Required text:
Samskrta-Subodhini: A Sanskrit Primer, Madhav Deshpande ($30).

Other resources:
Course web page, http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/~amahoney/sanskrit1_f07.html

Goals for the semester:
This is the first semester of a full year course in which you will learn the basic morphology and syntax of classical Sanskrit, build a working vocabulary, and begin exploring Sanskrit literature and culture.

In the first semester, we will cover slightly more than half of the textbook. You will learn the most important noun and verb forms, the most frequent syntax rules, and the most common words of the language. Readings will be drawn from the Hitopaidesha, the Ramayana, and other straightforward works.

In the second semester, we will finish the textbook and go on to reading authentic Sanskrit literature, starting with an excerpt from the Mahabharata.

Workload and grading:
You will have a written assignment for each class, in which you will practice the grammar you are learning. There will be frequent quizzes (10 minutes, unannounced) and a two-hour final exam. The quizzes are in lieu of mid-term exams; we will spend roughly the same amount of class time on testing, but without the stress of studying for a major exam.

The grades will be computed as follows:
 

Schedule of assignments:
We will cover one to two chapters of the textbook each week, moving faster through the chapters that you find easy, more slowly through those you find difficult.

The final exam will be in December on a date to be determined later.

Make-up exams will be given only in exceptional circumstances, and only if you make arrangements at least 24 hours before the scheduled time of the final exam. There will be no make-ups for quizzes.

General policies:
Attendance in class is required. Thoughtful discussion and group practice are part of the work of this class, and homework assignments will often build on class work. On the other hand, if you must occasionally miss class for a legitimate reason, I will assume you can get notes from a classmate and keep up with the work.

Homework assigments are due in the next class after they are assigned. Homework grades will be reduced for each day the paper is late. This is because homework is your main opportunity to practice the new ideas you are learning.

I call your attention to University policy against plagiarism and other forms of cheating.  Please refer to the Bulletin of Tufts University for details (under the heading "Academic Ethics").

Please note that except in the most extraordinary circumstances, I will not give "incomplete" grades.  As you know, an Incomplete means that you did not complete the work of the course, and it is the policy of the College of Arts, Sciences, and Engineering that incomplete work must be completed within six weeks of the beginning of the next semester.

No extra credit work is permitted, and grades in this course are not "curved."

Selected bibliography:
This bibliography is limited to books in English that are available in Tisch Library.
R. Craven, Indian Art: A Concise History. New York: 1997. N7301.C7 1997
V. Dehejia, Indian Art. London: 1997. N7301.D3365 1997
H. Kulke and D. Rothermund, History of India. London: 1998. DS436.K8513 1998
A. A. Macdonnell, History of Sanskrit Literature. Delhi: 1965. PK2903.M3
S. W. Jamison, Sacrificed Wife/Sacrificer's Wife: Women, Ritual, and Hospitality in Ancient India. New York: 1996. HQ1742.J36 1996
R. S. Sharma, India's Ancient Past. New Delhi: 2005. DS451.S545 2005
W. D. Whitney, Sanskrit Grammar. Cambridge: 1931. PK663.W5 1931

On-line resources
How To Study: pointers on doing the work of the course. Designed for Greek, but relevant for Sanskrit as well.
How to prepare a reading assignment: basic advice on gaining fluency. This is the Greek version; see also the Latin. The principles are the same.
The Art of Reading Latin, also applicable to Sanskrit.
English Grammar, explanations of basic concepts and technical vocabulary
Unicode Greek on the Web, explanation of the emerging standard for representing characters other than the Roman alphabet, including both Devanagari and the diacriticals used in the standard Romanization of Sanskrit.
Complete Devanagari chart
Online Sanskrit Dictionary, in various formats, with links to additional dictionaries
Indian languages meta-page
Indo-European Documentation Center at U. Texas at Austin
American Philological Association (APA):  the professional association for classicists in the US
Classical Association of New England (CANE):  the professional association for classicists in New England
Tufts University Classics Department:  course descriptions and faculty listing