Final answer:
The article "Looking for Trouble" advises writers to focus on creating a strong thesis and argument in their papers, using background information primarily as evidence. It suggests reading assignments carefully, paying attention to language, crafting clear topic sentences, and engaging critically with the subject matter to avoid excessive summary.
Step-by-step explanation:
The main point of the article "Looking for Trouble" is to guide writers in developing an effective argument within their writing assignments. It emphasizes the importance of having a clear main point or thesis to avoid merely dumping information that the reader may already know.
The article suggests that beginning with a question such as "What is my point?" can help in focusing the paper on a cohesive argument. The advice includes strategies for developing your approach, such as reading the assignment prompt carefully, formulating an argument based around a strong thesis, paying attention to the language and emphasis of the writing, finding an appropriately scoped topic, and reading critically to engage in a dialogue with the work being discussed.
One key strategy is to structure your paper around your argument and use elements of the story or background information only as evidence to support your thesis. The importance of analysis over summary is also outlined, recommending the use of highlighters to distinguish between descriptive and analytical parts of your paper.