Argumentative writing about a novel is different from literary analysis, and The Lovely Bones is well suited to it. The story asks whether justice matters more than healing, and whether closure is even possible. Students can take real positions and defend them.

The challenge for grading is that argument essays need a different set of criteria. Claim, reasons, evidence, counterargument, and reasoning all matter, and literary evidence must serve the argument. A rubric built for analysis will miss half of it.

Consider a prompt like this one: should the Salmon family have devoted so much of their energy to pursuing the truth? Students must weigh the novel's evidence about each family member's path. There is no single correct answer.

This guide covers how to design the prompt, what to require, and how to score the parts of an argument essay. Adjust the level of sophistication to your students. The structure works from grade nine through the first year of college.

Designing the Prompt

Good argument prompts ask a question that the text supports on more than one side. They should give students something to weigh, not a conclusion to defend. Avoid prompts that hide the answer inside the question.

• Claim: takes a clear stand that could be challenged.
• Reasons: offers at least two distinct lines of support.
• Evidence: uses specific scenes and details from the novel.
• Counterargument: acknowledges and responds to a serious opposing view.
• Reasoning: explains how the evidence supports the claim.

Scoring Counterarguments

Counterargument is where many essays fall apart. Students either skip it or set up a weak opposing view they can knock down. Reward essays that treat the other side fairly.

In the rubric, describe what a strong counterargument looks like. It names the opposing position, gives its best evidence from the novel, and then explains why the writer still disagrees. That level of detail helps students revise.

Keeping the Writing Tied to the Text

Argument essays about moral questions can slide into personal opinion. Require every paragraph to include evidence from the novel. That keeps the essay a piece of literary argument, not a debate on current events.

You can also ask students to consider what the author seems to suggest. Even when students disagree with Sebold, they should be able to state what she appears to be saying. That step builds the interpretive habits you want.

Giving Feedback on Argument Structure

Comments on argument essays often address logic more than style. Note where a reason lacks evidence or where a leap needs explanation. Asking "how do we get from this scene to your claim?" is a good default.

AI-assisted feedback tools can spot missing counterarguments and unsupported claims quickly, which helps when you have a full class set. You then read the drafted comments and adjust for the student. It is a good use of limited time.