Introduction to Marriage and Families
Prof. Tanya Koropeckyj-Cox

SYG 2430 -- Fall 2007

ALL TOGETHER:
Monday & Wednesday, 3:00 p.m. - 3:50 p.m.  (period 8); Turlington Hall, Room L – 5

SECTIONS:
9309  Monday, 3rd period,  FLI  115
4866  Tuesday, 3rd period,   TURL 2349
4869  Wednesday, 3rd period,  LEI 0242
4874  Thursday, 3rd period,  WEIM 1094
4876  Friday, 3rd period,  NZH 0112
4877  Friday, 4th period,  FLI 0111

Announcements:

    Extra office hours - finals week:
        Mon -- 2:00 - 4:00 pm  [Dr. Cox]
        Wed --  10:00 - 11:00 am  [Dr. Cox]
                    11:00 - 12:00 noon  [Daniel]
        Thurs -- 11:00 - 12:00 noon  [Justin]
                or email us with any questions.

    The point totals for the inclass assignments and small sections are now available on E-learning, along with the tentative total number of points before the exam. Students who have taken both exams and turned in a paper also have a tentative grade based on the current points. Please feel free to contact Dr. Cox if you have any questions.

    The FINAL EXAM is scheduled for Friday, December 14, 12:30 pm - 2:30 pm, in Turlington Hall room L-5 (regular classroom!).  An optional review session for the final is scheduled for Friday, December 7th, 3:00-4:00 p.m. in Turlington Hall room L-5 (same room).

    The final exam will cover the following chapters:
        chapter 9 (pp. 245-256 - cohabitation, same-sex marriage)
        10 (marriage - pp. 261-280; pp. 285-287)
        11 (childbearing)
        12 (skip theories on p. 331-332; boxes on p. 353-354)
        14 (domestic violence)
        15 (pp. 428-437 - process and reasons; pp. 444-448 - effects on children)
        17 (pp. 483-494 - aging; 501-511).              

             PLUS small section material on wedding traditions and same-sex marriage
 

    *** You are encouraged to come see Dr. Koropeckyj-Cox, Daniel, or Justin during office hours to review your earlier exams and/or to pick up or discuss your paper. If you have any questions about calculating your course grade or wish to discuss grades, please get in touch with Dr. Koropeckyj-Cox BEFORE DECEMBER 6th.   

rev. 12/10/07 tkc

Students are responsible for checking the on-line syllabus regularly for updates, announcements, and most current schedule. Also, Web CT/Vista will be used for emails and for posting grades. You are responsible for familiarizing yourself with the system and checking your email and grades regularly.

   This course is designed to introduce students to some major issues related to families and relationships, with a focus on sociological perspectives and policy implications. Families and primary relationships are a fundamental part of our life experiences. This course is designed to introduce you to the historical and contemporary contexts that have shaped the meanings and importance of families in society. The main emphasis is on the United States and other highly industrialized societies, along with some cross-cultural and historical comparisons.

Objectives:

• Review the history of family life as a context for understanding contemporary family issues.
• Develop an awareness of important current aspects of relationships and families including the prevalence of different family experiences, the diversity of contemporary families, and the range of social norms concerning families and relationships.
• Learn and apply major sociological approaches to issues related to families and relationships, including approaches that focus on a) forms and functions; b) conflict; c) the processes of interaction and negotiation; and d) the importance of gender.
• Develop an understanding of how families and relationships are studied by sociologists and how evidence is used or misused in the news and in political and policy debates.
• Think through some of the critical implications of family change, especially as they relate to social policy and legal issues.

        The course begins with a discussion of how we define "family" and the diversity of meanings and family forms. We will review historical background for understanding families and relationships as well as important sociological frameworks for studying relationships and families. We will distinguish between "public" and "private" definitions of families to frame our discussion of the privacy of intimate relationships and public concerns about the roles of families in society.

Topics include:

• Diversity and Inequality: gender, class, and race
• Sexuality, Partnership, and Marriage
• Parents and children
• Conflicts and Crises: Economic strains, family violence, and divorce
• Changes and Transitions: Remarriage, step-families, and aging

Our discussions will analyze the different sides of contemporary debates about social change and public policy, drawing on current media and press coverage and policy discussions.
 

Required Text:

Marriages and Families: Changes, Choices, and Constraints, 5^th ed. Nijole V. Benokraitis

Course Requirements

Attendance and In-Class Work:   The course combines material from lecture presentations, in-class discussion, and assigned readings as well as the internet.  Class attendance is required and strongly encouraged as much of the in-class presentation and discussion will be different from the textbook and other readings. Class sessions will include some lecture as well as small-group discussion, whole-class discussion, videos, and other materials.

Short, in-class assignments (~ 6-8) are given throughout the term to help focus your thoughts and stimulate discussion.  These are collected the same day in class and provide the basis for the Class Attendance grade (10 points total; ~ 1-2 points each). There are no make-up assignments; they may be excused in the case of a very serious, documented reason. You may miss up to two in-class assignments without penalty, but subsequent missed assignments will be deducted from your grade.  Missing class can cost you substantial course points – 5% of your grade. Missed points cannot be made up later.

Readings: Readings are assigned for nearly every class.  You are strongly encouraged to do the readings before each class. You will have time each week in small sections to ask any questions about the readings and class notes – please come prepared.

You are also encouraged to read a major newspaper (e.g., New York Times, Washington Post, available free on-line) and to peruse on-line resources on a regular basis.  Explore the internet resources recommended in the textbook. Pay attention to current issues and social policies, especially related to 1) economics, social class, and jobs; 2) relationship issues, dating, marriage, and cohabitation; 3) concerns about parenting and work-family conflict; and 4) physical and mental health issues, including the effects of illness on families, caregiving, and every day well-being. Please feel free to email clippings (or links) and comments to the TAs or Instructor and bring clippings to class.

Small-Group Scenario Projects and Small Section Assignments: In the first weeks of class, students will be assigned to "family" groups of 4-5 people in the small section classes. The projects require group work that will be completed in class. The projects provide the basis for discussing specific events or circumstances and their impact on each family member and on the family as a whole. Attendance in both the large lecture and small section class sessions is required. If you miss class, you are responsible for getting the notes and any announcements that you missed. You are required to attend the small section class each week for which you are registered. If you must miss a small section class, you should email both TAs to arrange to attend an alternative section that week.

In-class written work completed in the small sections is worth a total of 40 points. There are no make-up assignments; they may be excused in the case of a very serious, documented reason. You may miss up to two in-class assignments without penalty, but subsequent missed assignments will be deducted from your grade.  Missing class can cost you substantial course points – up to 20% of your grade. Missed points cannot be made up later.

Exams:  There are three exams -- two in-class and a final exam (during the scheduled final exam period). There is also a short, optional paper.  Three of these four items (3 exams and 1 paper) will be counted toward the course grade at 50 points each.  You can use the optional paper to substitute a poor exam grade OR a missed exam. If you complete all three exams AND the paper, I will drop your lowest grade of the four. Make-up exams may be arranged 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 exam must be arranged at least 24 hours PRIOR to the exam, except in an emergency.

Optional Paper:     An optional paper of 5-7 pages may be submitted as part of this course. This paper counts for 50 points (same as an exam). The specific details of the paper assignment will be distributed in class and will be posted on the course web pages.  The paper is due in class on Wednesday, October 24.  Late papers will not be accepted.  You are strongly encouraged to consult with the instructor or TAs, preferably early in the semester.

All course work, including your paper and exams, must be your original and individual work.  Any cheating or plagiarism, including copying of on-line materials without clear attribution, will result in a failing grade and disciplinary action.  You are responsible for keeping a back-up copy of your paper.  You may be asked to submit a copy of your paper electronically to the instructor.

A few extra notes to help you navigate through the course…

Don’t miss class, and be prompt. If you need to come in late or leave early, please inform the Instructor and do not disrupt the rest of the class.

If you need to miss class, be sure to get the notes from another student.

Don’t put off the readings – you should come prepared for each class, and keep up with the readings for each week.

Do ask questions! You will have opportunities in both the large and small sections to ask questions, and the Instructor and TAs each have designated office hours when they are available in their offices. Please feel free to drop in with questions, to discuss class work or the optional paper, or to discuss issues more generally.

Do get to know the Instructor and TAs, and get to know your classmates.

Don’t wait till the end of the semester to get notes you missed, clarify questions about grades, discuss an excused absence, or ask questions about course material.

Do keep up with current events in the newspaper, TV news, etc., and look for connections to course material.

Please be considerate -- Don’t wear earbuds in class, turn off your cell phone, and don’t read the paper (or do puzzles) in class. Do keep an open mind and listen to different viewpoints.

Grading Structure:

Grade  Percent    Points                              Grade         Percent  Points

A             91-100%         181-200                   C                 70-76%         140-153

B+           88-90%           175-180                   D+               67-69%         134-139

B             81-87%           161-174                   D                 60-66%         120-133

C+           77-80%           154-160                   E                 below 60%    119 or less

Accommodations for Students with Disabilities: "Students requesting classroom accommodation must first register with the Dean of Students Office. The Dean of Students Office will provide documentation to the student who must then provide this documentation to the Instructor when requesting accommodation." (Reprinted from http://www.ir.ufl.edu/fac_handbook/syllabi.htm).

Schedule and Assigned Readings

        TOPIC                                                                                                               READING

Week 1

Aug. 27      Introduce course, syllabus, requirements;

Aug. 29     Defining "Family" & contemporary trends                                         ch. 1 (pp. 3-29)

Sections:   Introductions, and sign up for family groups

Week 2     Historical Perspectives & Contemporary Trends

Sept. 3      HOLIDAY – NO CLASS

Sept. 5      Historical contexts                                                                                 ch. 3

Sections:  Defining families

Week 3    Studying Relationships and Families

Sept. 10   Conceptual frameworks                                                                       ch. 2 (pp. 30-42)

Sept. 12   Methods, Data, and Ethics                                                                  ch. 2 (pp. 43-52)

Sections:  History, frameworks, & methods

Week 4    Racial & Ethnic Diversity, Social Class, and Economic Constraints

Sept. 17   Finish frameworks and methods

Sept. 19   Racial and Ethnic Diversity, Social Class                                                                  ch. 4 (pp. 78-107)

Sections:  Family contexts [small-group families]

Week 5    Gender, Relationships, and Families

Sept. 24   Social Class                                                                Cherlin: ch. 4 (pp. 111-137) – on library reserves -- ARES

Sept. 26   Gender: Learning, Roles, Power, Inequality                                                             ch. 5 (pp. 108-139)
                               *** Chapter 5 and material on gender will NOT be on the first exam, but WILL be included in Exam 2.

Sections:  Exam 1 review and discussion

Friday, Sept 28   3:00 - 3:50 pm -- REVIEW SESSION  (in Turlington L-005)

Week 6

Oct. 1        EXAM 1 - IN CLASS

Oct. 3        Gender  (chapter 5)

Sections:  Economic Challenges and Constraints                                             ch. 13 (358-372), ch. 18 (521-524)

                 Structural Constraints and Families [small-group families]

Week 7    Love and Relationships

Oct. 8       Love: Styles, Meanings, Theories                                                    ch. 6 (pp. 140-165)

Oct. 10    Love (continued)

Sections: Love and Sexuality issues

Week 8    Sexuality; Dating

Oct. 15     Sexuality and Sexual Expression                                                     ch. 7 (pp. 166-199)

Oct. 17     Sexuality 

Sections: Dating issues

Week 9   Cohabitation and Marriage

Oct. 22    Sexuality
                                                       
Oct. 24    Dating, Break-Ups, and "Mate Selection"                     ch. 8 (pp. 202-230)

                *** PAPER IS DUE IN CLASS.

Sections: Exam Review

Week 10  Marriage & Fertility

Oct. 29    Living Single                                                                       ch. 9 (pp. 232-245) 

Oct. 31    EXAM 2 - IN CLASS

Sections: Sections will not meet Nov. 1-2

Week 11 Fertility and Parenthood (or Not)

Nov. 5     Cohabitation, Marriage                                                                      ch. 9 (pp. 245-258); Appendix F (pp. 544-545)

Nov. 7     Marriage as a Social Institution and a Process                             ch. 10 (pp. 260-289)

Sections:  Contemporary Debates about Cohabitation & Marriage

Week 12 Family Challenges and Resources

Nov. 12    HOLIDAY – NO CLASS

Nov. 14    Wrap up marriage as a social institution

Sections:  Contemporary Debates Same-Sex Marriage    *** Web links for readings are on E-Learning. Come prepared to debate!

Week 13 Parenting

Nov. 19   Babies – Trends, Reasons, Pathways & Processes                  ch. 11 (pp. 292-324)

Sections: Sections will not meet Nov. 20-23 [but will meet Monday, Nov. 19!]

Week 14 Family Conflict and Crises

Nov. 26   Parents and Children                                                                        ch. 12 (pp. 326-356)

Nov. 28   Parneting                                                                                                         ch. 14

Sections: Aging, Health Issues and Caregiving                                     ch. 17 (pp. 483-494, 501-511)

Week 15 Divorce and Repartnering

Dec. 3     Divorce and Repartnering                                                             ch. 15 (specific pages - see above)   

Dec. 5     Conclusion & synthesis – LAST CLASS

Sections: Exam review

Friday, December 14        12:30 pm - 2:30 pm             FINAL EXAM

Come prepared, ask questions, and enjoy the class!

last revised 12/4/07  tkc