User:Piotrus/Sociology of the family/Syllabus

Required Texts
Arlene Skolnick, The Intimate Environment, 6th edition, Harper-Collins, New York, 1996.

Arlene Skolnick and Jerome Skolnick, eds. Family in Transition, 14th edition, Allyn and Bacon, Boston, 2007.

Course Description and Objectives
This course will examine the family as a social system. Through the use of lectures, discussion and film, special attention will be given to a number of themes, including the history and evolution of the family; marriage and marital satisfaction; parenthood; childhood; love; sexuality; and the future of the family. In general, this course will attempt to examine the causes and consequences of the family’s adaptation to a wide variety of social forces.

In addition, this course will have four basic objectives:

1) As students explore cross-cultural and trans-historical perspectives of the family, they will become more aware of the diversity of family forms across cultures and time periods, as well as consider some of the factors which may have helped to create this diversity.

2) Combining sociological theory with relevant statistical, economic and demographic trends, students will become better equipped to identify and analyze some of the major forces (such as our membership in a truly global economy) which now affect modern families.

3) From a sociological perspective, students will learn more about family problems such as poverty, family violence, the issue of housework, divorce and the decrease in “family time.”

4) Students will begin to cultivate a sociological awareness of their own family situations. As they increase their understanding, students will become more empowered to handle family pressures and problems, and to become more effective family members.

Point Distribution
{| border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="16"

Recitations
Every student must register for a recitation section. During the term, each student will be expected to participate in a group presentation worth 20 points. Each presentation will center on issues featured in the Family in Transition reader. See pages 5-6 for further details.

Attendance will be taken regularly at the beginning of each recitation. Students with excellent records of attendance will receive 30 points. Students with poorer attendance records will receive correspondingly fewer points.

Meaningful contributions to discussions may improve a student’s final grade. This will be especially applicable to borderline cases.

Optional Extra-Credit Opportunity
Students may earn extra-credit points by making a presentation, on an approved topic, during one of their recitations. Excellent presentations will receive 5 extra-credit points. Presentations of lesser quality will receive fewer points. Additional details will be provided during the recitations.

Course Schedule
Date			Assignments

August 28 (M)	Discussion of syllabus and course requirements Note: No recitation sections this week

August 30 (W)	Chap. 1. The State of the Family, and the Study of the Family

September 4 (M)	Labor Day. No class.

September 6 (W)	Chap. 2. In Search of the Family

September 11 (M)	Chap. 3. Theoretical Perspectives on the Family

September 13 (W)	Chap. 4. Families in the Distant Past

September 18 (M)	Chap. 4. (continued)

September 20 (W)	Chap. 5. Families in Modern Society

September 25 (M)	Chap. 5. (continued)

September 27 (W)	Chap. 6. The American Family in Our Time

October 2 (M)	Chap. 6. (continued)

October 4 (W)	Chap. 7. Economics, Ethnicity and Race in the American Family

October 9 (M)	Chap. 7. (continued)

October 11 (W)	Chap. 8. Sex and Gender

October 16 (M)	Chap. 8. (continued)

October 18 (W)	Unfinished business/Review

October 23 (M)	MIDTERM EXAMINATION

October 25 (W)	Film

October 30 (M)	Chap. 9. The Ultimate Human Connection: The Love Relationship

November 1 (W)	Chap. 9. (continued)

November 6 (M)	Chap. 10. Marriage: Tradition and Transformation

November 8 (W)	Chap. 11. The Bonds of Marriage

November 13 (M)	Chap. 12. Divorce and Remarriage

November 15 (W)	Film

November 20 (M)	Chap. 13. Parenthood

November 22 (W)	Thanksgiving Recess. No class.

November 27 (M)	Chap. 13. (continued)

November 29 (W)	Chap. 14. The Construction of Childhood

December 4 (M)	Chap. 15. The Future of the Family: Prospects and Policies

December 6 (W)	Unfinished business/Review

FINAL EXAMINATION: FRIDAY DECEMBER 15, 4:00-5:50

Please note: If you have a disability for which you are or may be requesting an accommodation, you are encouraged to contact both your instructor and the Office of Disability, Resources, and Services, 216 William Pitt Union, (412) 648-7890/(412) 383-7355 (TTY), as early as possible in the term. DRS will verify your disability and determine reasonable accommodations for this course.

Timetable for Recitations
September 1			No recitations

September 8 			Introduction Break into presentation groups

September 15 		Groups 1-5 work on presentations

September 22 		To be announced

September 29 		Group 1 Presentation: Revolutionary Trends: The Life-Course Revolution/Sexuality and Society/Revolution in the Life of Children Sources: Family in Transition, Readings 2, 3, 4, 7, 10, 11, 12, 23, 32,                                                              33, 34

October 6 			Group 2 Presentation: Families and Poverty Sources: Family in Transition, Readings 26, 29, 31, 37

October 13 			To be announced

October 20 			Review for Midterm Exam

October 27			To be announced

November 3 			Group 3 Presentation: Work and Family Problems: Division of household labor/Stay-at-home mothers and working mothers Sources: Family in Transition, Readings 5, 27, 28, 30

November10 			Group 4 Presentation: Parenthood; the Challenges of Child Care Sources: Family in Transition, Readings 19, 20, 21, 22, 24

November 17 			Group 5 Presentation: The Future of Marriage and the Family: Problems and Prospects Sources: Family in Transition, Readings 6, 8, 9, 13, 14, 15, 18, 25

November 24 			Thanksgiving. No recitations.

December 1			To be announced.

December 8 			Extra-credit Reports/Review for Final Exam

General Guidelines for Presentations
Every student must participate in one of the group presentations listed. During the recitation of September 8, students will form their presentation groups. Recitation attendance on this date is, therefore, very important.

The size of each group will be approximately 5 people. Individual presentations should last approximately 5-6 minutes. Students should practice their presentations to make certain that they do not greatly exceed this limit. After all group members have made their presentations, the remaining time will be allotted to comments and questions from the class.

Each student’s presentation will be worth 20 points, based on content, clarity, coherence and style. Presentation scores will be awarded individually. There will be no “collective” group score. Each group member’s presentation must be unique. There should be minimal overlap with the presentations of other group members.

Students are encouraged to supplement the listed references with other resource material. A list of all additional references must be submitted to the TA upon completion of the presentation. Debates, skits and role play are acceptable alternatives to individual presentations, although care should be taken to ensure that each group member participates equally. Alternative approaches such as these will require the prior approval of the TA.

If a student is absent on the day of his scheduled presentation, he must make a presentation at a later date, after consultation with the TA.