 | University of Virginia record February, 1914 |  |
Latin.
The Latin units are construed in accordance with the following
Report of the Commission on College-Entrance Requirements in
Latin:
I. Amount and Range of the Reading Required.
1. The Latin reading required of candidates for admission to
college, without regard to the prescription of particular authors and
works, shall be not less in amount than Cæsar, Gallic War, I-IV;
Cicero, the orations against Catiline, for the Manilian Law, and for
Archias; Vergil, Aeneid, I-VI.
2. The amount of reading specified above shall be selected by
the schools from the following authors and works: Cæsar (Gallic
War and the Civil War) and Nepos (Lives); Cicero (orations, letters,
and De Senectute) and Sallust (Catiline and Jugurthine War);
Vergil (Bucolics, Georgics, and Aeneid) and Ovid (Metamorphoses,
Fasti, and Tristia).
II. Subjects and Scope of the Examinations.
1. Translation at Sight. Candidates will be examined in translation
at sight of both prose and verse. The vocabulary, constructions,
preparation secured by the reading indicated above.
2. Prescribed Reading. Candidates will be examined also upon
the following prescribed reading: Cicero, orations for the Manilian
Law and for Archias, and Vergil, Aeneid, I, II, and either IV or
VI at the option of the candidate, with questions on subject-matter,
literary and historical allusions, and prosody. Every paper in which
passages from the prescribed reading are set for translation will
contain also one or more passages for translation at sight; and candidates
must deal satisfactorily with both these parts of the paper, or
they will not be given credit for either part.
3. Grammar and Composition. The examinations in grammar and
composition will demand thorough knowledge of all regular inflections,
all common irregular forms, and the ordinary syntax and
vocabulary of the prose authors read in school, with ability to use
this knowledge in writing simple Latin prose. The words, constructions,
and range of ideas called for in the examinations in composition
will be such as are common in the reading of the year, or
years, covered by the particular examination.
Note. The examinations in grammar and composition may be either in separate
papers or combined with other parts of the Latin examination, at the option of each
individual institution; and nothing in any of the above definitions of the requirements
shall be taken to prevent any college from asking questions on the grammar, prosody,
or subject-matter of any of the passages set for translation, if it so desires.
Suggestions Concerning Preparation.
Exercises in translation at sight should begin in school with
the first lessons in which Latin sentences of any length occur, and
should continue throughout the course with sufficient frequency to
insure correct methods of work on the part of the student. From
the outset particular attention should be given to developing the
ability to take in the meaning of each word—and so, gradually, of
the whole sentence—just as it stands; the sentence should be read
and understood in the order of the original, with full appreciation
of the force of each word as it comes, so far as this can be known
or inferred from that which has preceded and from the form and
the position of the word itself. The habit of reading in this way
should be encouraged and cultivated as the best preparation for all
the translating that the student has to do. No translation, however,
should be a mechanical metaphrase. Nor should it be a mere
loose paraphrase. The full meaning of the passage to be translated,
gathered in the way described above, should finally be expressed
in clear and natural English.
A written examination cannot test the ear or tongue, but proper
instruction in any language will necessarily include the training of
both. The school work in Latin, therefore, should include much
reading aloud, writing from dictation, and translation from the teacher's
reading. Learning suitable passages by heart is also very useful,
and should be more practiced.
The work in composition should give the student a better understanding
of the Latin he is reading at the time, if it is prose, and
greater facility in reading. It is desirable, however, that there should
be systematic and regular work in composition during the time in
which poetry is read as well; for this work the prose authors already
studied should be used as models.
In accordance with the above report, the following detailed description
of the four units of Latin is given:
Latin A. Grammar, Composition, and Translation:—The Roman
pronunciation; habitual observance of accent and quantity; thorough
mastery of the regular forms; the simple rules of word-formation
and derivation; syntax of the cases, tenses, and modes; accusative
and infinitive, relative and conditional sentences, indirect discourse,
and the subjunctive. Translation into Latin of easy detached sentences
illustrating grammatical principles, and of very easy continuous
prose based upon the vocabulary of Cæsar and Cicero. (One
unit.)
Latin B. Grammar, Composition, and Cæsar's Gallic War,
Books I-IV:—A reasonable acquaintance with the time and purpose
of the author; intelligent grasp of the thought; ability to summarize
the narrative as a whole; ready comprehension of the normal forms
and constructions; a reasonable facility in reading at sight passages
of like vocabulary and construction. As much as one book of Cæsar
may be substituted by an equivalent amount of Viri Romae, or other
Latin prose. In connection with all of the reading there must be
constant practice in prose composition, as well as in sight translation.
(One unit.)
Latin C. Grammar, Composition, Cicero's Orations against Catiline,
and Two Others:—A reasonable acquaintance with the time
and circumstances of the Catilinarian conspiracy; intelligent appreciation
of the orator's thought and purpose; ability to summarize
the oration as a whole; readiness in explaining normal forms and
constructions; reasonable facility in reading at sight passages of like
vocabulary and structure. As much as two orations may be substituted
by an equivalent amount of Nepos, or other Latin prose. In
connection with all of the reading there must be constant practice
in prose composition, as well as in sight translation. (One unit.)
Latin D. Grammar, Composition, and Vergil's Aeneid, Books
I-VI:—A reasonable acquaintance with the time and purpose of the
poet; intelligent appreciation of the poet's thought and art; ability
to summarize the story as a whole; acquaintance with the typical
forms and constructions of poetry; practical mastery of the heroic
hexameter; reasonable facility in reading at sight passages of like
vocabulary and difficulty. The third and fifth book of the Aeneid
may be substituted by an equivalent amount of Ovid, or other Latin
epic poetry. In connection with all reading there should be constant
practice in prose composition, as well as in sight translation.
(One unit.)
Greek.
Greek A. Elementary Grammar, Composition, and Translation:
—The examination will test the proficiency of students who have covered
on the inflections of Attic prose, and the fundamental principles
of syntax, and of the translation of detached sentences from
English into Greek, and from Greek into English. (One unit.)
Greek B. Xenophon's Anabasis i-iv, Grammar and Composition:
—Selected passages for translation, with questions testing the student's
knowledge of forms and of syntax and of the subject-matter of
the author; prose composition based on Xenophon. (One unit.)
Modern Languages.
German A. Elementary Grammar, Composition, and Translation:
—The examination will be such as to test the candidate's training
in an elementary course of one session of at least thirty-six weeks,
with five recitation periods a week of at least forty minutes each.
This first year's work should comprise careful drill in pronunciation,
dictation and the rudiments of grammar; abundant easy exercises in
composition both oral and written; and the reading of about 100 pages
of elementary graduated texts. (One unit.)
German B. Intermediate Grammar, Composition, and Translation:—The
examination will cover the second year's work, based on a
one-year elementary course as stated above. Length of session, the
number and length of periods should be as above stated. 300 pages
of German of intermediate grade should be read, with constant drill
in grammar, constant practice in dictation and conversation, daily
oral exercise in rendering English into German and weekly exercises
in German composition. (One unit).
French A. Elementary Grammar, Composition, and Translation:
—The examination will be such as to test the candidate's training in
an elementary course of one session of at least thirty-six weeks, with
five recitation periods a week of at least forty minutes each. During
the first year the work should comprise careful drill in pronunciation,
dictation, and the rudiments of grammar; abundant easy exercises
in composition, both oral and written; and the translation of
150 pages of elementary graduated texts. (One unit.)
French B. Intermediate Grammar, Composition, and Translation:
—The examination will cover the second year's work, based on a
one-year elementary course as stated above. Length of session, the
number and length of periods should be as above stated. During
the second year 450 additional pages of Modern French prose and
poetry should be covered, with continued drill in the grammar, constant
practice in dictation and in conversation, daily oral exercises in
rendering English into French, and periodical written exercises in
French Composition. (One unit.)
Spanish A. Elementary Grammar, Composition, and Translation:—The
general character of the examination will be as above
careful drill in pronunciation, dictation, and the rudiments of
grammar; abundant easy exercises in composition, both oral and
written; and the translation of 150 pages of graduated texts. (One
unit.)
Spanish B. Intermediate Grammar, Composition, and Translation:—The
general character of the examination will be as above
stated under French B. During the second year 450 additional pages
of Modern Spanish prose and poetry should be covered with continued
drill in the grammar, constant practice in dictation and in
conversation, daily oral exercises in rendering English into Spanish,
and periodical written exercises in Spanish Composition. (One unit.)
Science.
Science A. Physical Geography:—The entrance requirements in
Physical Geography include such elementary knowledge of the following
topics, as would be obtained from the study of a text-book
like Maury's "Physical Geography" or Tarr's "Elementary Physical
Geography." The earth as a planet; planetary movements; magnetism
of the earth; internal heat of the earth; volcanoes; earthquakes;
arrangement of land masses; forms of land; relief forms of the continents;
islands; properties of water; waters of the land; drainage;
continental drainage; the sea; the oceans; waves and tides; currents
of the sea; physical properties of the atmosphere; climate; winds
and circulation of the air; storms; moisture of the air; hail; snow and
glaciers; electrical and optical phenomena of the atmosphere; relations
between plants and animals; range of plants and animals;
man, including range of human habitation, division into races, conditions
favorable to civilization, and man's influence on physical
geography; influence of physical geography on the industries of
countries. (One unit.)
Science B. Inorganic Chemistry:—The candidate for entrance
credit in Chemistry should have studied, under a competent teacher,
such a course in the elements of inorganic chemistry as can be covered
in three meetings a week during a nine-months' school year, and
in addition thereto should have worked in the laboratory about one
hundred hours, or enough time to perform intelligently the usual experiments
given in a High School laboratory course. The ground
covered by Remsen's "Introduction to the Study of Chemistry" is the
accepted standard. The student's autograph laboratory notes must
be submitted with the examination paper or entrance certificate.
(One unit.)
Science C. Experimental Physics:—A course of one full year,
covering the topics of Mechanics, Sound, Light, Heat, Electricity,
and Magnetism. The work should include (a) lecture-table demonstrations
text-book work, in which the pupil solves numerical problems; and
(c) laboratory exercises by the pupil—all three embodying fundamental
principles of the subject. In the laboratory work at least
thirty exercises should be performed; the following distribution is
advised: In Mechanics, 14; in Sound, 1; in Light, 5; in Heat, 3; in
Electricity and Magnetism, 7. The pupil's note-book of written reports
on these experiments should be submitted with indication of
acceptance on the part of the teacher. Any one of the standard texts
and laboratory manuals may be followed. (One unit.)
Science D. Botany and Zoölogy:—The entrance examinations in
these two subjects, which together count as a single unit, presuppose
such sound elementary knowledge of the structure and functions of
plants and animals, respectively, and of their classifications, as may
reasonably be regarded as representing a half year's work, in each
case, upon plants or animals with the aid of such a text-book on the
one hand, as Coulter's "Plant Structure," and on the other by Jordan
and Kellogg's "Animal Forms;" or other books of similar grade
and character. (One unit.)
In each case the candidate will be required to submit (with his
certificate of preparation or his written examination) his own laboratory
notes and drawings as an evidence of the amount and character
of the direct personal work done by him upon the plants or the
animals, which he has studied.
Drawing and Shop-Work.
Drawing: Mechanical and Projection Drawing:—Projections of
cubes, prisms, and pyramids in simple positions; method of revolving
the solid into new positions; method of changing the planes of projection;
projections of the three round bodies in simple positions
and in revolved positions; sections by planes parallel to the planes
of projections; sections by inclined planes; developments of prisms,
pyramids, cylinders, and cones; intersections of polyedra and curved
surfaces; distances from a point to a point or a plane or a line; angles
between planes and lines. (One unit.)
Shop-Work: Wood-Work, Forging and Machine-Work:—The
candidate must present valid certificates covering at least 240 hours of
competent instruction with adequate appliances in these topics.
About 80 hours should be devoted to wood-work, 40 to forging, and
120 to machine-work. He should be familiar with the usual shop
processes, the standard methods of work, and the properties of the
ordinary constructive materials. (One unit.)
In these units a practical examination in drawing and in shop-work
is given to validate the certificate of training.
| University of Virginia record February, 1914 | |