Skip to Content

Lindquist, David H. “Avoiding the Complex History, Simple Answer Syndrome: A Lesson Plan for Providing Depth and Analysis in the High School History Classroom.” (2012)

Citation: 

Lindquist, David H. “Avoiding the Complex History, Simple Answer Syndrome: A Lesson Plan for Providing Depth and Analysis in the High School History Classroom.” Teaching History 45(3) (2012): 405-20.

Abstract/Summary: 

The article focuses on how to create a lesson plan that provides in-depth analysis of complex history subjects for U.S. high school students, with the example of the Holocaust during World War II. The author explains the complex history and simple answer syndrome, argues that textbooks and lectures are the main problem with teaching history, and analyzes how students would benefit from examining history by applying critical thinking skills. He explores a lesson plan outlined by the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum (USHMM), which asks students to evaluate why Jews did not leave Germany prior to WWII.

Source/Credit: 
EBSCO Host