- Summer 2023
Syllabus Description:
Instructor: Liam Dulany (he/him)
Email Address: wdulany@uw.edu
Office Hours: Thursdays, 12:00-13:00
Department Phone: 206-543-2266
Department Website: https://classics.washington.edu
(or by appointment)
Faculty Coordinator: James Clauss (jjc@uw.edu)
Required Text:
William J. Dominik, Words and Ideas (Bolchazy – Carducci); ISBN 978-0-86516-485-7
Reference Texts:
Any reputable English dictionary with etymological entries, such as Webster’s New World Dictionary or the Oxford English Dictionary (available online through UW Libraries)
Online Etymology Dictionary (https://www.etymonline.com/)
Course Goals:
This course has two primary aims: First, to expand English vocabulary through knowledge of how English words are constructed via Greek and Latin roots; Second, to provide an introduction to classical Greece and Rome and their stories and ideas, as well as examine how these stories and ideas influence the current world.
Class Conduct and Expectations:
This course is offered asynchronously and online. That means that expectations are a little different to those of an in-person class, but many UW policies will not be.
I will post pre-recorded video lectures on the course Canvas page every Tuesday and Thursday, available via the “Panopto Recordings” tab. Watching these lectures is required to succeed on the exams in this course. In order to get the most out of these lectures, it is recommended that you read the corresponding readings before watching; only doing one or the other will not be sufficient to complete all assessments in this course.
You are encouraged to call me by my first name, Liam. If you’re more comfortable using a title, go for either Mr. or “Instructor,” I’m not a professor yet. I can only guarantee answering class emails on weekdays (M-F), during work hours (9:00-17:00), and will try to get back to you within one business day of you sending your email — after 24 hours (not including weekend hours), feel free to send a follow-up.
When emailing me, remember that any correspondence via public university email is a matter of public record, according to RCW 42.56, the Washington State Public Records Act. This means that anything you send can be shown to any citizen who requests it. In addition, I have the right (and obligation) to share anything I think necessary with my supervisor or state authorities.
Due to university policy, I am not allowed to discuss grades directly via email. If you need to discuss your grades, please get in touch to schedule a zoom meeting or drop by office hours.
Grading:
This course is evaluated on a point scale, based on a total of 430 points. They are broken down as follows:
Homework (200pts): There will be four 50-point homework assignments throughout the quarter, each focusing on word-building techniques and combining the roots provided throughout the textbook. These assignments are open-book, with no time limit, and you will be given two submission attempts. The due dates for these assignments are not set in stone — while I highly encourage you to complete them by the assigned date, the most important thing to me is that you do them before the final exam. You do not need to email me if you miss one of these deadlines.
Discussion Participation (30pts): Once a week, after both lectures have been posted, I will open up a discussion on Canvas. In these discussions, you will have opportunities to ask me or your fellow students questions, reflect on the course material, or share a connection between course material and something from the modern world. These should be short — two to three sentences is plenty. After you post, I might ask a follow-up question or give a comment, depending on the week. Each week is worth three points.
Exams (200pts): There will be two (non-cumulative) 100-point exams focusing on the stories and ideas portions of the class, one at the end of week 5 and one at the end of week 9. They are open-book (including rewatching the lectures!), with no time limit, but you will only have one submission attempt. I will open these at the beginning of the week in which they are due, and the deadlines are less flexible — if you need an extension or cannot submit before the due date, please get in touch to figure out what we should do.
Extra Credit (20pts): There will be twenty points worth of “bonus points” given throughout the homeworks and exams (three points per homework, four points per exam).
Grading Breakdown:
Homework: 4 x 50 = 200 pts
Discussions: 10 x 3 = 30 pts
Exams: 2 x 100 = 200 pts
—————————————
Total = 430 pts
Academic Integrity:
University of Washington students are expected to practice high standards of academic and professional honesty and integrity as outlined here:
https://www.washington.edu/cssc/forstudents/academic-misconduct/
Learning Support/Access and Accommodations:
Your experience in this class is important to me. If you have already established accommodations with Disability Resources for Students (DRS), please communicate your approved accommodations to me at your earliest convenience so we can discuss your needs in this course.
If you have not yet established services through DRS, but have a temporary health condition or permanent disability that requires accommodations (conditions include but not limited to; mental health, attention-related, learning, vision, hearing, physical or health impacts), you are welcome to contact DRS at 206-543-8924 or uwdrs@uw.edu or disability.uw.edu. DRS offers resources and coordinates reasonable accommodations for students with disabilities and/or temporary health conditions. Reasonable accommodations are established through an interactive process between you, your instructor(s) and DRS. It is the policy and practice of the UW to create inclusive and accessible learning environments consistent with federal and state law.
UW Bothell: Disability Resources for Students (UW Bothell) Email: uwbdrs@uw.edu
Phone: 425-352-5307UW Seattle: Disability Resources for Students (UW Seattle) Email: uwdrs@uw.edu
Phone: 206-543-8924UW Tacoma: Disability Resources for Students (UW Tacoma) Email: drsuwt@uw.edu
Phone: 253-692-4508
Religious Accommodations:
Washington state law requires that UW develop a policy for accommodation of student absences
or significant hardship due to reasons of faith or conscience, or for organized religious activities.
The UW’s policy, including more information about how to request an accommodation, is
available at Religious Accommodations Policy. Accommodations must be requested within the
first two weeks of this course using the Religious Accommodations Request form.
Further Resources
UW Campus Food Pantry: Provides UW students, staff, and faculty with nonperishable groceries and select fresh produce for no cost.
Counseling Center: Resources for students seeking counseling.
Let’s Talk: Free, confidential, informal drop-in counseling service at UW.
Leadership Without Borders: Resources for undocumented students.
International Student Services Office: Visa and immigration advising for international students on F or J student visas.
Safe Campus: How to report violence or threats to the safety of yourself or others.
Schedule:
Week 1
June 20 — Syllabus Overview
Look over the syllabus and familiarize yourself with the canvas site.
June 22 — Intro to Classics; Intro to Word-Building
W&I (Words and Ideas) Chapter 1 (pp. 1-14); Pay particular attention to plural forms (pp. 13-15).
Week 2
June 27 — Mythology — Gods
Familiarize yourself with Greek Noun/Adjective/Adverb word components (pp. 19-25)
Read “Beginnings” through “The Underworld” from Chapter 4 (pp.75-84)
June 29 — Mythology — Underworld and Afterlife
Complete Homework 1
Week 3
July 4 (University Holiday, but lecture will still be posted) — Mythology —- Heroes
Familiarize yourself with Greek Verb word components (pp. 25-29)
Read “Heroes” (pp. 85-89)
July 6 — Mythology — The Trojan Cycle
Read “The Trojan War” through “Oedipus and his Family” (pp. 90-99)
Week 4
July 11 — History (and Mythic History)
Familiarize yourself with Greek Prefixes and Suffixes (pp. 29-36)
Read “What is History” through “Recording Time” from Chapter 9 (pp. 227-232)
July 13 — History — Historiography
Read “Greek and Roman Historians” through “Key Words for History” (pp. 233-245)
Complete Homework 2
Week 5
July 18 — Politics and Law — Greece
Read “The Greek Polis” through “Democracy” from Chapter 6 (pp. 145-151)
July 20 — No lecture, just work on Exam #1
Exam #1 due July 21st
Week 6
July 25 — Politics and Law — Rome
Familiarize yourself with Latin Nouns and Verbs (pp. 45-48)
Read “The Roman Republic” through “Latin Legal Phrases” (pp. 151-164)
July 27 — Commerce and Economics — Mass Enslavement in the Ancient World
Read Chapter 7 – Commerce and Economics (pp. 169-187)
Complete Homework 3
Week 7
August 1 — Philosophy
Familiarize yourself with Latin Prefixes (pp. 48-55)
Read “Inquiry” through “Arete” (pp. 191-206)
August 3 — Psychology
Read “Psyche” through “Freudian Psychology” (pp. 206-219)
Week 8
August 8 — Medicine — Ancient Medical Practices
Familiarize yourself with Latin Suffixes (pp. 55-63)
Read “Greek Medicine” through “Roman Medicine” (pp. 105-125)
August 10 — Medicine — The Four Humors and Gynecology
Read “Medical Humor” through “Key Words” (pp. 125-139)
Complete Homework 4
Week 9
August 15 — Primary Literature
TBA by Week 7
August 17 — No lecture, just work on Exam #2
Exam #2 due August 18th