Download SOC 257 online syllabus

Sociological Patterns of Courtship and Marriage
Sociology 257
Summer A, 2017
Dr. Ying Yang
Email: [email protected]
Online Course
Required Texts
Lauer, Robert and Jeanette Lauer. 2012. Marriage and Family: The quest for intimacy.
8th edition. ISBN-13 9780078111624. Publisher: McGraw Hill.
Introduction
Provides a systematic and analytical approach to the study of social relations in the area
of mate choice, marriage and its alternatives. Considers development of gender roles,
marital behavior in a changing society, social and interpersonal factors in mate selection,
engagement, social factors in marital success, fertility control, marriage and parenthood,
divorce, remarriage, and the role of marriage counseling.
Learning Objectives
Upon completion of this course, the students will be able to:
 Interpret and illustrate sociological concepts of love, courtship, family, and
marriage;
 Understand various theories about family relationship and marriage, and apply
such theories in analyzing real life events;
 Understand the relationship between societal change and marriage and family
transition;
 Think critically about relationships and interactions found in family and marriage;
 Develop insights into complex issues such as sexuality and domestic violence;
 Conduct in-depth analysis about family and marriage related issues and problems.
Technical Support
Please direct any technological question to 24/7 online D2L Help Desk at Shippensburg
University, 1-717-477-3499.
It is important to make sure that your computer has the supported browser, and all the
necessary plug-ins installed. You can do so by clicking on the “Check my computer” at
the D2L login page.
In addition, if you are new to D2L, please go to the following website for D2L
orientation:
http://ship.edu/IDDS/D2L_Student_Orientation/What_is_Desire2Learn_/
Communication
Please post any course-related questions to “Virtual Office Hour” under “Discussion”
area, and I will check and respond everyday around 2:00 pm from Monday to Friday. If
you have any comment or feedback about any topic of this class, you can post it to
“Learning Community” under “Discussion” area. If you have a private course issue,
please send me an email, and I will reply your email within 24 hours, except weekends.
Student Support Service
Any students with documented psychological or learning disorder or other significant
medical conditions please notify me early in the semester so that any particular needs can
be met.
Evaluation
Student performance will be assessed using 2 exams, two short papers, one research term
paper, and news discussion.
1. Exams:
The two exams together equal 50 points (25 points each) of course grade. They are NOT
accumulative.
Make-up Exams
If you have to miss an exam, you have 3 working days to schedule a make-up exam and
you must provide a medical excuse before taking the make-up.
2. Two Short Papers (20 points total; 10 points each): 2-page long; double spaced
Paper 1: Take a sample of 4-5 of your friends and investigate their views on family, how
their family structure is and how they want their future families to be like. Does the
traditional model of the family still seem to be important? What other family structures
exist? In the assignment please include the questions that you asked. You are expected to
synthesize your findings on the family and to also relate them to some aspect of the
reading that you were assigned during early part of this class. This paper will allow you
to think about ways to engage with people on this topic as well as to learn how to report
on your findings in a way that both gives a voice to your subjects and is academically
rigorous.
Paper 2: The media is constantly sending out message regarding marriage and family.
Pop culture pervades many areas of our lives and does influence our understanding of the
world around us. For this paper, you should take an in-depth look at a television show or
a movie of your choice and analyze the way marriage and/or family is portrayed. What
messages are being sent out? Are they overt or covert? When taking into consideration
the readings and class discussions thus far how does your understanding of what you are
watching change, if at all?
3. Research Term Paper (20 points):
The term paper should be 5 pages in length (double spaced) and should include at least 6
recent journal articles (2000 to present). You can use the textbook as one of the sources.
Please do not plagiarize and remember to reference sentences and paragraphs. Please pick
one of the following topics:
1. Challenges Encountered by Contemporary American Families
2. Strengths and Limitations of Interracial Marriages
3. Challenges of Being a Teen Parent
4. The Effects of Divorce on Children
5. Remarriage and Step Families
6. Challenges Encountered in Marital Relationships
7. What are the Factors that Contribute to Marital Success?
8. How do Sexual Dysfunctions Interfere in Marital Relationships?
9. What are the Pros and Cons of Cohabitation?
10. What are the Pros and Cons of Same-Sex Marriages?
Please submit all paper assignments to D2L dropbox folders. Papers will be
checked by turnitin for plagiarism. Plagiarized paper will receive an automatic zero
grade.
4. News Discussion (10 points):
Requirement for news discussion:
Every week, we will have a news discussion about the topic of that week. The purpose of
this activity is to research current events/issues related to courtship and intimacy. Each
week the student is to find two current newspaper articles related to the topics being
discussed. Then each of you will post a summary of this article to D2L discussion area.
The information shared there should include the facts, how it relates to the topic, and
their interpretation of the information. As part of an interactive learning experience, you
are expected to comment on each other’s post.
This part of activity will be assessed based on the following criteria:
1. Preparation: your article is well summarized and presented. It is easy for people to
follow and understand the main points of this article. 5 points
2. Participation: you will actively raise questions, provide feedbacks/comments,
and/or share experience with the rest of class. It is important to learn from each
other. So please make sure that you contribute as much as you can. 5 points
Academic Honesty
Students are expected to submit original work. Where resources and sources of
information are used, credit must be given to the original source. Any form of cheating
may result in failure of the course. Additional information concerning academic honesty
can be found in the Student Manual.
Academic dishonesty includes but is not limited to:
• Bribing, or attempting to bribe, faculty or staff personnel in order to attain an unfair
academic advantage.
• Possessing course examination materials prior to administration of the examination by
the instructor without the instructor's consent.
• Using unauthorized materials or devices such as crib notes during an examination.
• Providing and/or receiving unauthorized assistance during an examination.
• Using a substitute to take an examination or course.
• Misusing transcripts, records, or identification, such as forgery or alteration of
transcripts.
• Allowing others to conduct research for you or prepare your work without advance
authorization from the instructor, including, but not limited to, the services of commercial
term paper companies.
• Plagiarism, as the term is defined in the section Plagiarism. • Intentionally and without
authorization falsifying or inventing any information or citation in an academic exercise,
such as making up data in an experiment or observation.
Tentative Course Outline*
Week 1:
Chapter 1. American Myths and Dreams
Chapter 2. Diversity in Families
Chapter 3. Gender Roles: Foundation for Heterosexual Intimacy
Week 2:
Chapter 4. Sexuality
Chapter 6. Falling in Love
Week 3:
Chapter 8. Getting Married
Chapter 10. Power and Conflict in Marriage
Week 4:
Chapter 12. Becoming a Parent
Chapter 13. Family Crisis
Week 5:
Chapter 14. Separation and Divorce
Chapter 16. Intimacy in the Later Years