PROMPT: The Block Plan at Colorado College has a tradition of innovation and flexibility. Please design your own three-and-a-half week intellectual adventure and describe what you would do.
any feedback/corrections in error will be greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance!
Not many people know about the significance of the Latin language and the Roman culture. All of the Romance languages, as well as the English language, contain numerous words derived from the Latin language. Surprisingly, many Spanish and French words derive from Latin words. The Latin language was specifically used by descendants of Rome. The people of Rome had a distinctive lifestyle and culture. The Romans wore distinct clothing, ate unique foods, and celebrated occasional holidays. Even some of our modern day practices were originated from the Roman culture, such as Saturnalia, which in the modern day would be referred as Christmas. Students will be Romans by dressing, eating, and celebrating the different customs of the ancient Romans. Students will be immersed into the Latin language, by not only learning the basic principles of Latin, but will also read works written in Latin by ancient Greek and Roman writers, such as Vergil, Catullus, and Ovid.
In the first week, Students will learn the basic principles of the Latin language, by learning Latin words, basic verb tenses and different usages of cases. Students will also learn how to translate and read basic Latin readings and short stories. During the first week, Students will be immersed into the Roman culture by dressing like the Romans. They will learn how to wear Roman clothing, such as togas and will wear them when the class is held. They will also make Roman accessories for ladies, such as the vitta, which was a woolen fillet woven into the hair to make a bun. Throughout the Block program, not only will they be taught about the Roman culture, but they will be involved in learning how to act, cook, and dress like the Romans. They will also learn how to make simple Roman dishes such as, gustatio, a hors d'oeuvre, specifically an egg dish, and will be able to eat their workings. Each week they will learn how to make a new dish. The first week, being a traditional hors d'oeurve, the second being the main course, known as the cena, and the final week they will make the dessert, known as the secundae mensae.
In the second week, Students will learn more advanced Latin words and vocabulary. They will now be able to read texts by Roman and Greek writers, such as workings from Vergil, Catullus, and Ovid. They will be able to read a portion of Book I of the Aeneid by Vergil, poems by Catullus, and poems from Amores by Ovid. They will translate and read texts by the authors, and also will analyze and hold a class discussion about why the authors choose to write about specific the characters went through specific challenges in the literature. For example, they may discuss why Vergil chooses to write the Aeneid and how Vergil characterizes Aeneas using different figure of speeches throughout Book I of the Aeneid.
During the last week and a half, students will celebrate their last journey of becoming an official Roman citizen, by celebrating Roman holidays that was annually celebrated by the ancient Romans. One holiday they will celebrate is Saturnalia, which was a day to honor the Gods. Saturnalia is characterized as the most popular Roman holidays, marked by role reversal and gift giving. They will celebrate Saturnalia by giving each other presents, such as candles. A role reversal will occur in the classroom, in which the students will teach the teacher more about the Roman culture, such as Roman weddings. During these celebrations, they will learn how to play games played by the Roman children and adults, such as nuces, which was a game played with nuts. To conclude the Block, students will read a portion of the play Bacchides, by Plautus. Students will be assigned characters from the play and will dress, use accents, hand gestures, and postures of the character. They will prepare and research about the characters in the play. At the end of the Block program, students will hold a play on the Pike Peak Mountains and it will be held for all of the students and faculty members of CC to attend.
In addition to what was said above,
1. I think you should start a new paragraph from "Students will be Romans by dressing, eating, and celebrating the different customs of the ancient Romans."
2. Each week they will learn how to make a new dish: a traditional hors d'oeuvre the first week, the main course, known as the cena the second; and the final week they will make the dessert, known as the secundae mensae.
3. They will now be able to read texts by Roman and Greek writers, such as workings from Vergil, Catullus, and Ovid.
4. They will translate and read texts by the authors, and also will analyze and hold a class discussion about why the authors had chosen to write about specific the characters went through specific challenges in the literature. - I would revise this sentence.
5. ...students will celebrate their lastfinish the journey of becoming an official Roman citizens ...
