Dostoevsky Debate

This advanced discussion-and-writing worksheet is designed for Grades 10-12 and challenges students to engage directly with the philosophical core of Crime and Punishment. Students respond to five open-ended debate prompts, each centered on a major concept in the novel-justice, free will, morality, society, and redemption. For each question, learners must take a clear position, explain their reasoning, and support their ideas with specific textual evidence from Dostoevsky’s work.

Rather than focusing on plot recall, this activity pushes students to connect abstract philosophical ideas to concrete moments in the text, such as Raskolnikov’s theory, the murder, Sonia’s influence, confession, and exile. Students practice articulating nuanced interpretations while grappling with moral ambiguity and psychological complexity.

Learning Goals

• Textual Evidence & Argumentative Writing (Upper Secondary ELA) – Develop claims supported by quotes and events
• Theme & Motif Analysis – Examine how Dostoevsky explores justice, morality, and redemption
• Critical Thinking – Evaluate philosophical questions through literary analysis
• Constructed Response Writing – Write clear, coherent, evidence-based responses

Instructional Benefits

• Teacher-Created Resource – Aligned with high school literature and writing standards
• Philosophy Through Literature – Makes abstract ethical questions accessible through text-based discussion
• Discussion-Ready Prompts – Ideal for debates, Socratic seminars, or written assessments
• Encourages Multiple Interpretations – Reinforces that complex texts allow reasoned disagreement
• Builds College-Ready Skills – Strengthens argumentation, synthesis, and critical reasoning
• Flexible Use – Works as an in-class debate prep, written response assignment, or culminating activity
• Low Prep – Print-and-use worksheet with clearly framed prompts

This Dostoevsky debate worksheet helps students move beyond summary into philosophical analysis, encouraging them to wrestle with the ethical questions that define Crime and Punishment. By defending interpretations with evidence and reasoning, learners deepen their understanding of Raskolnikov’s struggle while developing strong analytical and argumentative writing skills.

This worksheet is part of our Crime and Punishment Worksheets collection.