Develop a coherent argument (NOTE: Do not simply answer the guiding questions in the topic one by one; instead, use them as a starting point for your analysis)

Read the article “The Usefulness of Useless Knowledge” (UsefulnessHarpers.pdf). Using the article as evidence, think about practical knowledge vs. theoretical knowledge. What do you think makes knowledge useful or useless? Why?
A successful essay will do the following:

Demonstrate careful reading and in-depth understanding of the article
Formulate a specific, clear, and unified thesis based on your own ideas (NOTE: The thesis should not summarize the article)
Develop a coherent argument (NOTE: Do not simply answer the guiding questions in the topic one by one; instead, use them as a starting point for your analysis)
Avoid general or vague comments
Avoid personal opinion; any claims you make should be supported with evidence from the article
Show awareness of the complexity of the issue and avoid stating the obvious or oversimplifying the problem
Formulate your own position, using the article as a starting point (your main idea cannot simply be some form of “I agree/disagree”)
Show evidence of in-depth thinking about the topic
Present a coherent, logical argument
Have a clear and specific thesis that 1) makes a claim of some kind (not just saying “This paper will examine…”); 2) is not stating the obvious (it must be possible to disagree with the thesis); 3) is not a list (e.g., “There are three reasons/factors/characteristics”); 4) is not too broad; 5) is not merely personal opinion; 6) is not a statement of fact; 7) does not summarize the main idea of the article
Incorporate relevant and carefully chosen examples from the article as evidence
Avoid paraphrasing, unless you are confident that you know how to do it to avoid plagiarism
Type quotations accurately, including capital letters, spaces, and punctuation
Introduce each quotation clearly and integrate it smoothly into your own sentence
Explain the significance of each quotation
Avoid repetition throughout the essay (especially in the conclusion)
Use correct grammar and spelling, clear phrasing, varied sentence structure, rich vocabulary, and appropriate tone
Through analysis of the article, you will develop your own understanding of and position on the topic. Your essay must not simply describe what the article is about but advance your own ideas on the subject.

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