Comparison Chart AP Latin & DE Latin

AP Latin or DE Latin

MOST TJ Latin students, after the normal progression of Latin 1, Latin 2, and Latin 3, will be ready to take AP Latin, and after that, if they have not yet graduated, Latin Dual Enrollment (DE).

Comparison Chart 

AP Latin (1.0 weight)DE Latin (1.0 weight)

Curriculum and syllabus

  • Curriculum driven by College Board
  • Syllabus and specific texts designed to prepare students for the AP Exam in May

Curriculum and syllabus

  • Curriculum designed in conjunction with NOVA
  • Advanced study of Roman poetry, analysis of texts, and writing in Latin

N.B.–Students will have the most success taking this after AP Latin or Latin 4 HN; it is not recommended right after Latin 3

Thematic units

  • Poetic style, meter, and literary devices
  • Study of epic through readings of Vergil’s Aeneid; mythology of the Trojan War
  • Augustan leadership and propaganda
  • History and culture of the 1st c. BC–1st c. AD
  • Epistolography–the art of letters and Pliny the Younger
  • Additional prose and poetry authors as time permits

Thematic units

  • Building on meters and poetic style from AP
  • Analysis of the works of Catullus, Ovid, Horace, and Sulpicia
  • Additional research, writing, and discussion of scholarly articles
  • Introduction to writing in Latin meter as well as developing a commentary for a new text

Readings of Neo-Latin from the 17th–18th c., such as Newton and Halley

Classroom experience

  • Classes consist of discussion, translation, collaborative and independent work with varied class activities
  • Advanced interactive class discussions, research, oral presentations, other AP activities and practice, cultural events
  • Introduction of scholarly resources to develop advanced analytical skills

Classroom experience

  • Classes build on skills developed in the AP classroom
  • Classes consist of discussion, translation, collaborative and independent work

Advanced scholarly research

Assessments and other graded work

  • Assessments develop skills in translation and analysis for AP exam success, focusing on AP-style questions and essays
  • Quarterly projects to complement the AP curriculum

Assessments and other graded work

  • Assessments are fewer but longer than in AP, focusing on textual analysis, essays, and sight translation

4th-quarter work centers around several group projects and a culminating independent project developed through a proposal process

Homework expectations

  • Homework assigned after each class, averaging 45–60 minutes per class

Homework expectations

Homework assigned after each class, averaging 45–60 minutes per class

Additional Options

(Most TJ students will not be taking these courses, but they are available in certain circumstances, and would be combined with the AP course)

Latin 4 HN (0.5 weight) A student who does not feel ready for AP (for instance, has below a B in Latin 3 but wants to continue their study of the language) may feel more prepared by taking Level 4 HN first. While this class will likely be stacked with the AP class, and may cover some similar topics, the grading and assessment will be much reduced, and students will have separate projects and activities when the AP students are specifically prepping for the AP exam. Homework will average 30–45 minutes per class.

Latin 5 HN (0.5 weight) A student who has completed both the AP and DE Latin courses before senior year can enroll in Latin 5 HN as a senior. (This would be for students who excel in Latin 3 as 9th graders and are able to take AP Latin as 10th graders, and DE in 11th.) Students will continue their study of Latin texts and authors with more independence and guided by student interest. Quarterly projects will consist of more advanced analysis, research, and opportunities to present to the class. May be taken as a semester or year-long course.