Instructor: Guy Rahat
Email: guyrahat@uw.edu
Classics 101 has for many years been a popular 2-credit course option for students throughout UW. The course is designed 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. More than that, the course examines the ever-changing relationship between language and ideas in order to better understand the continuing impact of classical Greece and Rome on modern culture. Classics 101 gives you a sense of the words, ideas, and stories that we have adopted from the ancient Greeks and Romans, and helps you identify classical influence when you encounter it. Knowledge of Latin or Greek is not required.
The required textbook is Dominik’s Words and Ideas.
This course counts for the following General Education requirement: A&H
Six sections at different times available, including this one.
Class Schedule:
Please note that the schedule is tentative to change. Also, the page numbers are for the physical copy of the book and do not apply to the electronic version. If you are using the electronic version, use the headings to navigate to the relevant pages. All readings and assignments are due on the day they are listed on the syllabus.
Thursday, September 26:
- Introduction & Syllabus
- What is Classics?
Tuesday, October 1:
- Word Building Basics
- Read Chapter 1 – Word Building Basics: pp. 1-15
Thursday, October 3:
- Word Building, Intro to Myth and Roman Religion
- Read Appendices I-III – Diphthongs, Numbers, and Colors: pp. 251-256
Tuesday, October 8:
- Mythology – Theogony and Olympian Gods
- Read Ch. 4 pp. 75-84 (until section on Heroes)
- Memorize Greek Nouns/Adjectives – Ch.2 pp. 19-25
Thursday, October 10:
- Mythology – The Heroes
- Read Ch. 4 pp. 85-89, 95-99
- Homework 1: Ch. 4 ex. 2-3
Tuesday, October 15:
- NO CLASS
Thursday, October 17:
- Quiz #1 – Word Building, Mythology, Appendix III, Greek words from Chapter 2 (pp. 19-25)
Tuesday, October 22:
- Mythology – The Epic Cycle
- Read Ch. 4 pp. 90-95
- Greek History & Historians
- Read Ch. 9 pp. 227-243
- Memorize Greek Adverbs/Verbs – Ch.2 pp. 25-29
Thursday, October 24:
- Roman History & Historians
Tuesday, October 29:
- Greek Politics & Law
- Read Ch. 6 pp. 145-159
- Memorize Greek Prefixes/Suffixes – Ch.2 pp. 29-36
Thursday, October 31:
- Roman Politics & Law
- Homework 2: 6 ex. 3 (a,c,e,g,h), Ch. 2 ex. 8 (a), Ch. 2 ex. 7: complete any 5 words from Table 2 using the words from Table 1.
Tuesday, November 5:
- Quiz #2 – History, Politics & Law, Word Building (Ch. 2 pp. 25-36)
Thursday, November 7:
- Philosophy & Psychology
- Read Ch. 8 pp. 191-194; 205 (Arete) - 213
- Memorize Latin Nouns/Verbs – Ch. 3 pp. 45-48
Tuesday, November 12:
- The Philosophers
- Read Ch. 8 pp. 195 (pre-Socratic philosophers) - 204
Thursday, November 14:
- Commerce & Economics I
- Read Ch. 7 pp. 169-186
- Memorize Latin Prefixes – Ch. 3 pp. 48-55
Tuesday, November 19:
- Commerce & Economics II
- Homework 3: Ch. 7 ex. 3 (a,b), Ch. 8 ex. 3
Thursday, November 21:
- Quiz #3 – Philosophy, Psychology, Commerce & Economics, Word Building (Ch. 3 pp. 45-55)
Tuesday, November 26:
- Medicine I
- Read Ch. 5 pp. 105 -125 (until section on medical humor)
- Memorize Latin Suffixes – Ch. 55-63
Thursday, November 28:
- NO CLASS - Thanksgiving
Tuesday, December 3:
- Medicine II
Thursday, December 5:
- Review day – bring questions
- Homework 4: Ch. 5 ex. 4 (a-f), ex. 5 (a-f), Ch. 3 ex. 16
Monday, December 9:
- FINAL EXAM – Denny 113, 10:30 – 12:20