O. Henry closes his story by calling the couple wise. Many students disagree, at least at first. They point out that two people sold their most valuable possessions for gifts neither can use.

That tension makes a great argument prompt. Students can take either side and find plenty of support. It also gives you a way to teach argument writing with a text everyone has read.

The grading challenge is fairness. You may have your own opinion, and the class will have a spread of positions. A rubric should reward the quality of the argument, not whether students land where you do.

Below is a way to score these essays that keeps the focus on reasoning.

Grade the Reasoning, Not the Conclusion

Make it clear from the start that both sides are acceptable. What matters is how well the student builds the case. Tell them you will look for a clear claim, relevant evidence, and a fair treatment of the other side.

• The claim takes a clear position on whether the couple was wise, foolish, or both
• Evidence comes from several parts of the story, not just the ending
• The student defines wisdom in a way that supports the argument
• A counterargument is stated fairly and answered with reasons
• The conclusion says something new instead of repeating the introduction

Look at How Students Define Wisdom

The best essays notice that the argument depends on what wisdom means. If it means good financial planning, the couple failed. If it means putting love ahead of possessions, they succeeded.

Reward students who state their definition and defend it. Students who skip this step often end up arguing past each other.

Give Credit for Counterarguments

Counterarguments are where many argument essays fall apart. Students either ignore them or dismiss them in a sentence. A stronger paper takes the opposing view seriously and explains why it does not change the conclusion.

A useful comment is "What would someone on the other side say to this?" It nudges students to think from another angle. GraideMind can generate comments like this when it detects that a counterargument is missing or weak.

Stay Neutral in Your Feedback

Avoid comments that hint at your own view. Focus on how the argument works. Students will trust the grade more, and they will be more willing to take risks in future essays.

If you want to share your opinion, do it in a class discussion after grades are returned. By then, the essays are in and the debate can be genuinely open.