The prompt you assign shapes the writing you receive, and Stockton's "The Lady, or the Tiger?" supports an unusually wide range of them. A prompt that asks for an argument produces a very different essay from one that asks for a character analysis or a creative continuation. Matching your assessment method to the prompt prevents the common problem of grading a narrative with an argument rubric or vice versa.

Argument prompts, such as asking which door the princess indicates, call for a claim, evidence, and reasoning rubric. Analysis prompts, such as exploring how the author builds tension, call for attention to craft elements like pacing and narrative voice. Personal response prompts, such as asking what the student would do in the princess's position, call for a different set of criteria entirely.

Before assigning, decide which skill you most want to evaluate and write the prompt to elicit it. A vague prompt like "write about the story" invites a bit of everything and makes consistent grading nearly impossible. A precise prompt tells students what to do and tells you what to look for.

Match the rubric to the prompt type

For argument prompts, reward the strength of the claim, the accuracy of the evidence, and the quality of the reasoning. For analysis prompts, add a row for how well the student identifies and explains the author's techniques. For creative or personal prompts, shift toward voice, imagination, and the use of story details to ground the response.

• Argument prompt: which door does the princess indicate, and why?
• Character prompt: what drives the princess's decision in the arena?
• Theme prompt: what does the story suggest about justice and chance?
• Craft prompt: how does Stockton use the ending to affect the reader?
• Creative prompt: write the scene that follows the opening of the door.

Adjust expectations for length and complexity

Different prompts naturally produce different lengths. A focused paragraph response may be enough for a craft question, while a full five paragraph essay suits a theme or argument prompt. Telling students the expected length and structure up front prevents confusion and gives you a consistent basis for grading.

Grade level matters too. Younger students may benefit from sentence starters and structured paragraphs, while older students can handle open-ended prompts that require them to design their own structure. Aligning the prompt to students' current skills keeps the assignment challenging without being discouraging.

Offer choice without losing comparability

Giving students a choice between two or three prompts can increase engagement, but it complicates grading. If the prompts require different skills, scores may not be directly comparable. A workable solution is to choose prompts that share the same core rubric rows, such as evidence and reasoning, while differing only in topic.

This approach lets students pursue what interests them while keeping your grading framework stable. It also makes it easier to analyze class-wide results, since the same skills are measured regardless of which prompt each student picked. Teachers often find that choice improves effort without adding much grading complexity.

Streamline grading across multiple prompt types

Managing several prompt types at once can feel overwhelming, but a library of rubrics makes it routine. Keeping a template for argument, analysis, and creative responses lets you adapt quickly each time you teach the story. Over several years, this library saves substantial planning time.

AI grading platforms that support custom rubrics are particularly useful here, because you can load the appropriate rubric for each prompt and have essays scored consistently. Teachers retain the ability to adjust results and add their own comments. This flexibility makes it easier to experiment with new prompts without worrying about grading overhead.