History 4130 History of Utah

A study of Utah history from its native American beginnings through the 20th century -- emphasizing political, economic, and social developments.

Resources:

Utah State Historical Society publishes the Utah Historical Quarterly

Historical Museum Guide for Utah

Utah History to Go has lesson plans

Utah History Encyclopedia

Utah history for Kids

UEN Core standards for Social Studies - Utah History


Texts:

Stegner, Mormon Country

Farmer, On Zion's Mount

Alexander, Utah: The Right Place

additional readings as assigned


Grades:

Grades will be based on a percentage of the points possible

A = 94 -100%
B = 83 - 86%
C = 73 - 76%
D = 60 - 66%

 

 

Utah Counties Map  Course Schedule

Students have a responsibility to one another and to one another’s education. In this class, you and your classmates will generate knowledge through discussion and deliberation.  In order for the class to be successful, you must be an active participant in both teaching and learning.  In class, each of you will participate by discussing, deliberating, and analyzing the material.  Outside of class, each of you will participate by reading the material and preparing assignments carefully. My role in the class is to create an environment that helps you construct knowledge.  I will provide a course structure as well as ongoing guidance that will help you build your own knowledge

Learning Objectives:

  • Historical Knowledge: students will be able to:
    • Explain how the geography of the state has impacted its history and economy.
    • Describe the strategies of resistance and accommodation employed by Indian leaders confronting non-Indians in Utah.
    • Identify and explain the significance of people, events, situations in Utah history from 1600 to the present.
    • Compare and contrast the settlement of Utah by the Mormons to other Western States' settlement.
    •  Explain way an understanding of Mormon history and some of LDS doctrinal beliefs are important in Utah History?
    • Describe the processes involved in the "Americanization" of Utah.
    • Analyze how the Federal Government's ownership of 70% of the land in Utah impacts the state and the politics of public land use.
  • Historical Thinking: Students will be able to:
    • Evaluate the strengths, weaknesses, and trends in the historiography of Utah.
    • Describe Utah's history in the context of American Western history.
       
  • Historical Skills: Students will be able to:
    • Critically discuss assigned texts
    • Present in oral and written formats their research/analyses

    Activities in support of Learning:

    • Discussions, free-writes, field trips,
    • 4 response papers  15 points each. Grading rubric
    • 5 formal oral presentations 10 points each. Evaluation criteria
    • 2 Exams -- short essay
    • Book review. Students will read a contemporary novel set in Utah and will present their responses to the text in oral forms to the class.  20 points. 

    Participation:

    Participation--in class discussions, in the service project, etc. is highly valued in this class. Students will assess their participation in a short paper. 20 points.