This, the fourth in Purdue's four-semester sequence in Classical Greek, is designed to continue the student's exposure to classical Attic prose, and to increase fluency in reading. This semester we will concentrate on a reading of Aristotle's Poetics, with attention (first and foremost) to matters of grammar, syntax, and vocabulary, but also to the cultural and literary situation into which Aristotle is writing; and, of course, to the astounding impact this tiny treatise has had on the subsequent literary history of the Western world. The prerequisite is Greek 201 or permission of the instructor. Class format will focus primarily on the review and discussion of nightly reading assignments in Greek and English.

COURSE POLICIES. By enrolling in this course you contract to abide by the following policies:
[1] Grading: Your grade will result from the following profile: 50% attendance, homework, general class participation, and quizzes; 20% midterm test; 30% final examination. UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES ARE EXTENSIONS OR 'INCOMPLETES' GIVEN FOR THE COURSE. You will note that regular preparation of work, and the ability to contribute to the class dialogue, is very important to your grade. More significant, it is very important to the way one learns. Your contribution to the class matters; your classmates learn from what you say and do, as you do from them. Think about that.
[2] Tests: The midterm and final may be made up ONLY [a] with a signed medical excuse and [b] within seven calendar days of the original test. The student is on his/her honor not to discuss the original test with those who have taken it. Quizzes, announced or unannounced, may not be made up.
[3] Attendance: attendance is required by University regulation and is not optional. NO absence is justified without a medical excuse signed by an M.D. (do not ask me to contact your physician; it is your responsibility to provide documentation). ATTENDANCE IS ESSENTIAL. Everyone, however, has genuine non-medical emergencies, at one time or another; thus 3 absences or less will not result in a grade penalty; for 4 unexcused absences, the final grade will be dropped one full letter; for 5 unexcused absences, the final grade will be dropped two full letters; if the student has 6 or more unexcused absences, the result is an automatic F. This is not to be ogreish, but to encourage you to establish responsible habits.
[4] Books: please buy all the books listed as required for the course; and buy them now, because bookstores are notorious for sending back to the publishers copies they deem 'not needed.' Moreover, please buy THE VERY EDITIONS I HAVE ORDERED, as I want us all to be looking at the same edition of a given text.
[5] Special Needs: The Americans with Disabilities Act requires the University to make reasonable allowances for special difficulties associated with various disabilities. If you have special disability-related needs that may affect your performance in this course, please speak to me privately by no later than the first class-day of the second week of the semester.
[6] Academic Integrity: Please remember that cheating, plagiarism, and all other forms of academic dishonesty are very serious offences. Any student who is shown to have violated the University Regulations in this regard will receive an automatic F for the course, and may be subject to additional retribution. It is your responsibility to learn what is meant by plagiarism and to abide by the University regulations concerning same.
[7] Classroom behavior: It goes without saying that we are all here to learn. For this to happen, we must all work together to create an environment where intellectual discourse can occur freely, without fear of ridicule or rudeness of any kind. Be respectful of one anotherís ideas, however strange they may initially seem to you. Also, please refrain from making any racial, ethnic, religious, sexual and/or sexist slurs. Once again, and rightly so, University regulations do not condone such intolerance.
[8] Individual appointments: My office is in 155 Stanley Coulter Hall; office hours are Tuesdays at 3:00 pm, Wednesdays at 2:30 pm, and at other times by appointment. In any case, it is my policy to be readily available to you and to help you in any way possible. You can call and leave a message for me at the Comparative Literature office (494-3850) during business hours.

REQUIRED TEXTS (Books available for purchase at Von's Books except as noted):
Janko, Richard, ed. Aristotle. Poetics. Indianapolis: Hackett 1987.
Kassel, Rudolf, ed. Aristotelis ars poetica. Oxford: Clarendon Press 1965.
Kirby, John T. Aristotle's Poetics: A Reader's Commentary on the Greek Text. Manuscript in progress -- available for purchase at a photocopy shop to be announced.
Smyth, Herbert Weir. Greek Grammar. Revised by Gordon Messing. Cambridge MA: Harvard University Press 1920, revised edition 1956.

RECOMMENDED TEXTS (Not required):
H. G. Liddell and Robert Scott. An Intermediate Greek-English Lexicon. Oxford: Clarendon Press 1945.

READINGS ON RESERVE AT THE UGRL:
Butcher, S. H. Aristotle's Theory of Poetry and Fine Art.
Else, G. F. Aristotle's Poetics: The Argument.
Lucas, D. W. (ed.) Aristotle: Poetics.
Halliwell, S. Aristotle's Poetics.