Few prompts generate as much energy in a classroom as asking whether Bryon was right to turn Mark in. Students come in with firm opinions, and the resulting argumentative essays can be among the best writing of the semester. They can also be the hardest to grade, because teachers may have their own views and students may not support theirs well. A rubric focused on the quality of reasoning keeps the assignment fair regardless of which side a student chooses.

State at the outset that either position can earn full credit if it is argued well. Students who believe they must guess the teacher's preferred answer tend to write cautious, formulaic essays. When they trust that the grade depends on evidence and logic, they take more interesting positions. Reinforce this message with a sample paragraph defending each side so students see both are legitimate.

Argumentative essays also require a different set of skills than character analysis, including defining terms, anticipating objections, and ranking competing values. A student arguing that Bryon was right should address what loyalty means and why it does not require silence about harmful behavior. A student arguing the opposite should explain what Bryon owed to someone he had lived beside for years. Grading should reward the quality of those definitions and distinctions.

Make the Counterargument a Graded Requirement

The counterargument is the feature that separates a persuasive essay from a one-sided opinion piece. Require students to state the strongest opposing view and respond to it with evidence from the book. In grading, look for whether the opposing view is represented fairly or simplified into something easy to dismiss. A student who engages the best version of the other side demonstrates real intellectual maturity.

• Takes a clear position on whether Bryon's choice was justified
• Defines key terms such as loyalty, betrayal, or responsibility
• Supports each reason with a specific moment from the novel
• Presents and answers the strongest opposing argument
• Ends by weighing what each choice cost the characters involved

Keep Your Own Opinion Out of the Margins

It can be tempting to write comments that reveal your personal view of the ending, but doing so risks steering students toward your conclusion. Frame comments as questions about the argument, such as does this example actually show that Bryon had other options. This keeps the focus on reasoning rather than agreement. Students notice and appreciate when a teacher treats their position as worth testing instead of correcting.

A useful check is to imagine the same essay arguing the opposite position and ask whether your comments would be the same. If they would not, you may be responding to the stance rather than the writing. Some teachers grade a few papers from each side back to back to confirm consistency. This kind of self-audit protects fairness and the integrity of the rubric.

Extend the Assignment With a Class Discussion

Argumentative essays pair naturally with a structured discussion or debate, where students test their claims aloud. Run the discussion before the final draft so that classmates' objections can strengthen the written argument. Students often discover a counterargument they had not considered and incorporate it in revision. The conversation raises the quality of the writing without requiring additional direct instruction.

Afterward, ask students to add a short reflection on whether their position changed and why. This metacognitive step can be graded lightly and provides insight into how students think. It also reinforces the idea that changing your mind in response to evidence is a strength. A unit built this way teaches writing and reasoning at the same time.