SCLA 101B Transformative Texts: Critical Thinking & Communication I: Antiquity to Modernity (Notes)

Vocabulary-style flashcards covering key terms, concepts, and components from the SCLA 101B lecture notes.

Transformative Texts

The course premise that great texts inform, inspire, broaden worldviews, and help students see humanity, justice, and perspectives from different times and places.

Cornerstone Integrated Liberal Arts

Purdue program that integrates liberal arts across disciplines; 15-hour Cornerstone certificate aimed at developing unity across disciplines and adaptable, engaged graduates.

Written Communication

A core university outcome: write clearly, coherently, and concisely; understand rhetorical situations; analyze and construct arguments; evaluate sources.

Information Literacy

A core university outcome: conduct research, locate relevant sources, summarize/synthesize, quote and document sources, and evaluate quality and relevance.

Required Texts

Thomas Hobbes, Leviathan; John Locke, Second Treatise of Government; Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Discourse on the Origin of Inequality; The Essential Adam Smith; Hacker & Sommers, Rules for Writers.

Leviathan (Hobbes)

1651 political treatise introducing the state of nature, social contract, and the commonwealth with a sovereign.

Second Treatise of Government (Locke)

1690 work outlining legitimate political authority, state of nature, natural law, government by consent, and right of revolution.

Discourse on the Origin of Inequality (Rousseau)

1753-55 analysis of how property and economic development create inequality and shape modern life.

The Essential Adam Smith

Collection including The Theory of Moral Sentiments and The Wealth of Nations; explores sympathy, morality, division of labor, and free markets.

Hacker & Sommers, Rules for Writers

Writing handbook covering exploring, planning, drafting, revising, citing (including APA) and critical reading/writing.

The Ring of Gyges

Plato’s dialogue about a ring that grants invisibility; questions whether justice is pursued for its own sake or fear of consequences.

The Cave (Plato)

Allegory illustrating education and enlightenment; prisoners see shadows and are led to knowledge of the forms.

State of Nature

Hypothetical condition before civil society; Hobbes sees it as war of all against all; Locke as liberty and equality; Rousseau’s primitive state varies by author.

Covenant

Agreement that establishes civil society and binds individuals to form a commonwealth with governance.

Commonwealth

Political body formed by the covenant; in Hobbes, governed by a sovereign to secure peace and order.

Sovereign

The absolute ruler of a commonwealth in Hobbes’s theory who holds ultimate political power.

Annotated Bibliography

A list of sources with brief descriptive notes explaining relevance, quality, and reliability.

Final Paper

Major semester-long research paper; includes an annotated bibliography and is due later in the term.

APA Style

Citation and formatting style used in research papers; guidance provided in Hacker & Sommers.

Public Speaking

Unit focusing on effective oral presentation: audience awareness, structure, delivery, and vocal variety.

Chatham House Rule

In discussions, participants may refer to ideas shared but cannot reveal the speaker’s identity.

AI Policy

Strict ban on using artificial intelligence in this course; AI-generated work deters integrity; Turnitin detectors used.

Attendance Policy

Policy linking attendance to grade: 4+ unexcused absences cap at B, 7+ cap at C, 10+ can drop to D.

Late Work

Late submissions are generally not accepted; excused absences allow some flexibility; otherwise zero.

Academic Integrity

Policy detailing consequences for misconduct; cases may be referred to OSRR; penalties include zero or failure.

Quizzes

Pop quizzes making up 25% of total course grade to assess reading comprehension.

Final Presentations

Two in-class presentations (10–15 minutes each) of final papers, highlighting theme, argument, and evidence.