Sociology 2301-Fall 2007-Standard Semester-Distance Education

Marriage & Family

David W. Hubbard, Instructor

Trinity Valley Community College

Office:    903-670-2620

E-Mail:  Use Mail Box on WebCT

 

COURSE INTRODUCTION

 

Marriage and family values continue to be important to contemporary American life.  Students come to a marriage and family course because family life is important to them.  The aim of the course is to assist students as they question assumptions and to reconcile conflicting ideas and values as they make choices throughout their lives.  Several themes are interwoven throughout the textbook….people are influenced by the society around them as they make choices, social conditions change in ways that may impede or support family life, there is an interplay between individual families and the larger society, and individuals make family-related choices throughout adulthood.  This course presents an excellent opportunity for the student to get a glimpse of what factors play a major part in American society regarding what is marriage and who are the participants of the family.

 

GENERAL OBJECTIVES

 

Sociology 2301 will attempt to acquaint the student with terms, concepts, methods and literature that are tied to the study of marriage and family.  It will stimulate the student to become interested in the discipline of sociology.  It will also give real life situations that can be related to the study of sociology.  It will also help the student to practice the skill of writing and finally, it will help the student to discover the implications of the course material for understanding their own interests, talents and values.

 

SPECIFIC COURSE OBJECTIVES

 

The text is divided into eighteen chapters.  We will cover twelve of these chapters during the semester.

 

Chapter 1—Family Commitments:  Making Choices in a Changing Society

 

Chapter 2—American Families in Social Context

 

Chapter 3—Exploring the Family

 

Chapter 5—Loving Ourselves and Others

 

Chapter 7—Choosing a Marriage Partner

 

Chapter 8—Marriage, a Private and Public Relationship

 

Chapter 10—To Parent or Not to Parent

 

Chapter 11—Raising Children in a Diverse and Multicultural Society

 

Chapter 12—Work and Family

 

Chapter 13—Communication and Managing Conflict in Marriages and Families

 

Chapter 15—Family Stress, Crises and Resilience

 

Chapter 18—Aging Families

 

 

EXEMPLARY OBJECTIVES

 

Social and Behavioral Sciences:  The objective of a social and behavioral science component of a core curriculum is to increase the knowledge of students regarding how social and behavioral scientists discover, describe and explain behaviors and interactions among individuals, groups, institutions, events and ideas.  Such knowledge will better equip students to understand themselves and the roles they play in addressing the issues facing humanity.

 

1.                  To employ the appropriate methods, technologies and data that social and behavioral scientists use to investigate the human condition.

2.                  To examine social institutions and processes across a range of historical periods, social structures and cultures.

3.                  To use and critique alternative explanatory systems or theories.

4.                  To develop and communicate alternative explanations or solutions for contemporary social issues.

5.                  To analyze the effects of historical, social, political, economic, cultural and global forces on the area under study.

6.                  To understand the evolution and current role of the U.S. in the world.

7.                  To differentiate and analyze historical evidence (documentary and statistical) and differing points of view.

8.                  To analyze, critically assess and develop creative solutions to public policy problems.

9.                  To recognize and assume one’s responsibility as a citizen in a democratic society by learning to think for oneself, by engaging in public discourse and by obtaining information through the news media and other appropriate information sources about politics and public policy.

10.              To identify and understand differences and commonalities within diverse cultures.

 

 

ASSESSMENT OF LEARNING

 

Assessment and measurement of knowledge learned from this class will be determined using the following instruments:

 

·        Weekly written class assignments

·        Exams

·        Research papers

·        Group power point presentations

·        Internet discussion participation

 

 

TEST REQUIREMENTS

 

The methods of writing, administering and grading of exams given during this course are left to the discretion of the instructor.  There will be four exams given over the twelve chapters covered during this semester.  The student is responsible for learning the material assigned as well as other material and assignments as determined by the instructor.

 

All testing MUST be done at either one of the TVCC Testing Centers or at an approved alternative site.  Students who do plan on using the TVCC Testing Centers should check hours of operation and the availability of the Center.  Do not assume that one of the Centers is always available, as the Center may be reserved for other testing activities during the time that you wish to test.  For further assistance regarding Testing Center policy, see www.tvcc.edu/testing.  For VCT students who test at a testing center on their “home campus”, you must complete a “Non Local Proctor Agreement” form.  This form is available from the instructor and should be requested at least two weeks prior to the test dates and MUST be received and on file with the Distance Learning Office no later than three days prior to the test date.

 

MAKE UP TESTS

 

There will be no make up tests given without specific approval of the instructor.  All tests must be taken.

 

EXTRA CREDIT

 

Extra credit for acceptable written summaries may be given at the instructor’s discretion.  For further information, contact the instructor.

 

 

WEEKLY ASSIGNMENTS

 

After reading the assigned chapters of the text, the student will determine the definitions of the Key Terms and answer the Questions For Review & Reflection.  Using the course syllabus to determine when the assignment is due, the assignment should be e-mailed to the instructor no later than 11:59 PM on the due date.  (Example:  Reading assignment is to be done between the days of September 12th thru September 16th.  Therefore, the weekly written assignment must be e-mailed to the instructor no later than September 16th at 11:59 PM)   Please use the WebCT Mailbox to e-mail the instructor.  There are (12) chapter assignments due during the semester.  The student is required to submit (10) of the (12) assignments.  The student may choose which (2) weekly assignments to omit.  Each of the (10) assignments submitted will account for 2% of the semester grade, for a total of 20%.

 

GROUP POWER POINT PRESENTATION

 

The class will be divided into groups at the beginning of the semester.  A leader for the group will be chosen by the group.  A power point subject must be agreed upon by all members of the group.  The group will then divide responsibilities according to subject matter, do individual research for information and present his/her contributions to the group. This information will be included in the presentation.  The group leader will be responsible for submitting the final presentation to the instructor by the due date as noted in the syllabus.  The power point presentation will account for 5% of the semester grade.  Length of the presentation must be at least a minimum of 5 pages (slides) in length.

 

RESEARCH PAPER

 

Determination of subject area for your paper must be submitted to the instructor by the requested deadline.  Paper must be at least 6 pages in length, double spaced and follow APA format. A cover page should be attached to the front of the paper with references noted at the end of the paper.  A minimum of eight references must be used, excluding the text.  The paper must relate to a subject area that is covered in the textbook during the semester.  The research paper will account for 15% of the semester grade.

 

 

REVIEW FOR EXAMS

 

A review of chapters that will be covered in each exam will be presented by the instructor several days prior to the exam.  The instructor will post information that should be reviewed in preparation for the exam.  Exam dates will normally run for at least three days, to allow all distance education students the opportunity to test at a convenient time.

 

 

 

TEXT

 

Marriages & Families, Mary Ann Lamanna & Agnes Riedmann (California:  Wadsworth Publishing Co), 9th, 2006

 

HOW TO DETERMINE GRADES

Exam 1                                    15%

Exam 2                                    15%

Exam 3                                    15%

Exam 4                                    15%

                                                                    Paper                                              15%

                                                                    Group Presentation                                     5%

                                                                    Weekly Assignments (12)2% each20%

                    Total                                     100%

 

 

 

 

 

DATES FOR ASSIGNMENTS AND EXAMS

 

August 27th  ....………………………………………………………..Fall 2007 classes begin

August 27th thru August 31st  .…………….…………………………..Read Chapter 1

Identify Key Terms and answer Questions for R & R

September 3rd thru Sept 7th  .………..…………………………………Read Chapter 2

            Identify Key Terms and answer Questions for R & R

September 10th thru September 14th  ..………. ……….………………Read Chapter 3    

                        Identify Key Terms and answer Questions for R & R                                          

September 17th thru September 19th  ..……..………………………….Review for first exam

September 20th thru September 24th   ..….............................................Exam 1

September 24th thru September 28th  ..……..………………….............Read Chapter 5 & 7

            Identify Key Terms and answer Questions for R & R                                           

October 1st thru October 5th  ....……………………………………….Read Chapters 8 & 10

            Identify Key Terms and answer Questions for R & R                                             

October 5th  ………………………………………………………......Identify and have

                                                                                                       subject matter for

                                                                                                       research paper and

     group presentation

      approved

                                                                                                       by instructor.         

October 8th thru October 10th  ..….…………………..…....................Review for second exam

October 11th thru October 15th  …….. ..………………………….......Exam 2

October 15th thru October 19th  ……...…………………………….....Read Chapters 11 & 12

            Identify Key Terms and answer Questions for R & R  

October 22nd thru October 26th .....……………………………...........Read Chapter 13

            Identify Key Terms and answer Questions for R & R

 

 

October 29th thru November 2nd  ……………………………………..Read Chapter 15

            Identify Key Terms and answer Questions for R & R

November 5th thru November 7th ……...……………………..............Review for third exam

November 8th thru November 12th  …………………………………..Exam 3                    

November 12th thru November 23rd………………………………….Work on Group Presentation

      & paper

November 16th ………………………………………………………..Last day to drop with a “W”

November 23rd ………………………………………………………..Group presentations due      

November 26th thru November 30th …………….....…………………Read Chapter 18

            Identify Key Terms and answer Questions for R & R                                        

November 30th  ….…… ……………………………………………....Research paper due

December 3rd thru December 5th  …..………………………………….Review for fourth exam

December 6th thru December 10th  …..……. .…………………………Exam 4