Write a 4-6 paragraph essay (900-1200 words) in which you articulate and defend a thesis on some combination of the following topics: i. the social contract, ii. property, iii. the state of nature.

You may write about just one (e.g. property) of these topics, or select two (e.g. property and the state of nature), or tackle all three.

Your introduction and conclusion must engage one of the three texts (Marshall, Cronon, or Malick) assigned as an independent study over fall break. I.e. you should use one of these texts to frame your argument.

The body of your paper must engage one author from each of the following two groups:

A. Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau

B. Mills, Morgan.

Each engagement should include at least one quotation.

So, for example, you might write a paper about property, using Cronon’s Changes in the Land to set up your argument, and making an original argument that engages and uses evidence from Locke and Mills in the body of your paper, and uses at least one quotation from Locke, and one quotation from Mills.