CLAS 116B WORD ROOTS: SCIENCE AND MEDICAL TERMINOLOGY Fall 2012
3:00 – 3:50pm MoWeFr
M Pacheco ILC, Rm 137
Dr. Philip Waddell
214 Learning Services Building
(520) 621-7418
waddell@email.arizona.edu
Office Hours: MoTh 11-12 (and by appt.)
REQUIRED TEXTS:
Charles Dumore and Rita Fleischer. Medical Terminology: Exercises in Etymology. 3rd ed.
Philadelphia: F. A. Davis Company, 2004.
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
The sciences have their own unique language and over ninety percent of the vocabulary comes
from Greek and Latin roots. The goal of this course is to familiarize students with the Greek and
Latin elements used to construct biomedical terminology in order to gain a better understanding
of the words’ etymologies and meanings. Students will leave this course with: 1) a basic
knowledge of the meanings of biomedical roots, suffixes, and prefixes; 2) a knowledge of how to
construct biomedical terms; 3) a knowledge of how to understand and define biomedical terms
by breaking them down into their components; 4) an introductory knowledge of ancient
medicine.
COURSE POLICIES:
There will be no make-up exams/quizzes unless as the result of an excused absence or the
instructor has been contacted BEFORE the exam/quiz concerning alternate arrangements. The
recording of lectures is strictly prohibited.
Readings and Homework
Students are responsible for completing the assigned readings and homework listed on the
schedule BEFORE that day’s lecture. You will be expected to have completed Exercises 1 and
2 of each lesson by the date listed on the syllabus. The exercises may be modified depending on
available time in the classroom. If this is the case, it will always be announced in advance in
class and on D2L. Homework will not be collected unless otherwise stated.
Study Goals
In any language intensive course it is extremely important that students remain up-to-date and
review regularly. It is recommended that all students produce flash cards for each term with the
Greek or Latin on one side and the English translation on the other. Include all English
meanings of the word or segments and review with both sides. Only regular review will allow
you to master the material. Such review naturally includes completing the homework exercises
for each chapter and asking the instructor about any material you did not understand. This
material cannot be learned by osmosis but only through applied effort and constant review. If
you are having problems with the lectures, homework or your writing assignment, please see me
as soon as possible. If you are unable to make my office hours, I would be happy to schedule an
alternative time to meet.
Academic Integrity
Violations of scholastic ethics are considered serious offenses by the University of Arizona and
by your instructor and you are required to abide by the University’s Code of Academic Integrity.
All work done for this class, unless specified, must be your own. Copying and taking ideas from
any source must be acknowledged through proper citations. Failure to comply with this standard
will result in a zero for the assignment. Breaches in scholastic ethics, such as cheating on an
exam will be dealt with severely. Students caught cheating on any quiz, assignment or exam will
receive a zero, which will not be dropped in determining the final grade. In addition, at the
instructor’s discretion, students may receive an “E” for the course.
The University’s code of academic integrity is at:
http://deanofstudents.arizona.edu/codeofacademicintegrity
GRADING
Letter grades for the course are assigned as follows: A (100-90%), B (89-80%), C (79-70%), D
(69-60%), E (below 60%). They will be based on the following breakdown:
Quizzes (40% of final grade)
These will be in-class quizzes over the material in each chapter covered. The format of
the quizzes will include components such as breaking down terms into their parts and
defining their meanings, creating biomedical terms from given phrases, defining prefixes,
suffixes, or combining forms, and matching. The best 10 out of 12 quizzes will count
towards your quiz grade.
Exams (50% of final grade)
There are two exams in this course. The exam format will be similar to the quiz format.
Each exam counts for 25% of your final grade. A study guide for each exam will be
placed on D2L approximately one week before the scheduled exam date.
IMPORTANT NOTE: The exams will begin on time. No latecomers will be
allowed to take the exam once another student leaves the room.
Writing Assignment (10% of final grade)
This course has one short writing assignment (2-3 page paper) based on the diagnosis of
an ancient Greek medical case. The writing assignment guidelines and the appropriate
readings to help with your diagnosis will be placed on D2L. The medical case and
assignment will also be discussed in class.
COURSE SCHEDULE:
Please note that the information on this syllabus is subject to change in accordance with the
unforeseen demands of the semester.
Aug. 20
Aug. 22
Aug. 24
Introduction to the Course – History of Language
Syllabus
Lesson 1: Greek Nouns and Adjectives
pg. 3-16
Lesson 1: Greek Nouns and Adjectives
Aug. 27
Aug. 29
Aug. 31
Sept. 3
Sept. 5
Sept. 7
Sept. 10
Sept. 12
Sept. 14
Sept. 17
Sept. 19
Sept. 21
Sept. 24
Sept. 26
Sept. 28
Oct. 1
Oct. 3
Oct. 5
Oct. 8
Oct. 10
Oct. 12
Oct. 15
Oct. 17
Oct. 19
Oct. 22
Oct. 24
Oct. 26
Oct. 29
Exercises 1-2
Quiz 1
Lesson 2: Nouns of the Third Declension
pg. 17-28
Lesson 2: Nouns of the Third Declension
Exercises 1-2
No Classes – Labor Day
Quiz 2
Lesson 3: Building Greek Vocabulary I
pg. 29-38
Lesson 3: Building Greek Vocabulary I
Exercises 1-2
Quiz 3
Lesson 4: Greek Verbs
pg. 39-50
Lesson 4: Greek Verbs
Exercises 1-2
Quiz 4
Lesson 5: Building Greek Vocabulary II
pg. 51-61
Lesson 5: Building Greek Vocabulary II
Exercises 1-2
Quiz 5
Lesson 6: Building Greek Vocabulary III
pg. 63-73
Lesson 6: Building Greek Vocabulary III
Exercises 1-2
Quiz 6
Lesson 7: Building Greek Vocabulary IV
pg. 75-84
Lesson 7: Building Greek Vocabulary IV
Exercises 1-2
Quiz 7
Review for Midterm Exam
MIDTERM EXAM
Lesson 8: Latin Nouns and Adjectives
pg. 87-105
Lesson 8: Latin Nouns and Adjectives
Exercises 1-2
Quiz 8
Lesson 9: Latin Verbs
pg. 107-19
Lesson 9: Latin Verbs
Exercises 1-2
Quiz 9
Oct. 31
Nov. 2
Nov. 5
Nov. 7
Nov. 9
Nov. 12
Nov. 14
Nov. 16
Nov. 19
Nov. 21
Nov. 23
Nov. 26
Nov. 28
Nov. 30
Dec. 3
Dec. 5
Dec. 12
Lesson 10: Cardiovascular System
pg. 123-36
Lesson 10: Cardiovascular System
Exercises 1-2
Quiz 10
Lesson 11: Respiratory System
pg. 137-48
Lesson 11: Respiratory System
Exercises 1-2
No Classes – Veteran’s Day
Quiz 11
Lesson 12: Digestive System
pg. 149-62
Lesson 12: Digestive System
Exercise 1
Lesson 12: Digestive System
Exercises 2-3
No Classes – Thanksgiving
Quiz 12
Lesson 20: Biological Nomenclature
pg. 247-54
Lesson 20: Biological Nomenclature
Exercise 1
Make-up Day
Review for Final Exam
FINAL EXAM