CLAS 205 C: Bioscientific Vocabulary Building From Latin and Greek

The primary goal is to improve the student’s understanding of the technical vocabulary used in the biological sciences. Students will develop skills in separating words into their components through the memorization of Greek and Latin prefixes, suffixes and bases. By the end of the quarter, students will have expanded both technical and non-technical vocabulary and will be at ease when reading highly specific or rare medical or scientific terminology.

No previous knowledge of Latin or Greek is required.

Instructor: Madalena Parsons

Pronouns: she/her

Email: mcpars@uw.edu

Office Hours: M/W 12:30–11:30

Mailbox: Classics Dept. Office, Denny 262

Office: Denny Hall 400K

Department Phone: (206) 543-2266

Faculty Course Coordinator: Dr. Christopher Waldo

Email: cwaldo1@uw.edu

Office: Denny 227

Books

• REQUIRED: Donald M. Ayers, Bioscientific Terminology: Words from Latin and Greek Stems (Tuscon, AZ: The University of Arizona Press, 1972).
  • This is an older text, and can be purchased quite cheaply on used book sites like AbeBooks (https://www.abebooks.com/) and Alibris (https://www.alibris.com/).
  • The Undergraduate Textbook Fund is available to Classics majors and minors: https://classics.washington.edu/undergraduate-textbook-fund.
  • If acquiring the textbook is a difficulty for you, come see me—I can help!
• The Undergraduate Textbook Fund is available to Classics majors and minors: https://classics.washington.edu/undergraduate-textbook-fund
• Recommended: Any reputable English dictionary with etymological entries, such as The American Heritage Dictionary (​3​^rd e​d.), or W​ebster’s New World Dictionary. ​
  • The O​xford English Dictionary (OED): http://lib.washington.edu → log in → “Start Your Research” → “Articles & Research Databases” → “Oxford Dictionaries.”
• Optional: A dedicated etymological dictionary.
  • The Online Etymology Dictionary: https://www.etymonline.com/

Course Policies

General Policies

1. 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/for-students/academic-misconduct/
2. Academic misconduct includes but is not limited to: cheating/unauthorized collaboration (working collaboratively on assignments, sharing answers); and plagiarism (representing others’ work as your own without proper citation). Misconduct may result in no credit for an assignment or exam; failing the course; and being reported to the University.
3. In this class, you may NOT use ChatGPT, Large Language Models (LLMs), or any other AI tools to assist you. This includes using these tools to generate ideas or to rephrase or paraphrase yours or others’ work. Using such tools will be considered an academic integrity violation and may result in a zero on the assignment and the student being reported to the Office of Community Standards and Student Conduct.
4. If you are unsure if something is academic misconduct, ask me!
5. Out of courtesy to your classmates and to me, please come to class on time and prepared to contribute. Cellphones and other such electronics must be silent or off. Similarly, technology such as computers or tablets must be on task.

Absences

1. If absence is unavoidable due to illness or other circumstance (e.g. family emergency, religious or cultural obligation, court date, university-sponsored competition, etc.), please contact me via e-mail 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 homework and to schedule make-ups for any quizzes or exams.

Email

1. You can reach me at mcpars@uw.edu on weekdays from 9am-5pm. I will do my best to answer as promptly as possible.
2. 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 if I think it is necessary. All email correspondence should be polite and professional.
3. I cannot discuss grades during class or via e-mail due to university policy, but rather during office hours and by appointment only. If you have questions regarding assignments, tests, homework or any other matter, I would be happy to discuss that in my office. In order to make sure all students have available time to ask questions, please come to office hours having prepared the relevant course work and with specific questions.

Grades

Exams

1. There will be four exams worth 90 points each given over the course of the term (see schedule below for dates). You will be given the entire class period to complete them. Make-up opportunities will only be given due to an excused absence, as defined above, and then only if the absent student promptly e-mails me to reschedule.
2. I strongly recommend keeping up on relevant vocabulary from each chapter as we cover it and attending class; this will make preparation easier and allow you to get higher scores.

Participation

1. Active classroom participation is important. The first step in participating in class is regularly attending. Beyond simply showing up, I expect everyone both to be prepared (by having read the assigned material) and to actively participate in class discussions and activities. Your regular participation is worth 40 points.

Extra Credit

1. On Monday of week 8, I will publish an extra credit assignment, which will be worth 20 points. I will consist of summarizing and reflecting on your choice of a handful of essays about Classics.

Grading Breakdown

• Participation: 40 points
• Quizzes: 4 x 90 = 360 points

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• Total: 400 points

Academic Integrity

“The University of Washington Student Conduct Code (WAC 478-121) defines prohibited academic and behavioral conduct and describes how the University holds students accountable as they pursue their academic goals. Allegations of misconduct by students may be referred to the appropriate campus office for investigation and resolution. More information can be found online here.”

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/for-students/academic-misconduct/

Access and Accommodations

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 are not limited to: mental health, attention-related, learning, vision, hearing, physical or health impacts), you are welcome to contact DRS at (206) 543-8924, 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 University of Washington to create inclusive and accessible learning environments consistent with federal and state law. This includes not only health-related accommodations, but also those relating to religion, faith, or conscience:

“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.”

You can learn more at the following link: https://registrar.washington.edu/staffandfaculty/religious-accommodations-policy

Schedule

Student Resources

Education

• UW Libraries
• UW Course Reserves
• Student Tech Loan Program 
• Sportula Micro-grants: Micro-grants (up to $300) aimed at helping classics students make ends meet, no questions asked.
• UW Classics Undergraduate Textbook Fund: Available to students who are classics majors or minors.

Health

• UW Coronavirus Info 
• UW Virtual Medicine
• UW Food Pantry: Provides UW students, staff, and faculty with nonperishable groceries and select fresh produce for no cost.
• UW Mental Health Resources: Resources for students seeking help in coping with stress or other mental health concerns.
• Let’s Talk: Free, confidential, informal drop-in counseling service at UW.

Other

• Safe Campus: 206-685-7233 (M-F 8am-5pm). In urgent or dangerous situations call 911.
• UW Emergency Aid: Providing resources, loans, grants for housing, food, medical expenses, etc.
• UW Student Legal Services: Both free & low-cost, confidential legal consultation for students including (but not limited to) tenant rights, immigration, and discrimination.
• Leadership Without Borders: Resources for undocumented students.
• International Student Services Office: Visa and immigration advising for international students on F or J student visas.