Ask students what they remember most about Holes, and many will mention Stanley and Zero. Their friendship begins with awkward silence and grows into a partnership that carries them both through the desert. It is the part of the book students care about most, which makes it a strong essay topic.

The risk is that students write a warm but generic essay. They say the two boys became friends, that friendship is important, and that it helped them survive. All true, but it is closer to a summary than an analysis.

A stronger essay looks at how the friendship develops and what each character gives the other. Stanley teaches Zero to read, while Zero teaches Stanley how to stand up for himself and keep going. That exchange is where the depth lies.

As you design the assignment, think about which angle you want. You might focus on how trust builds, how the boys change each other, or how their friendship contrasts with other relationships at camp. Each angle produces a different kind of essay.

Choose an Angle That Requires Evidence

Prompts about feelings tend to produce vague writing, while prompts about turning points produce specific writing. Ask students to trace the friendship through three key moments and explain what shifts each time. The requirement forces them to find evidence.

• Trace how the relationship changes across three specific moments
• Explain what each boy gains from the other, with support from the text
• Compare their friendship to another relationship at Camp Green Lake
• Argue which moment most clearly proves their loyalty
• Connect the friendship to the novel's larger message about trust

Watch for Over-Sentimental Writing

Students may fill space with phrases like "they had a special bond" without showing it. Ask them to replace such lines with a moment that demonstrates the bond. It is a small revision, but it turns a claim into evidence.

Some students will also claim the friendship was instant. Encourage them to notice how slowly it forms and what has to happen first. That kind of close reading is exactly what you want to see.

Rubric Rows That Fit This Topic

A focused rubric for this essay can include claim, use of key moments, analysis of change, and organization. Add a row for insight if you want to reward students who notice something less obvious. Keep the descriptors short so that students can actually use them.

Consider adding a line about how the student handles both characters equally. Many essays focus on Stanley and treat Zero as a supporting figure. A prompt to consider Zero's perspective often leads to richer analysis.

Give Feedback That Adds Specificity

The most useful comment on a sentimental essay is a request for a scene. Ask which moment proves the point, and what the reader would see if they were watching it happen. Students who answer that question usually improve the paragraph.

If you are grading many of these essays, a rubric-driven tool like GraideMind can flag paragraphs that make claims without evidence so you can respond faster. Your comments can then go to the students who need more discussion. The result is more useful feedback in less time.