69%): translation is largely
accurate, although with intermittent errors; demonstrates a sound grasp of the
Latin/Greek and of grammar, syntax, and vocabulary; demonstrates a degree of
fluency.
Lower second (50-59%): translation is accurate in
parts, but may show substantial misunderstandings in others; demonstrates a
fair grasp of Latin/Greek and of grammar, syntax, and vocabulary; may not make
entirely continuous sense, may be unidiomatic.
Third (40-49%): at least half of the translation
is rendered satisfactorily; may not make continuous sense; likely to exhibit
reliance on guesswork; demonstrates some knowledge of Latin/Greek and of
grammar, syntax, and more common vocabulary, but also substantial deficiencies.
Fail (0-39%): less than half of the translation
is rendered satisfactorily; makes only occasional sense, is lacunose, and
exhibits heavy reliance on guesswork; demonstrates inadequate or no
understanding of Latin/Greek and widespread ignorance of grammar, syntax, and
even common vocabulary. Within this class the following bands should also be
distinguished: (20-39%): less than half of the translation is rendered
satisfactorily; the translation may show a few of the more positive qualities
of third class work, but not in any sustained way.(0-20%):
no attempt has been made to translate the passage, or only a few isolated words
have been translated correctly.