American Families

Prof. Tanya Koropeckyj-Cox

SYO 4102/6102;  Spring 2009
Monday, Wednesday, Friday
12:50 p.m. - 1:40 p.m.  (period 6)
Turlington Hall, Room 2319

Announcements:

The Final Exam for the course is a TAKE-HOME EXAM --
Instructions are posted on E-Learning. 
Completed exams (hard copy, signed & stapled) are due at my office
(3353 Turlington Hall)

by 7:00 pm on THURSDAY, APRIL 30.

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Last rev. 4/28/09

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Department of Sociology and Criminology & Law            Office: 3353 Turlington Hall         Office hours:                                                                             Mon 1:55 -4:00 pm & Fri 1:55 - 3:00 pm       ** note change from Wednesday to Friday      or by appointment

Phone: 392-0265 ext. 251   Email:tkcox@ufl.edu

Students are responsible for reading the full version of the syllabus and checking the on-line syllabus regularly for updates, announcements, and most current schedule.

E-Learning will be used for posting grades. You are responsible for familiarizing yourself with the system and checking your email (ufl.edu) and grades regularly.

This course is designed to explore major issues related to families and relationships, with a focus on sociological perspectives and policy implications in the United States.

Course objectives:  [will be added soon]

Course Topics:

1) Public and Private Families and Policy Concerns;

2) Diversity and Inequality: gender, race-ethnicity, and social class;

3) Sexualities, Partnership, and Marriage;

4) Reproduction, Parenting, and Children;

5) Conflicts and Crises: Economic strains, family violence, and divorce; and

6) Changes and Transitions: Remarriage, step-families, and aging.

 

Required Texts:  Public and Private Families: An Introduction, 5^th ed. Andrew J. Cherlin.

                              Public and Private Families: A Reader, 5^th ed. Andrew J. Cherlin.

 

For grad students:   Family in Transition, 15^th ed. Arlene S. Skolnick & Jerome H. Skolnick.

[in place of the Cherlin textbook above]

                                      + one of the recommended books (see on-line syllabus)     

 

Course Requirements

Attendance and Readings:   The course combines material from lectures, in-class discussion, and assigned readings as well as the internet.  Class attendance is required. For each class, students should complete the assigned reading for the class and write 4 questions or critical comments on an index card. These cards will be collected in class and will provide the basis for the attendance/participation grade. On debate days, non-debating students will also be required to submit a one-page reaction at the end of class. You may miss up to 2 classes without penalty.  Attendance/participation is worth 20 out of the 200 course points (10%).  Missing class sessions can therefore cost you substantial course points – up to a full letter grade!  Please keep this in mind -- Missed points cannot be made up later.

You are also encouraged to read a major, national newspaper and to peruse recommended on-line resources. Pay attention to current issues related to families, relationships, children, and social policy.  Please feel free to email clippings (or links) and to contribute to class discussion.  

In-Class Debates and Written Prep (Outline & Essay):  In the third week of class, students will sign up for debate groups of 3-4 students each.  There will be approximately 8 debate discussions in class during the semester. Students are required to come prepared for their debate day with a written outline of at least 3 arguments supporting each side and a 2-3 paragraph essay that argues your position on the issue, based on required reading and on-line research. You should come prepared to argue either side of the debate. The written prep (outline & essay) are worth 30 points. Your participation in the debate is worth 10 points.  Students who are not debating on each day will be required to submit a written, one-paragraph, in-class reaction, due at the end of class, which counts toward attendance/participation points. -- SEE E-LEARNING FOR SPECIFIC INSTRUCTIONS FOR DEBATE/PRESENTATIONS.

Term Paper/Essay:   SEE INSTRUCTIONS ON E-LEARNING. Choose and read one of the recommended books on family related issues.  You will write a review essay (7-10 pages) in which you summarize and critique the book, discuss specific policy implications, and discuss other ways to research the topic. This paper is worth 50 points and is due in class on Friday, April 17.

Exams:   There will be two exams – a midterm and a final exam (TAKE HOME), worth 45 points each.  Make-up exams will be arranged only if you have written documentation of a very serious reason (i.e., serious illness or medical problem, or death in the family). Requests for a make-up must be arranged at least 24 hours PRIOR to the exam, except in emergency.

The Final Exam for the course is a TAKE-HOME EXAM --
Instructions are posted on E-Learning. 
Completed exams (hard copy, signed & stapled) are due at my office
(3353 Turlington Hall)
by 7:00 pm on THURSDAY, APRIL 30.

Details regarding reading assignments, class topics, grading, expectations and guidelines, accommodations for students with disabilities, and important web links are posted on-line.

Key Dates:                             No class: Jan. 19, Mar. 7-14, Apr. 10

Jan. 21     Students sign up for debate groups and topics. 

Feb. 20     MIDTERM EXAM  - IN CLASS

Apr. 15     REACTION ESSAY / TERM PAPER IS DUE IN CLASS.

Apr. 22     Last class  

Thursday, April 30        7:00 pm              FINAL EXAM (TAKE HOME) DUE

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Schedule of Topics and Readings

SYO 4102 -- UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS

-        

Date	Topic	Textbook	Reader/other readings
Week 1 Jan 7 Jan 9	Introduce syllabus, course Defining families	Begin ch. 1
Week 2 Jan 12 Jan 14 Jan  16	Public & Private Families Public & Private Families Family Changes	Ch. 1 (up to p. 16) Ch. 1 (pp. 16-31)	Casper et al (pp. 5-13)
Week 3 Jan 19 Jan 21 Jan 23	NO CLASS – HOLIDAY History & Family Changes Discussion of debate issues	Ch. 2 Ch. 14 (pp. 469-478)
Week 4 Jan 26 Jan 28 Jan 30	Gender Gender Race & Class	Ch. 3 Ch. 4 & 5	Ch. 3
Week 5 Feb 2 Feb 4 Feb 6	Race & Class Sexualities, Relationships Sexualities, Relationships	Ch. 6 Ch. 14 (pp. 492-496)	Sheehan (pp. 69-81)
Week 6 Feb 9 Feb 11 Feb 13	Sexuality Sexuality; Cohabitation & Marriage Cohabitation & Marriage	Ch. 7	Sexual desire (pp. 132-140) Cancian (pp. 14-28) Coontz (pp. 29-35);
Week 7 Feb 16 Feb 18 Feb 20	Cohabitation & Marriage Cohabitation & Marriage Review & Discussion		Qian (pp. 122-127); Smock et al. (pp. 155-167) Levin (pp. 140-152);  Furstenberg et al (pp. 36-42)
Week 8 Feb 23 Feb 25 Feb 27	MIDTERM EXAM Fertility Fertility  -- DEBATE 1	** SEE LINK ON E-LEARNING -- NCHS REPORT	Edin/Kefalas (pp. 167-183); Stacey (pp. 204-218) ** LINKS TO READINGS ON E-LEARNING
Week 9 Mar 2 Mar 4 Mar 6	Fertility  -- DEBATE 2 Work & Family Work & Family -- DEBATE 3	Ch. 8	** LINKS TO READINGS ON E-LEARNING ** LINKS TO READINGS ON E-LEARNING
	SPRING BREAK
Week 10 Mar 16 Mar 18 Mar 20	Work & Family Children & Parents Children & Parents	(review ch. 8) Ch. 9 + Ch. 14 (pp. 487-491)	Ch. 8 “I’m here” (pp. 108-121) Wilcox (pp. 201-204)
Week 11 Mar 23 Mar 25 Mar 27	Children & Parents, cont'd Abuse of Children, Elders Domestic Violence	Ch. 11 (pp. 368-385) Ch. 11 (pp. 386-396)	Lareau (pp. 82-105)   Cherlin et al (pp. 257-276)
Week 12 Mar 30 Apr 1 Apr 3	Domestic Violence Divorce NO CLASS	Ch. 12 ** Work on paper	Johnson (pp. 277-286)
Week 13 Apr 6 Apr 8 Apr 10	Remarriage & Stepfamilies Custody & child care issues -- DEBATE 4 NO CLASS	Ch. 13 ** Work on paper	** LINKS TO READINGS ON E-LEARNING
Week 14 Apr 13 Apr 15 Apr 17	Policy & social change Policy & social change Policy & social change -- Same-sex marriage DEBATE 5	Ch. 15 ** SKIM CH. 14	DeParle (pp. 337-345) Meezan et al (pp. 345-356) ** LINKS TO READINGS ON E-LEARNING
Week 15 Apr 20 Apr 22	Aging Policy & social change Conclusions & Synthesis	Ch. 10 - SKIM	Bengtson   Ch. 15 - Furstenberg
Apr 30	7:00 p.m.	FINAL EXAM (TAKE HOME) DUE

The Final Exam for the course is a TAKE-HOME EXAM --
Instructions are posted on E-Learning. 
Completed exams (hard copy, signed & stapled) are due at my office
(3353 Turlington Hall)
by 7:00 pm on THURSDAY, APRIL 30.

        

 

For graduate students:

The graduate version of this course is designed to provide a general overview of key topics and scholarship in the area of relationships/families, with an emphasis on the United States. The course readings include both theoretical and contemporary empirical work in the area. The major objectives of the course are:

-                  to facilitate the development of a breadth of knowledge in the area of relationships and families, broadly defined, with an eye toward preparing students for qualifying exams and independent research in the area;

-                  to encourage a deeper exploration of topics of interest to each student, through the review essay and presentation as well as the final project;

-                  to encourage leadership and professional presentation skills through class participation and the presentation of a recommended reading;

-                  to develop a comprehensive, independent project on a specific topic of interest – in the form of either a critical literature review essay or research proposal;

-                  to encourage critical thinking through collegial discussion 

Course requirements:

-       attendance/participation  

-       participation in biweekly discussion sessions (~7-8) – schedule to be discussed and arranged

o   30 points total for participation

-       readings from Skolnick & Skolnick – detailed schedule of readings will be posted on-line

o   (in place of Cherlin textbook - recommended but not required)

-       review essay on one of the recommended books (4-6 pages), plus presentation in class

o   due date depends on the timing of the chosen topic on the syllabus

o   a list of recommended books will be provided, though I am open to other suggestions of book-length empirical works on family or relationships, broadly defined

o   60 points for essay, 40 points for presentation

-       literature review or project proposal on a related topic

o   one-page proposal due – January 26   -- 10 points

o   midterm draft due (~7-9 pages) – March 25 – 40 points

o   final paper due (16-20 pages) – April 22  -- 120 points

Detailed syllabus will be posted on-line, including schedule of topics and readings. There are no exams for graduate students in the course. Attendance will not be required on the day of the midterm (Feb. 20 & 23), and will be optional on debate days.

* The course will provide a platform and context within which to prepare a comprehensive list of important readings in the area. To this end, students are encouraged to submit suggestions and recommendations for the “reading-list-in-progress”, which we will collectively develop on-line and through class discussion. 

Schedule of Topics and Readings

SYO 6107  -- GRADUATE STUDENTS ** please check table above for updates of Cherlin reader schedule!!

 

Date	Topic	Cherlin Reader	Skolnick & Skolnick
Week 1 Jan 7 Jan 9	Introduce syllabus, course Defining families
Week 2 Jan 12 Jan 14 Jan  16	Public & Private Families Public & Private Families Public & Private Families	Casper et al (pp. 5-13)	Ch. 1 & Giele
Week 3 Jan 19 Jan 21 Jan 23	NO CLASS – HOLIDAY History & Family Changes Gender		Ch. 3
Week 4 Jan 26 Jan 28 Jan 30	Race & Class Race & Class Race & Class	Ch. 3 Sheehan (pp. 69-81)	Ch. 11 (pp. 419-479)
Week 5 Feb 2 Feb 4 Feb 6	Sexualities & Relationships Sexualities & Relationships Sexualities & Relationships	Sexual desire (pp. 132-140) Cancian (pp. 14-28)  Furstenberg et al (pp. 36-42) Qian (pp. 122-127)	Ch. 4 Arnett (pp. 328-342)
Week 6 Feb 9 Feb 11 Feb 13	Cohabitation & Marriage Cohabitation & Marriage Cohabitation & Marriage	Ch. 7 Coontz (pp. 29-35)	Ch. 5
Week 7 Feb 16 Feb 18 Feb 20	Cohabitation & Marriage Review & Discussion MIDTERM EXAM	Levin (pp. 140-152) Newman (pp. 233-254)	TBD
Week 8 Feb 23 Feb 25 Feb 27	Fertility Fertility Fertility	Fertility trends Contraception Stacey (pp. 204-218)	Hays & Cowan et al
Week 9 Mar 2 Mar 4 Mar 6	Work & Family Work & Family Work & Family	Ch. 8 “I’m here” (pp. 108-121)	Ch. 9 & Presser
	SPRING BREAK
Week 10 Mar 16 Mar 18 Mar 20	Work & Family Children & Parents Children & Parents	Wilcox (pp. 201-204) Lareau (pp. 82-105)	Ch 7, 8 (pp. 275-327)
Week 11 Mar 23 Mar 25 Mar 27	Aging Abuse of Children & Elders Domestic Violence	Bengston (pp. 221-232)   Cherlin et al (pp. 257-276)	TBD
Week 12 Mar 30 Apr 1 Apr 3	Domestic Violence Divorce Divorce	Johnson (pp. 277-286)   Ch. 12	Ch. 6 (pp. 203-232)
Week 13 Apr 6 Apr 8 Apr 10	Divorce Remarriage & Stepfamilies Remarriage & Stepfamilies	Ch. 13	Ch. 6 (pp. 233-250)
Week 14 Apr 13 Apr 15 Apr 17	Policy & social change Policy & social change Policy & social change	DeParle (pp. 337-345) Meezan et al (pp. 345-356)	Ch. 12 (pp. 503-526)
Week 15 Apr 20 Apr 22	Policy & social change Conclusions & Synthesis	Ch. 15	TBD

 

 

-          Graduate student book/presentation selections:

o      M. Blair-Loy (work-family conflict)

o   A. Lareau (social class & childhood)

o