Counterargument paragraphs are among the hardest things for students to write well, and among the most revealing for teachers to grade. Essays about Mountains Beyond Mountains offer natural material for them, because Kidder shows that Farmer's approach has critics who argue that his insistence on expensive treatment for every patient is unsustainable. Students who can fairly present that objection and respond to it demonstrate real argumentative maturity. Others tack on a weak sentence to satisfy the rubric.

The most common error is the straw figure, in which the student states an opposing view in an exaggerated or simplistic form that is easy to knock down. For example, a student might claim that critics of Farmer "just don't care about poor people," which misrepresents a debate about resource allocation. A fair counterargument acknowledges the strongest version of the other side, including its real concerns and evidence.

Another frequent problem is placement. Some students include a counterargument in a single sentence in the introduction and never return to it, while others add a final paragraph that contradicts their thesis. Effective counterarguments are integrated into the structure, usually in a dedicated paragraph that raises the objection, concedes what is valid, and then explains why the main claim still holds. Rubrics should reflect this structure.

A Rubric for Counterargument Quality

Grading the counterargument well requires separating its components. Did the student identify a real opposing position? Did they present it fairly? Did they respond with reasoning and evidence rather than dismissal? Each component can be scored on a short scale. This precision helps students see which part of the task they missed.

• Identification: names a genuine opposing view that thoughtful readers might hold.
• Fairness: presents the opposing view in its strongest form without distortion.
• Concession: acknowledges what is valid or compelling in the opposing argument.
• Response: explains why the main claim still stands, using evidence or reasoning.
• Integration: places the counterargument where it strengthens the essay's flow.

Feedback That Teaches the Move

Many students have never been shown how to write a counterargument, so feedback should teach the move. A helpful template is to raise the objection with a phrase such as "Some readers might argue," give the reasoning behind it, concede what is fair, and then pivot to the response. Showing this structure applied to the student's own topic makes it concrete. Students can then adapt the pattern.

Encourage students to find the objection in the text itself. In Kidder's book, characters such as public health officials and colleagues raise questions about cost and priorities, which gives students real voices to draw on. Citing these perspectives makes the counterargument credible and ties it to evidence. It also reinforces close reading.

Using AI to Check for the Presence and Quality of Counterarguments

AI grading tools can detect whether an essay includes a counterargument and evaluate how it is handled. A well-defined rubric lets the tool distinguish between a token mention and a developed paragraph, and it can flag straw figures by noting when the opposing view is stated in extreme or dismissive terms. These flags help teachers quickly identify essays that need feedback on this skill.

Teachers should verify flagged cases, since a short, concise counterargument may be effective despite its brevity. Context also matters, as some assignments may not require a counterargument at all. Aligning the rubric with the assignment ensures that the tool evaluates what you intend. With that alignment, the feedback is both fast and relevant.

Practicing Counterargument Before the Final Essay

Practice activities help students develop comfort with opposing views. Have them argue for the position they disagree with in a short speaking or writing exercise, or pair them with classmates who hold opposing positions to exchange arguments. These experiences make students more fair-minded and give them material for their essays. They also make class discussion livelier.

After grading, share anonymous examples of strong counterargument paragraphs and discuss what makes them effective. Students learn from seeing peers succeed at the task. Over several assignments, the quality of counterarguments typically improves, and so does overall persuasiveness. This is one of the most transferable skills a book essay can build.