Marriage and Family
Spring 2015 Section 1G12
Tuesday 7th period (1:55 – 2:45 p.m.)
Thursday 7-8th period (1:55 – 3:50 p.m.)
TUR 1315
Instructor
Tianhan Gui
Email:
Meeting Time & Place
Office: Turlington 3307/3357
Office Hours: Tuesday & Thursday 12:20 – 1:50 p.m.
Course Description
This course is designed to introduce students to major issues in relationships and families from a sociological perspective. It will offer a comprehensive coverage of the field, explore the social, political, cultural, economic and demographic factors influencing marriage and family. It will highlight the important contemporary changes in society, marriage and the family in the United States and also in a cross-cultural and multicultural context.
This section of SYG 2430 fulfills General Education requirements (S, D), but is NOT a Gordon Rule section.
Course Objectives
Review the historical development to understand the context of contemporary family issues and debates.
Examine the diversity of U.S. families, using cross-cultural and multicultural material to analyze many critical issues that confront today’s families.
Grasp important contemporary aspects of marriage and family, develop critical thinking skills on family and society changes.
Comprehend key concepts frequently used in sociological research on intimate relationships, marriages and families, as well as theoretical developments which focus on individual and family formation.
Understand the dialectical relationship between “personal troubles” and “public issues” (C. W. Mills), comprehend the interaction between macro/micro processes.
Course Reading
Marriages and Families: Changes, Choices, and Constraints, 8thedition.(2014)
NijoleV.Benokraitis.Pearson.
Course Requirements and Evaluation
Classroom conduct: Laptop computers and tablets are not allowed in class, and please silence your cellphones. Remember to keep an open mind towards different opinions.
Attendance and In-Class Assignments:Short, in-class assignments will be given throughout the term (~8-10) to help focus thoughts and stimulate discussion. These are collected the same day in class and provide the basis for the Class Attendance grade (20 points total; 2-3 points each)
Take-home assignments: There will be two take-home assignments during the term. Instructions and due dates will be posted on E-learning soon. Each assignment worth 30 points.You must turn in completed assignments electronically on E-Learning no later than the posted deadline.
Participation: “Don’t just come to class –be present.” Since we will discuss many controversial topics in this class, it is crucial to speak out in order to develop your own ideas and criticisms about the material.
Reading: I strongly recommend you to do the readings before each class.
Exams: We will have three exams in the course (50 points for each): two are in-class exams, and the last one will be given during the final exam period. Each exam will include two parts: explanation of 10 key terms from previous chapters you have learned and 40 multiple choices. I will post selected key terms from each chapter on E-learning, and you only need to prepare those posted key terms. The schedule of exams will not change. Please plan accordingly.
Facilitating class discussion and group report: The class will be divided into 9 groups. Each group will facilitate one class discussion for about 30 to 40 minutes during the semester. Each group needs to prepare at least 8 questions to lead class discussions and spark debates. The facilitating group also needs to submit a report one week after your discussion session, which will be the group’s own answers to the questions. Each group only needs to submit one report, and each question should have a 200 to 300-word answer. Suggested discussion topics are listed in the “Calendar” section of this syllabus, if you would like to choose relevant topics other than the ones I prescribed, please feel free to let me know. For this group assignment, group members need to evaluate each other (using letter grade), and email me their evaluations. Your evaluations will be confidential. The discussion facilitation and group report worth 50 points in total.
Grade breakdown:
In-class assignments—20 points
1st in-class exam—50 points
2nd in-class exam—50 points
3rd in-class exam—50points
1st take-home assignment—30 points
2nd take home assignments—30 points
Facilitating discussion and report—50 points
Grade / GPA / Percentage / PointsA / 4.0 / 93 – 100% / 260-280
A- / 3.67 / 90 – 92.9% / 252-259
B+ / 3.33 / 87 – 89.9% / 243-251
B / 3.0 / 83 – 86.9% / 232-242
B- / 2.67 / 80 – 82.9% / 224-231
C+ / 2.33 / 77 – 79.9% / 215-223
C / 2.0 / 73 – 76.9% / 204-214
C- / 1.67 / 70 – 72.9% / 196-203
D+ / 1.33 / 67 – 69.9% / 187-195
D / 1.0 / 63 – 66.9% / 176-186
D- / 0.67 / 60 – 62.9% / 168-175
E / 0 / Below 60% / Bellow 168
COURSE SCHEDULE
Week 1
January 6— Introduction of the course
January 8— Chapter 1: The changing family
Week 2
January 13— Chapter 3: The family in historical perspective
January 15— Chapter 3: The family in historical perspective (Continued)
Chapter 4: Racial and ethnic families:Strengths and stresses
Week 3
January 20— Chapter 5: Socialization and gender roles
January 22— Chapter 5: Socialization and gender roles
Discussion 1: Socialization and gender roles
Week4
January 27— Chapter 6: Romance, love and loving relationships
January 29— Chapter 7: Sexuality
Discussion 2: Sexuality
Week 5
February 3— Review
February 5— In-Class Exam 1 (Chapter 1-7)
Week 6
February 10— Guest lecture
February 12— Chapter 8: Choosing others: Dating and mate selection
Discussion 3: Dating and mate selection
Week 7
February 17— Dating and mate selection (Continued)
February 19—No class, I have to attend a conference in Washington, D.C.
Week 8
February 24— Chapter 9: Singlehood, cohabitation, civil unions, and other options
February 26— Chapter 9: Singlehood, cohabitation, civil unions, and other options (Continued)
Chapter 10: Marriage and Communication in Intimate Relationships
Discussion 4: Singlehood, cohabitation and marriage
Week 9
Spring break, no class
Week 10
March 10— Chapter 11: To be or not to be a parent: More choices, more constraints
March 12— Chapter 11: To be or not to be a parent: More choices, more constraints (Continued)
Discussion 5: To be or not to be a parent
Week 11
March 17— Chapter 12: Raising children: Promises and pitfalls
March 19— Chapter 12: Raising children: Promises and pitfalls (Continued)
Discussion 6: Raising children
Week 12
March 24—Review
March 26—In-class exam 2
Week 13
March 31— Guest lecture
April 2— Chapter 13: Balancing work and family life
Discussion 7: Work & family
Week 14
April 7— Chapter 14: Family abuse and violence
April 9— Chapter 14: Family abuse and violence (Continued)
Chapter 15: Separation and divorce
Discussion 8: Intimate partner violence
Week 15
April 14— Chapter 15: Separation and divorce (Continued)
April 16— Chapter 16: Families in later life
Discussion 9: Families in later life
Week 16
April 21—Review
April 24—Reading day, no class
Week 17
April 28— In-class exam 3