Few questions divide a class on The Good Earth like whether Wang Lung deserves sympathy. Some students see a man who works relentlessly to feed his family. Others see a husband who overlooks his wife's sacrifice and takes a concubine once he can afford it. That disagreement makes for a strong argumentative essay prompt, and it needs careful grading.

Treat it as a real argument, not a character quiz. The student must take a position, support it with evidence, and answer at least one objection. An essay that merely lists good and bad traits has not yet argued anything.

Grade the reasoning rather than the verdict. Whether a student concludes that Wang Lung is sympathetic or not matters far less than how they get there. A well-supported case for either side should earn a top score.

Look for students who define their terms. What does sympathetic mean here: understandable, admirable, or forgivable? Essays that clarify this early tend to have tighter arguments than those that leave it fuzzy.

Elements of a Strong Argument

Argumentative writing has its own structure, and your rubric should reflect it. Students need a claim, reasons, evidence, and a response to the other side. These are the markers to watch for.

• A clear position stated in the introduction, with a definition of what sympathetic means
• At least two reasons, each supported by specific scenes from the novel
• Acknowledgment of a counterargument, such as his treatment of O-lan or his shifting priorities
• A rebuttal that engages the counterargument honestly instead of dismissing it
• A conclusion that explains what the argument reveals about the novel's larger view of him

Feedback on Counterarguments

The counterargument is where most essays fall short. Students either skip it or set up a weak version they can easily knock down. Ask for the strongest opposing view and have them respond to that instead.

A helpful comment might be "What would a reader who dislikes Wang Lung point to in the scenes with O-lan, and how would you respond?" That question sends students back into the text and produces more thoughtful rebuttals. It also works for essays on either side.

Handling Strong Opinions

Students may have intense reactions, especially about the treatment of O-lan. Encourage them, but keep the focus on textual support. Passionate writing is welcome as long as the evidence carries the argument.

Watch for judgments imported from modern values without any acknowledgment of the novel's setting. Students can hold Wang Lung accountable while also noting the norms of his time. Comments can ask them to distinguish between judging a character and understanding him.

Applying the Rubric Fairly

A rubric with clear rows for claim, reasoning, evidence, and counterargument keeps scoring even. GraideMind and other rubric-based tools can apply these rows consistently to each essay, which helps if you have strong personal feelings about the character. Your final review can then focus on whether the analysis holds up.

Consider a follow-up discussion where students hear the opposing side. After grading, a structured debate lets them see how the same evidence can support different conclusions. It often improves the next round of argumentative writing.