Description
In this resource, students read and analyze the science fiction and dystopian novella “The Minority Report” by Philip K. Dick, a thought-provoking text that raises timeless ethical and philosophical questions. As students move through the story, they grapple with debates about safety versus liberty, free will versus determinism, and whether a society can justify sacrificing individual rights in the name of security.
This lesson encourages deep discussion and critical thinking as students consider whether the future is fixed by fate or shaped by human choice. Philip K. Dick’s unsettling vision of predictive justice provides an engaging entry point into conversations about government power, surveillance, and moral responsibility.
Students begin with pre-reading discussion questions that introduce major themes and prompt personal reflection. A comprehensive PowerPoint presentation supports instruction with background information on Philip K. Dick, historical context from Cold War–era America, an introduction to the novella, and explicit instruction in academic vocabulary, reinforced through a vocabulary graphic organizer.
As students read, they complete reading and analysis questions divided into ten sections, helping them pace their reading and closely examine plot, character development, and theme. After reading, students participate in discussion questions and complete a theme analysis chart and graphic organizer to synthesize their understanding.
The lesson also includes a film comparison activity using the 2002 film Minority Report, directed by Steven Spielberg and starring Tom Cruise and Colin Farrell. Through a guided movie worksheet, students compare how themes, characters, and ideas are presented across text and film.
This resource includes a suggested lesson procedure, all instructional materials, and complete answer keys. You’ll receive a teacher guide and answer keys in PDF format, student materials in both editable Word documents and print-ready PDFs, and the full PowerPoint presentation.
Perfect for high school ELA, this “Minority Report” lesson supports dystopian literature study, philosophical inquiry, media comparison, and rigorous literary analysis.