Crime and Punishment Debate

In this worksheet, students read an excerpt from Crime and Punishment and prepare for a structured debate centered on Raskolnikov’s theory of extraordinary individuals and moral boundaries. Students examine the passage closely, then take a stance on whether Raskolnikov’s justification for murder is logically defensible. They must develop arguments for either the affirmative or negative position, using details from the text. Reflection questions push students to explore broader themes such as justice, morality, psychological consequences, and utilitarian logic. This activity strengthens critical thinking, argument-building, and text-based reasoning while helping students understand the complexity of Dostoevsky’s philosophical ideas.

Curriculum Matched Skills

English Language Arts – Argumentation and Debate Skills

English Language Arts – Textual Evidence to Support Claims

English Language Arts – Literary Theme and Philosophical Analysis

English Language Arts – Critical Thinking About Ethics and Morality

English Language Arts – Close Reading of Complex Texts

This worksheet is part of our Classic Literature Worksheets collection.