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Classes

NSA Syllabus; Plato's Apology

Cicero declares that the great achievement of Socrates was in bringing philosophy down from the skies to dwell among men.  It is impossible to engage the classics without meeting Socrates and his enquires into what is pious, what is impious, what is bravery, what is city, etc. Socrates formulated these questions in such a way that has forever shaped history.

The goal of this class is to meet Socrates in his last hours as recorded by his star pupil, Plato and read the story and words that have shaped so much of western civilization.  This class will also highlight elements of classical Greek not found in the New Testament to encourage and equip students to handle the classics in the original languages.

To meet this goal we will work through as much of Helm’s text as is manageable in the term.  Working through the text will include students translating the Apology and keeping a note book of vocabulary, grammar and principal parts that they had to look up which were not included in Helm’s notes.  Students will also read the entire Apology in English and make brief recitation presentations discussing what Plato and Socrates intended and current applications of the Apology.

1. Required Texts

2. Recommended Texts

3. Course Tips

4. Course Requirements

5. Schedule

1. Required Texts

James J. Helm (Editor). Plato: Apology. (Greek and English Online: Perseus)

Herber W. Smyth. Greek Grammar. (Available Online: http://www.biblicalgreek.org/links/classical.php#helps)

2. Recommended Texts

Online Grammars

William Goodwin.  Greek Grammar. (Available Online)

William Goodwin. Syntax of Moods and Tenses. (Available Online)

J.D. Denniston. The Greek Particles. (Available Online)

Luschnig's Reading Notes for the Apology (Available Online)

Online Translations

Benjamin Jowett. The Euthyphro, Apology, Crito, and Phaedo: Apology; Crito; Phaedo
(Available Online)

Harold North Fowler. (Loeb) Plato 1: Euthyphro, Apology, Crito, Phaedo, Phaedrus (Euthyphro, Apology, Crito, Phaedo, Phaedrus) (Available Online, Perseus)

If you would like to purchase hard copies of these texts you can find more information about them and price comparisons at http://www.biblicalgreek.org/books/Refs.php#classicalgrammars

Online Commentaries

http://www.friesian.com/apology.htm

Books

Benjamin Jowett. The Euthyphro, Apology, Crito, and Phaedo: Apology; Crito; Phaedo (Great Books in Philosophy) (Available Online)

Harold North Fowler. (Loeb) Plato 1: Euthyphro, Apology, Crito, Phaedo, Phaedrus (Euthyphro, Apology, Crito, Phaedo, Phaedrus) (Available Online, Perseus)

F. J. Church. Plato : Euthyphro, Apology, Crito

Thomas G. West, Grace Starry West. Four Texts on Socrates: Plato's Euthyphro, Apology, and Crito and Aristophanes' Clouds (Translation and Commentary)

Louis Dyer. Plato Apology of Socrates and Crito, With Extracts from the Phaedo and Symposium and from Xenophon's Memorabilia (public domain, not online yet)

E. De Strycker. Plato's Apology of Socrates: A Literary and Philosophical Study With a Running Commentary

3. Course Tips

The online Apology though Perseus can be very useful in writing your own notes (if you chose to type).  Sometimes the site is slow or inaccessible so I suggest you use my links from my classical Greek aids page which contain alternate mirror sites in England and Germany.  I also have instructions on configuring your display, cutting and pasting, and fonts.

http://www.biblicalgreek.org/links/classical.php#texts

Helpful Links:
http://www.csun.edu/~hcfll004/ApologyPlato.html This site has a nice outline of the apology
http://www.wku.edu/~jan.garrett/120/apolarga.htm This is an attempt to distill the apology into a strict logical form

4. Course Requirements

I. Participation (10%)

By its very nature language is a skill that involves participation.  Not only are students expected to attend every class (Unexcused absences will always negatively effect final grades and students are responsible for all missed class notes and materials.) but students should come to class on time, with readings and homework completed, prepared to participate fully, and remain for the entire class time unless prior approval is granted.  Students are expected to participate actively in class discussion with appropriate Christian humility, charity, and respect.

II. Quizzes (15%)

Each class and recitation will begin with a short quiz that will cover assigned vocabulary, principal parts, paradigms, and grammar.

III. Recitation Presentations (20%)

Each student will develop a presentation for a designated recitation.  The presentation will discuss the matter of what Plato and Socrates intended and/or current applications of the Apology.  Presentations should involve points from previous classes and recitations as well as further independent research.  Above all, each presentation should have a clearly articulated thesis supported by tightly reasoned arguments (Make Socrates proud.).

IV. Midterm Examination (30%)

There will be a midterm examination during the term.  The exam will mainly cover the material in the daily assignments.  There may also be some sight-reading, as well as an essay question pertaining to the reading.

V. The National Biblical Greek Exam (10%)

As a way to encourage a constant review of past (but common) paradigms and grammar, students will be required to take the National Biblical Greek Exam. The class ID code is 5424. The exam is multiple-choice and may be taken multiple times.

VI. Final Oral Exam (15%)

There will be a final oral exam, which will have the same format as the midterm but cover more recent class material.  The score on this exam will be factored into the overall final examination grade.

VII. Online Forum Participation (Extra Credit)

An online forum may be found at www.BiblicalGreek.org/forum.  Please use this organ as way to ask questions or offers helpful comments on things, which you have learned.  If you are especially inquisitive and helpful throughout the term on the forum you will receive some extra credit (up to 5%) on your course grade.

4. Schedule

Important Dates

November 14th Mid Term Exam

November 18th Recitation Cancelled for ETS/SBL trip

November 21st -25th Thanksgiving Break

December 9th NBGE due

Assignments and Presentation Schedule