How to Develop "Good" Historical Narratives? Views From Canadian Students

• In Event: Marriott Roundtable Session 18
  In Roundtable Session: Enacting Social Studies Education

Abstract

This paper presents the results of a study that analyses students’ historical narratives of the nation in relation to historical consciousness as young citizens of French Canada. This study was conducted with 635 high school students registered in various public schools of Quebec and Ontario. Results show that students offered simplified narratives of limited perspectives and events largely informed by collective identification and the cultural curriculum. The paper discusses the implications for research on historical thinking and narrative competence, and what history educators might do to promote more sophisticated forms of narrations and historical consciousness among 21st century learners.

Author

• Stephane Levesque, University of Ottawa