MARY BALDWIN UNIVERSITY SOC 110: Sociology of the Family Online - Spring 2018
Instructor: Lindsey Lennon, Ph.D. Office Location: Carpenter 103 MBU Email: [email protected] Office Hours: By appointment
I. COURSE DESCRIPTION:
We tend to think of marriages and families as private entities composed of close, personal relationships. But they are not just collections of individual experiences and sites of private decisions. They are institutions performing socially valuable activities that are shaped by social, cultural, political, and economic forces. A sociological perspective will help us place our private, individual experiences in families within this broader context. The course focuses on marriage and family issues over the life course, including topics like dating and love, the formation of partnerships and marriages, choices about parenting, divorce and remarriage, the balance of work and family, and intergenerational relationships. Issues relating to diversity, including race, gender, social class, and sexual orientation, will be emphasized throughout the semester.
II. COURSE OBJECTIVES:
The goals below reflect all of the things I hope you get from this course. While the main focus is an introduction to marriage and the family from different sociological perspectives, a large part of your university education is about learning to think in new ways and develop skills that will be useful to throughout your life. During the course of the semester I want to: • Describe the socio-historical development of the family as a social institution, including the changing roles of women, men, children, and elderly family members • Analyze social, cultural, economic, and political forces that shape the institutions of marriage and family, as well as the experiences of individual family members • Explain basic concepts, theories, and research methods used in the sociological study of marriage and family • Identify and examine sociologically relevant issues within the contemporary family • Develop an appreciation for the diversity of family patterns that exist and an understanding of how family experience is shaped by race, social class, gender, and sexual orientation
III. REQUIRED READING:
1. Marriages and Families: Diversity and Change (7th ed., 2013) by Mary Ann Schwartz and Barbara Marliene Scott. (Available in print and e-text rental formats)
2. For some of the topics covered I will also provide you with links to external websites that you will be expected to visit to gain further insights into the issues. These will be listed on the course calendar and be made available within Blackboard.
IV. EVALUATION AND REQUIREMENTS
Grading will be according to a standard scale, and plus/minus grading will be used for final semester grades. Student evaluation will be based on performance on the following:
A = 100-93 B+ = 89-87 C+ = 79-77 D+= 69-67 F = 59-0 A- = 92-90 B = 86-83 C = 76-73 D = 66-63 B- = 82-80 C- = 72-70 D- = 62-60
Assignments Please note that all assignment due dates are listed on the course calendar. Grades will be based on a 200-point scale. The points for each assignment are listed below.
Gradable Content:
Assignment (Quantity) Total Points Final Grade %
Chapter Quizzes (7) 30 15%
Writing Assignments (3) 60 30%
Discussion Boards (7) 70 35%
Family Interview Project 20 10%
Final Exam 20 10%
Total: 200 100%
Chapter Quizzes (7@ 4.3 points each/30 total points): Chapter quizzes will: cover material from the course readings; all be taken online and outside of our regularly scheduled class time; include only those readings completed since the previous quiz; consist of both multiple choice and short answer questions; are open-book and can be taken multiple times. However, only your last completed quiz score will count. You will be responsible for ensuring that you have access to a computer and reliable internet in order to complete each quiz. Technical difficulties will NOT be a valid excuse for missing the quiz deadline. Please ensure that you leave an adequate amount of time to complete the quiz and account for potential technical difficulties. Quiz deadlines are listed in the course calendar below.
Discussions (7@ 10 points each/70 total points): We will have 7 online, asynchronous discussions over the course of the semester. Your initial should be about 1-2 paragraphs long and include the creative and relevant use of sociological concepts. It should also use good grammar. In addition to the original comment, each student must make a reasoned substantive reply or reaction to at least two other student’s postings during each class discussion.
Substantive reply posts are determined by the quality and clarity of the information provided. Simply saying “I agree” or “Great post” does not count as a meaningful substantive reply post and will not receive credit. Instead, a substantive post will ADD to the conversation by incorporating information from the course and/or elaborating on the other student’s thoughts with further deliberation or personal experiences.
Writing Assignments (3@ 20 points each/60 total points): Writing is an essential component of learning. Writing offers you the opportunity to work through your ideas about a reading, to observe your reactions to a reading, and to make connections between course readings and what is happening in your life and the world around you. Throughout the semester you will be responsible for completing 4 separate writing assignments. Specific instructions for each of these assignments are listed on our course Blackboard site.
Family Interview Project (1@ 20 points): For this project, you will focus on a topic related to families (e.g., gender roles; managing dual career families; grandparenting; single- parent families) and write a paper (3-4 pages typed and double-spaced) incorporating concepts you’ve learned in the class. You may interview members from your own or another family. More details on the guidelines for this project are posted on our course Blackboard site.
Final Exam (1@ 20 points): The final exam is a closed-book, in-class exam. It will cover material from the second half of the course and will include both multiple choice and essay questions.
Late Work Policy: Students must complete assignments at the times indicated on the syllabus. Students will be permitted to make up coursework that was missed because of verified emergencies and/or medical illness. Please note that medical illness refers to conditions that are serious in nature and require treatment by medical professionals and/or surgical or other treatments. Appropriate documentation (i.e. police report, doctors note, funeral program) must be provided. It is also necessary that you contact me *as soon as possible* after missing an assignment due to an emergency or medical illness. In most cases, it is reasonable to expect that you’d email me within 1-2 days of missing an assignment.
If due dates for course assignments coincide either with the observation of religious holidays or the representation of MBU at official functions, such as intercollegiate debating or varsity sports events, you must contact your instructor in advance of the due date for the assignment for which alternative arrangements will be made.
In all other cases, late work may be handed in but will be penalized 20% each day it is late.
Missing Work/Exams/Incompletes:
Missing work or incomplete assignments are insufficient reasons for a grade of Incomplete. An incomplete grade will not be given except under extenuating circumstances at the instructor’s discretion. Students seeking and “I” must be passing the course.
I. COURSE ATTENDANCE AND PARTICIPATION POLICY:
Although our class will not meet “in-person,” regular participation in the online activities and class discussions will be very important to successful completion of this course.
Multitasking (doing several things at once – writing a paper, answering emails, Facebook, etc.) is being found to be an inefficient and ineffective way of getting things done. I strongly suggest closing all other electronics, email accounts, social media, and putting your phone away while you are engaging in our course material. This will make your time more effective and help improve your retention while reading and your performance on assignments.
II. COURSE ETIQUETTE:
In this class, there will be questions and discussion as this is helpful to learning and applying the course material. I expect you to treat everyone in the class with respect, regardless of whether you agree with them or not. Personal attacks and belittling of others will not be tolerated.
III. COURSE ACADEMIC HONESTY/PLAGIARISM POLICY:
The functioning of an academic community depends on the integrity of all of its members. Mary Baldwin University values truthfulness, respect for the property of others, and honesty in academic work. Violations of these values may result in permanent dismissal from the University. All students should abide by the MBU Honor Pledge at all times:
“Believing in the principles of Student Government, I pledge myself to uphold the ideals and regulations of the Mary Baldwin University community. I recognize the principles of honor and cooperation as the basis of our life together. I shall endeavor faithfully to order my life accordingly. I will not lie, cheat, steal, plagiarize, or violate my pledge of confidentiality. I will encourage others to fulfill the ideals of the Honor System and will meet my responsibility to the community by reporting incidents of Honor offenses.”
Violations of the Honor Code may result in a grade penalty (ranging from a zero on the assignment to a failing grade for the course) and/or disciplinary action. For further information on your rights and responsibilities as a student and the disciplinary guidelines and procedures, please consult the following: http://www.marybaldwin.edu/student/sga/honorcode/
Plagiarism: Using another’s work from print, web, or other sources without acknowledging the source; quoting from a source without citation; using facts, figures, graphs, charts or information without acknowledgement of the source. If you use a string of three or more exact words from another source, you must place the words in quotes and cite the author, year and page number. Be a stickler about citing; cite more rather than less; cite early rather than late. The following are a few of the most common examples of plagiarism: Submit a paper that was written by someone other than you. Submit a paper in which you use the ideas, metaphors or reasoning style of another, but do not cite that source and/or place that source in your list of references. Submit a paper in which you "cut and paste" or use the exact words of a source and you do not put the words within quotation marks, use footnotes or in-text citations, and place the source in your list of references. You commit patchwork plagiarism by overuse of quotations – 25% or more of your paper (not including bibliography).
Cheating: Copying from another student’s paper or receiving unauthorized assistance during a quiz, test or examination; procuring without authorization a copy of or information about an examination before the scheduled exercise; unauthorized collaboration on exams.
Unauthorized Group Work: Working with another person or persons on any activity that is intended to be individual work, where such collaboration has not been specifically authorized by the instructor.
Multiple Submission: Submitting the same paper for credit in two courses without instructor permission; making minor revisions in a credited paper or report (including oral presentations) and submitting it again as if it were new work. If you have taken this course in the past or have another course’s assignment you would like to re-submit (whether in part or in whole) for credit in this course you must contact the instructor for permission.
Copyright: Some of the materials in this course are possibly copyrighted. They are intended for use only by students registered and enrolled in this course and only for instructional activities associated with and for the duration of the course. They may not be retained in another medium or disseminated further. They are provided in compliance with the provisions of the Teach Act.
IV. COURSE SCHEDULE AND SEQUENCE OF INSTRUCTION:
The dates provided here are tentative. If an exam date or assignment due date is changed, it will be announced on Blackboard and emailed to your MBU email account. Any non-weather- related class cancellations will also be posted on Blackboard and emailed to your MBU email account.
Week 1 – Marriages and Families Over Time/The Sociological Perspective
M Jan 8 Syllabus review and introductions
W Jan 10 Henslin, Chapter 1, The Sociological Perspective (Blackboard)
F Jan 12 Text: Chapter 1 Online Bio Post Due Friday by 11:59pm
Week 2 - Ways of studying and explaining marriages and families
M Jan 15 Text: Chapter 1
W Jan 17 Text: Chapter 2 Discussion Board 1 Post Due by 11:59pm
F Jan 19 Discussion Board 1 Replies Due by 11:59pm Chapter Quiz 1 Due Friday by 11:59pm
Week 3 - Understanding gender: Its influence in intimate relationships
M Jan 22 Text: Chapter 3
W Jan 24 Text: Chapter 3 Article: West and Zimmerman, “Doing Gender” Discussion Board 2 Post Due by 11:59pm
F Jan 26 Discussion Board 2 Replies Due by 11:59pm
Week 4 - The many faces of love
M Jan 29 Text: Chapter 4 Article: "The Changing Landscape of Love and Marriage." Article: "Women and Men in Love: Who Really Feels It and Says It First?"
W Jan 31 Text: Chapter 4
F Feb 2 Chapter Quiz 2 Due Friday by 11:59pm Writing Assignment 1 Due Friday by 11:59pm
Week 5 – Dating, coupling, and mate selection / Sexuality
M Feb 5 Text: Chapter 5
W Feb 7 Text: Chapter 5 Discussion Board 3 Post Due by 11:59pm
F Feb 9 Text: Chapter 6 Discussion Board 3 Replies Due by 11:59pm Chapter Quiz 3 Due Friday by 11:59pm
Week 6 – Sexuality and intimate relationships/ Non-marital lifestyles
M Feb 12 Article: “Straight Girls Kissing” Article: “From Outlaws to In-Laws: Gay and Lesbian Couples…”
W Feb 14 Text: Chapter 7 Check out: NCSL website on same-sex marriage laws state to state o http://www.ncsl.org/research/human-services/same-sex-marriage- laws.aspx Implicit Association Test (See Bb for more details)
F Feb 16 Writing Assignment 2 Due Friday by 11:59pm
Week 7 – The marriage experience
M Feb 19 Text: Chapter 8
W Feb 21 Article: “The Changing Landscape of Love and Marriage” Nell, “By the Power Vested in Me...” o http://sociologyinfocus.com/2014/12/by-the-power-vested-in-me-i- vow-to-keep-my-name/ Discussion Board 4 Post Due by 11:59pm
F Feb 23 Discussion Board 4 Replies Due by 11:59pm Chapter Quiz 4 Due Friday by 11:59pm
Week 8 – Evolving work and family structures / Reproduction
M Feb 26 Text: Chapter 10 Article: “Calling Mr. Mom?” Article: “The Second Shift” Article: “The Spousal Safety Net”
W Feb 28 Text: Chapter 9 Video: “The Beginning of Life”
F Mar 2 Chapter Quiz 5 Due Friday by 11:59pm
March 2-11 Spring Break
Week 9 – Violence and Abuse
M Mar 12 Text: Chapter 11
W Mar 14 PDF: Teen Dating Violence 2012 PDF: Violent Crime 2011 Optional: Additional resources on violence in intimate relationships in Bb Discussion 6 Violence Journal Post Due by 11:59pm
F Mar 16 Discussion 6 Violence Journal Replies Due by 11:59pm
Week 10 – The process of uncoupling: Divorce
M Mar 19 Text: Chapter 12
W Mar 21 Article: “The Case for Divorce” Article: “Number Timing and Duration of Marriage and Divorce 2009” Optional: Additional readings in Bb
F Mar 23 Writing Assignment 3 Due Friday by 11:59pm Chapter Quiz 6 Due Friday by 11:59pm
Week 11 – Remarriage and remarried families
M Mar 26 Text: Chapter 13
W Mar 29 Discussion Board 7 Post Due by 11:59pm
F Mar 31 Discussion Board 7 Replies Due by 11:59pm
Week 12 – Marriage and Families in Later Life
M Apr 2 Text: Chapter 14
W Apr 4 Text: Chapter 14
F Apr 6 Chapter Quiz 7 Due Friday by 11:59pm Recommended: Complete interview for project
Week 13 – Issues confronting families at home and abroad
M Apr 9 Text: Chapter 15
W Apr 11 Johnson, “What Can We Do?” PDF
F Apr 13 Family Interview Project Due by 11:59pm
Final Exam Week
April 16-20 Final Exam Due by Wednesday at 11:59pm