Delta State University

Sociology 421

Fall 2004

Writing Assignment No. 1

Due:  Monday, September 13

Instructions:  Prepare a two page essay on the topic identified below.  Be sure to develop an explanation or argument in your essay.  See the link from the course home page for tips on writing an effective essay.

Topic:  In the video “Prophets and Loss,” Carl Sagan quotes the Book of Proverbs as an analogy for our current condition: “They set an ambush for their own lives.”  As documented in the video, our political and economic institutions encourage overconsumption and the use of polluting and inefficient technologies, leading to environmental deterioration.  What are some of the factors that we need to consider if we wish to change our current trajectory and live more within the Earth’s means?