Argumentative essays work well with novels that present a real dilemma, and The Landing offers one that students quickly take sides on. Should Ben leave Cook's Landing to pursue the violin, or does he owe more to his mother and uncle than he realizes? The question has no single correct answer, which makes it excellent for teaching students to build an argument from textual evidence. It also gives teachers a clean opportunity to grade reasoning instead of agreement.

Make it clear from the start that the essay will be graded on how well students argue, not on which side they choose. Students sometimes try to guess the position they think the teacher prefers, which weakens their writing. Reassuring them that either stance can earn full credit encourages authentic thinking. It also keeps you honest about how you score, since you must focus on the quality of reasoning.

A solid argumentative rubric has four main rows: claim, evidence, reasoning, and counterargument. The claim must be clear and defensible, evidence must come from the text, reasoning must connect the evidence to the claim, and the counterargument must fairly represent an opposing view and respond to it. Weighting counterargument heavily signals that you value intellectual honesty. It is also the row where students most often fall short.

Teach the Counterargument Early

Many students treat counterarguments as a weakness to hide or mention in a single hurried sentence. Show them that acknowledging the strongest opposing point makes their own position more credible. For example, a student arguing that Ben should leave must grapple with how his departure affects his mother and the realities of Depression-era money. A grading comment that praises a fair opposing view and asks for a more direct response teaches the skill in context.

• A clear claim that answers the question and previews reasons
• Evidence from specific scenes involving Ben, his uncle, and his mother
• Reasoning that explains how the evidence supports each reason
• A fair statement of the strongest opposing argument
• A response that weakens or qualifies the opposing view without dismissing it

Separate Opinion From Interpretation

Students may slip from arguing about the novel to arguing about their own values, writing that Ben should obviously follow his dream because everyone deserves happiness. That is an opinion, not a text-based argument. A useful comment asks them to show where the novel supports that view and whether the characters share it. The distinction helps them learn what makes literary argument different from a general debate.

At the same time, welcome ethical and personal reasoning when it is tied to the text. A student who weighs Ben's loyalty to his family against his need for growth, citing specific moments, is performing real analysis. Rubric language can allow for this by asking for reasoning that is grounded in the story. This keeps the task rigorous and meaningful.

Give Feedback on Logic, Not Just Style

Argumentative feedback is most useful when it identifies gaps in logic. A student may claim that Ben's mother supports his dream and then cite a scene that actually shows her concern about practicalities. Pointing out the mismatch and asking how the student might revise the claim leads to better thinking than correcting wording. Over time, students learn to check their own reasoning before submitting.

AI grading tools can support this by flagging unsupported claims and missing counterarguments across a large set of essays. The flagged items give teachers a map of where to look and a draft of the comment. Because the rubric structure is clear, the tool can apply it consistently. You then review the flags and add personal notes where nuance matters.

Use Discussion to Prepare

A structured debate or four corners activity before writing gives students a chance to test their ideas and hear opposing views. Ask them to record the best argument they heard from the other side, which they can use in their counterargument section. Students who have rehearsed the argument orally tend to write with more confidence and organization. The preparation time is well spent.

After grading, host a brief reflection in which students read an excerpt of a classmate's strong counterargument and discuss what made it effective. Normalizing respectful disagreement is a valuable outcome beyond the essay itself. It also shows students that changing their minds in response to good evidence is a strength. Those lessons carry into every course they take.