CLAS 205 B: Bioscientific Vocabulary Building From Latin and Greek

CLAS 205 B — Bioscientific Vocabulary

Fall 2018, MWF 10:30 – 11:20 AM, SMI 115

Instructor: Kaitlyn Boulding                         

Email: boulding@uw.edu                   

Mailbox: Classics Dept. Office, Denny 262

Office: Denny Hall 400K

Office Hours: Friday 10:35-11:30 & by appointment

Department Phone: 206­543­2266

Required Text:

Donald M. Ayers, Bioscientific Terminology: Words from Latin and Greek Stems (The University of Arizona Press)

Reference Text:

The Oxford English Dictionary (OED) is available free online on the UW Libraries website.

Course Aims:

The primary goal of this course is to improve your understanding of technical vocabulary used in the biological sciences. You will learn to assess the meaning of words by breaking them down into component parts that derive from Latin and ancient Greek. By the end of the quarter you should be at ease in identifying rare medical or scientific terminology. No knowledge of Latin or Greek is required.

Successful completion of this class requires a great deal of memorization. Students must keep up with the assignments and review the contents of each lesson regularly.

Course Conduct:

Out of courtesy to your classmates and to me, please come to class on time and prepared to contribute. Participation depends on your willingness to engage with the material during class. I also expect cellphones and other electronic devices to be silent or off.

If absence is unavoidable due to illness or other legitimate circumstances (e.g. court date, family emergency), please contact me via email to let me know before class. If you are absent, it is your responsibility to find out what you missed in class, to catch up on any missed assignments, and to schedule make-ups for any tests or exams.

University conduct and scholarly integrity codes should be followed at all times. I cannot discuss grades during class or via e-mail due to university policy, only during office hours and by appointment. If you have questions regarding assignments, tests, or any other matter, I am more than happy to meet with you in my office.

Email policy: Please allow 24 hours for me to answer emails from Monday to Friday. During weekends, I may not be available to answer emails. Please keep in mind that our e-mail correspondence is a public record according to RCW 42.56, the Washington State Public records Act, and I have the right to share it with my supervisor or other authorities if it think it is necessary. (more information at https://itconnect.uw.edu/work/approriate-use/public-records-act/).

Grading:

Quizzes: There will be no written homework assignments unless otherwise announced. Instead, your daily assignment is to memorize the vocabulary for that day (as listed on the syllabus) prior to coming to class. This is important, since there will be five quizzes throughout the term (see schedule below) consisting of vocabulary items covered prior to each quiz. Quizzes will not be cumulative. Each quiz will be worth ten points, comprising 50 points for your quiz grade. Quizzes will be given on canvas and available until 5:00pm on the Friday. No late or re-do quizzes will be available.

Tests: There will be three tests, worth 70 points each, given over the course of the quarter (see schedule below for dates). Make-up tests will only be given in the case of a significant medical issue or unavoidable schedule conflict about which the student has contacted me before the test date and must be made up before they are handed back to the class.

Final Exam: The final exam for this course is worth 140 points and is cumulative. The final exam will be held on: Wednesday, March 20th 8:30 – 10:20 AM in SMI 115. The final will only be administered at this time as per university policy.

Final Examination Guidelines: http://www.washington.edu/students/reg/examguide.html

Grading Breakdown:

Quizzes (5x10): 50 points

Tests (3x70): 210 points

Final Exam: 140 points


Total Points: 400

Grading Scale:

4.0: 400-381      3.0: 320-312      2.0: 230-221      1.0: 139-120

3.9: 380-371      2.9: 311-302      1.9: 220-211      0.9: 119-109

3.8: 370-366      2.8: 301-293      1.8: 210-201      0.8: 108-98

3.7: 365-361      2.7: 292-284      1.7: 200-191      0.7: 97-87

3.6: 360-356      2.6: 283-275      1.6: 190-181      0.0: 86 or fewer*

3.5: 355-351      2.5: 274-266      1.5: 180-171

3.4: 350-345      2.4: 265-257      1.4: 170-161

3.3: 344-337      2.3: 256-248      1.3: 160-151

3.2: 336-329      2.2: 247-239      1.2: 150-141

3.1: 328-321      2.1: 238-231      1.1: 140-131

NOTE: In order to pass this class, you must receive 87 points or greater.

Final Exam: Wednesday, March 20th 8:30 – 10:20 AM in SMI 115
*I reserve the right to modify the syllabus at any time*