One of the most debated moments in Tex is Mace's decision to sell Negrita, the horse that matters so much to his younger brother. Students tend to have strong opinions about it, which makes it an ideal topic for argumentative writing. The challenge for teachers is turning that passion into a well-reasoned essay instead of a list of feelings.

Begin by making sure students understand the circumstances around the sale. The brothers are short on money and food, their father is away, and Mace feels responsible for keeping the household running. Without that context, students may judge Mace too quickly, and their essays will argue from emotion rather than from the facts the author provides.

Then explain that a strong argumentative essay does not simply pick a side; it explains why one side is more convincing. A student who claims Mace was wrong because Tex loved the horse has given a reason, but a student who weighs Tex's loss against the family's urgent needs has given an argument. Your rubric should reward that weighing process.

Set Up the Rubric for Argument, Not Opinion

A rubric for this assignment should include a clear claim, relevant evidence from the novel, acknowledgment of the opposing view, and reasoning that connects the pieces. Many students skip the counterargument because they feel it weakens their position, so give it its own row. An essay that admits Mace had few options but still argues he handled the situation poorly shows far more sophistication than one that ignores the other side.

• Takes a clear position on whether Mace's decision was justified
• Uses evidence about the family's money and food problems from the text
• Uses evidence about Tex's attachment to the horse and his reaction
• Addresses at least one reasonable argument from the opposing side
• Explains why the chosen side is stronger instead of only asserting it

Watch for Common Weaknesses

Students writing this essay often make sweeping claims such as Mace is selfish or Mace is a hero without grounding them in specific scenes. Others rely on outside opinions about what they would do in the same situation, which drifts away from the text. Coach them to anchor each point in something the novel says or shows so the essay stays tied to evidence.

Another frequent issue is a one-sided portrait of Tex as purely a victim and Mace as purely a villain, or the reverse. Remind students that Hinton gives both brothers real motives and real flaws. When you give feedback, ask them to find a moment that complicates their claim, which often produces a more thoughtful revision than a simple instruction to add more evidence.

Use Discussion Before Drafting

A structured class debate or a quick written discussion helps students find their strongest reasons before they write. Assign sides at random for a short round, then let students switch, so they practice making the best case for a position they may not hold. This builds the skill of anticipating counterarguments, which is exactly what a strong essay requires.

After the discussion, ask students to collect their best evidence on a simple chart with columns for each side. This preparation gives them something concrete to draw from and makes the essay itself less intimidating. It also gives you a checkpoint where you can quickly spot who is relying on feelings alone and who is working from the text.

Grade Efficiently and Fairly

Argument essays can stir up strong feelings in teachers as well as students, so be careful to grade the quality of the reasoning and not the position taken. A well-supported argument that Mace was wrong should earn the same score as an equally strong argument that he was right. Writing the rubric so that it never mentions which side to choose helps protect that fairness.

To keep the workload manageable, consider scoring the claim and counterargument first and deciding on a score before you read the rest of the paper in detail. Many teachers find that this focused first pass is enough to predict the final grade. Consistent application of the same criteria, whether by hand or with rubric-based software, makes the final scores easier to explain to students and families.