HSTA 461: Research in Montana History
Professor Jeff Wiltse
LA 251 / ex. 2987 / jeffrey.wiltse@umontana.edu
Office hours: M: 2:00-3:30, F: 9:30-10:30
Course Description and Learning Objectives
This course is a research and writing seminar in Montana history. Students will learn advanced
research methodology in history and will become familiar with a variety of databases and source
collections useful for researching Montana history. Students will research and write a twenty-five
page, primary-source based paper on a topic in Montana history. This course fulfills the Advanced
Writing (AW) requirement for the history department and the university. The primary learning
objectives for this course are:
1. Become an expert on a selected topic in Montana history
2. Develop skills fundamental to the historical discipline, including:
 Conduct primary and second source research
 Critically analyze primary sources
 Engage with relevant historical scholarship
 Write a sophisticated, argument-driven research paper
 Review and comment on the work of peers
 Present findings orally to peers
Readings
Copies of the following book are available at the bookstore. It is the primary text for the course.
William Kelleher Storey, Writing History: A Guide for Students, Fifth Edition
Assignments
Article Analysis:
Select two articles pertaining to Montana history published in Montana: A
Magazine of Western History. Read the articles carefully and write a typed
response that answers the following questions about each article:
 What is the topic of the article?
 What is the central argument or contribution of the article?
 How does the author structure the article?
 What types of sources does the author use and where are these sources
located?
Due Thursday, September 10
Source Collections: Find three document collections that could be used to write a research paper on
a topic in Montana history, peruse the documents in each collection, and then
type a paper that Identifies and describes each collection and suggests a research
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topic that the documents in each collection could support. Due Thursday,
September 24
Project Proposal: A four-page proposal that describes your research project, details the research you
have conducted thus far, states your preliminary research question(s), describes
the relevant primary sources you have found, and identifies relevant secondary
sources. Due Thursday, October 1
Research Findings: A four-page paper that explains the conclusions you are drawing from the
primary sources relevant to your topic and analyzes some of the evidence that
supports these conclusions. This will require you to analyze specific passages and
examples from the documents to support your conclusions. Due Thursday,
October 15
Intro & Outline:
A draft introduction and thorough outline of your research paper. Due Thursday,
October 29
Draft:
A complete draft of your research paper. Due Thursday, November 19
Presentation:
Deliver a seven-to-eight minute oral presentation that identifies your topic,
explains your main conclusions, describes your most interesting evidence, situates
your research in relation to the work of other scholars, and relates what surprised
you most about the topic. Thursday, December 10
Research Paper: The final version of your twenty-five page research paper. Due Wednesday,
December 15 by 5:00 pm
Grading
You must take this course for a grade. Your final grade will be the weighted average of your individual
grades for the term. Final letter grades are figured at 90%=A, 80%=B, 70%=C, 60%=D. The dividing
line for pluses is _7% and minuses _3%. Grades will be weighted as follows:
Article Analysis
Source Collections
Proposal
Research Findings
Intro & Outline
Draft
Final Paper
Participation
5 percent
5 percent
10 percent
5 percent
10 percent
20 percent
35 percent
10 percent
*Attendance is required. If you have more than one unexcused absence during the semester, you will
receive an F for class participation.
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Academic Honesty
Neither plagiarism nor any form of cheating will be tolerated. The work you submit in this course must
be your own. When you draw from the words and thoughts of others, acknowledge it in footnotes.
Plagiarism or cheating will result in a failing grade for the course.
Drop Deadlines
The last day to drop this class by Cyberbear is September 21. The last day to drop with instructor and
advisor signature is November 2. A WP or WF will appear on your transcript for courses dropped after
this date. December 11 is the last day to drop by petition.
Course Schedule
Thu, Sep. 3:
Course Introduction
Part 1:
Part 2:
Thu, Sep. 10:
Writing Montana History
Part 1:
Part 2:
Thu, Sep. 17:
Overview of Montana Historiography
Discussion of Selected Articles from Montana: The Magazine of Western
History
Finding a Promising Topic
Library Session: Researching Montana History in the Archives
*Reconvene at 3:10 pm in the Library Archives (Level 4)
Discussion of Source Collections
Part 1:
Part 2:
Thu, Oct 1:
Article Analysis Assignment Due
Getting Started
Read: Storey, Writing History, 1-31.
Part 1:
Part 2:
Thu, Sep. 24:
Course Introduction and Overview
Library Session: Mansfield Library Resources in Montana History
*Reconvene at 3:30 pm in the Library’s Buckhouse Room (Level 2)
Source Collections Assignment Due
Discussion of Source Collections
Library Session: Researching Montana History in Government Docs
*Reconvene at 3:30 pm in the Library’s Buckhouse Room (Level 2)
Discuss Research Projects
Project Proposal Assignment Due
Read: Storey, Writing History, 32-39.
Part 1:
Part 2:
Class Discussion of Project Proposals
Mechanics of Historical Research
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Thu, Oct. 8:
Mandatory Individual Meetings to Discuss Project Proposals—Use sign-up sheet
Thu, Oct. 15:
Presentation of Research Findings Research Findings Assignment Due
Read: Storey, Writing History, 32-77.
Part 1:
Part 2:
Thu, Oct. 22:
Craft of Historical Writing
Read:
Storey, Writing History, 78-125.
Part 1:
Part 2:
Thu, Oct. 29:
Present Research Findings
Using Sources
Argumentation and Historiographical Contribution
Structure and Citation
Draft Intros and Outlines
Part 1:
Part 2:
Intro and Outline Assignment Due
Discuss Intros and Outlines in Research Groups
Preview the Rest of the Semester
Thu, Nov. 5:
Mandatory Individual Meetings to Discuss Intros and Outlines—Use sign-up sheet
Thu, Nov. 12:
No class—Write Rough Drafts
*Optional individual meetings—Use sign-up sheet
Thu, Nov. 19:
Mandatory Individual Meetings—Use sign-up sheet Complete Rough Draft Due
Thu, Nov. 26:
No class
Thu, Dec. 3:
Mandatory Individual Meetings to Discuss Drafts—Use sign-up sheet
Thu, Dec. 10:
Research Presentations
(Thanksgiving Break)
*Email final paper to Professor Wiltse by Wednesday, December 15 at 5:00 pm
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