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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