Reuven tells the story of The Chosen, and that fact quietly controls what readers see. We learn about Danny through Reuven's eyes, we meet Reb Saunders through his suspicion and later his awe, and we understand the ban on their friendship through his confusion. Essays on point of view ask students to notice that filter.

It is a demanding topic for high school writers. Many students treat the narrator as a camera that simply records events. Getting them to see Reuven as a person with limits, biases, and a particular way of seeing is a real analytical step.

Grading these essays takes some care because the evidence is subtle. Point of view lives in word choice, in what gets described and what does not, and in how Reuven interprets other people's behavior. A student who finds those details is doing sophisticated work.

Your rubric should reflect that difficulty. Give credit for noticing narration as a choice, even when the analysis is not perfect, and reserve top marks for essays that explain what the choice accomplishes.

What strong point of view analysis looks like

A strong essay might argue that Reuven's position as an outsider to Danny's world makes the reader an outsider, too, so the discovery of Danny's inner life feels shared. Another might explore how the story would change if told by Danny. Both approaches show that the student understands narration as a shaping force.

• The essay treats Reuven as a character with a perspective, not a neutral observer.
• Specific moments show how Reuven's view of Danny or Reb Saunders changes.
• The student considers what the reader does not know because of the narrator's limits.
• The analysis connects narration to a larger idea in the novel, such as understanding across difference.
• The writing avoids confusing the author with the narrator.

Common mistakes to watch for

A frequent error is describing the narration as first person and stopping there. Students also confuse Potok with Reuven or assume the narrator is always right. Flag these gently and ask what the story would look like from another angle.

Another pitfall is treating unreliable as a synonym for wrong. Reuven is generally honest, but his understanding is limited at first. That is a different idea from a narrator who deceives, and it is worth clarifying in your feedback.

Feedback that deepens analysis

Questions help here more than statements. What does Reuven notice about Danny in the first meeting that tells us about his own assumptions? How would the baseball game read if Danny narrated it? These prompts require the student to test their claim against the text.

You can also ask students to find a moment when Reuven's understanding changes and describe how the narration reflects it. That gives them a concrete scene to work with and a clear way to show development.

Handling this topic at scale

Because point of view essays are subtle, they can take longer to read. If you are grading many, an AI tool can help with the structural elements, such as thesis clarity and use of evidence, while you focus on the depth of interpretation. GraideMind and similar tools let you build criteria specific to narration, so the feedback matches the assignment.

Spot-check the drafted comments for accuracy about the novel. A tool may miss a subtle point about Reuven's perspective that you would catch immediately. Your review is what keeps the analysis honest.