CLAS 101 F: Latin and Greek in Current Use

Welcome to CLAS 101! 

Instructor: Zainab Syed (pronouns: they/them) 

Office Hours: By appointment via Zoom. 

Class Time and Date: Online and Asynchronous until further notice

The aims of CLAS 101 are twofold.  First, we will seek to improve and increase English vocabulary through a study of the Latin and Greek elements in English, with emphasis on words in current literary and scientific use.  The Latin and Greek elements learned in this course will help you better understand how many English words have evolved, and prepare you to continue expanding your English vocabulary well after the class is over.  Second, we will examine the ever-changing relationship between language and ideas in order to better understand the continuing impact of classical Greece and Rome on modern culture.  This course aims to give you a sense of the words, ideas, and stories that we have adopted from the ancient Greeks and Romans, and to help you identify, understand, and critically examine classical influence when you encounter it. It is inevitable that while we do this, we will also interrogate what “classics” really means and, hopefully, question preconceived notions of classical Greece and Rome that are rooted in racism, misogyny, and classism.

General Note: 

Since we are still in a pandemic, I'm going to be uploading all powerpoints, handouts, etc. online. This is so that you do not make yourself come to class if you're unwell and also, in case the situation should change and we are forced to revert back to online teaching, I want to make sure the transition is as easy as possible for us all. However, barring such situations, please make sure to attend class as it will have an impact on your participation grade if you do not. 

Feel free to download the syllabus here or check out Module 1 in the Modules section. 

Textbook: 

Dominik, William J. Words & Ideas. Bolchazy-Carducci.

The UW Bookstore has it in various forms (physical & digital). It’s also cheap to rent as an ebook from Chegg. Chegg has rentals for the physical book, but the ebook gets you immediate access and is cheaper.

You will also need a good dictionary and the Oxford English Dictionary (OED) is available through UW Libraries. 

The American Heritage Dictionary is also an excellent resource. 

Class Schedule

Please see the "Pages" section for the (tentative) Class Schedule. This is subject to change at my discretion. You can also follow this link here. 

Please keep in mind that the first three weeks are going to be asynchronous and online. Please make sure to check Panopto to keep up with lectures!