This is a challenging topic. Of the three theorists whom you must discuss, only Locke is usually considered a proponent of the classical liberal model of the state. But the roots of liberal theory can be traced back to Hobbes, and of course Rousseau was a prominent early critic of liberal theory. Moreover, all three theorists make significant contributions to our understanding of the modern state form. In order to develop a strong response to this essay question, you will need to be well versed in the works of Hobbes, Locke, and Rousseau, you will need to understand the core tenets of classical liberalism and how they affect our understanding of the state, past and present, and you will need to make an argument about why these matters have significance in our own time. You are encouraged to get an early start and to see me during office hours so that we can work together to develop an outstanding paper. Your paper must be typed and printed, single-spaced, and 12-point font. Please title your paper, number your pages, and cite all references. You MUST support your argument with textual evidence. More specifically, your paper must include at least five quotations taken directly from the assigned course readings; you will lose five points from your paper grade for each missing quotation under that five-quotation threshold (e.g., if you cite only three passages, you will lose 10 points; if you cite only two, you will lose 15, etc.). No single style guide predominates in political theory, so you may choose which one you’d like (Chicago, MLA, APA, etc.) – just be consistent. If you have questions about citations or references, please let me know. You should aim for about three pages (single-spaced), although it is up to you to determine an appropriate length. There is a danger in writing too much, just as there is a danger in writing too little; please see me if you have any questions about page length.