FAM

SOC320 Fall 2008

COURSE PROCEDURE AND GRADING POLICY

COURSE NAME: Sociology of the Family

INSTRUCTOR’S NAME: Cheryl Albers, Ph. D, Associate Professor of Sociology

OFFICE LOCATION: Classroom Building B322

OFFICE HOURS: Tues. & Thurs. 9:00-10:30

TELEPHONE NUMBER: 878-3292 E-MAIL ADDRESS: alberscm@buffalostate.edu

COURSE FORMAT: Course content will be presented through lectures, films, guest speakers and readings. Students will increase their understanding of class material through discussion and group work. Successful completion of the requirements for this course will involve:

1. reading the assigned textbook;

2. participating in class discussions;

3. studying for exams: you will need to make notes as you read as well as during class lectures;

4. taking exams during scheduled class times;

5. completing the assignment by its due date.

EVALUATION: Your grade in this course will be determined by your total number of accumulated points on four exams and a media critique.

Each exam:

may include multiple choice, true/false, matching , short answer, or essay questions;
will include only the reading and lecture material covered since the last exam;
is worth 20% of your total grade.

The media critique will involve using information presented in this class to assess the accuracy of the way families are portrayed in the media. It is worth 20% of your total points. Details of this assignment are listed at the end of this syllabus.

No extra credit options, beyond that discussed under attendance, are available in this class.

REQUIRED TEXTS:

Cherlin, A. 2008. Public and Private Families (4rd edition) NY:McGraw-Hill

You must have access to AND read all of this text to pass this course.

Reading is to be completed by the due date recorded on the course outline and reading schedule below. At the beginning of the class listed you will be given a blank note card on which you can write down everything you remember about the assigned reading. If you are not in the room at the beginning of class you forfeit the opportunity to write a card on that reading. I will collect cards before I begin lecture. At the next exam, I will return all cards you have written and you may refer them while taking the exam.

ATTENDANCE: Attendance will be taken, and the instructor reserves the right to use class attendance to provide up to 5 points of extra credit to students with perfect attendance. Material covered in class will be included on exams and will be different from material covered in the text. THEREFORE coming to class increases your chance of doing well on exams and improving your final grade. In addition, this class involves a substantial amount of group work. The purpose of this group work is to clarify your understanding of the topics covered in class. Students receive more benefit from these groups when members consistently participate.

Students are advised to find a study partner who is willing to share lecture notes for missed classes. Any printed material distributed will be available at the next class, but it is the student’s responsibility to ask me for such material.

Attendance is mandatory on the day of scheduled exams. Missed exams may only be made up with a written excuse from a physician or the Health Office, or at my discretion.

OTHER CONSIDERATIONS:

1. This class will involve extensive class discussion, often in small groups to make discussion easier. The success of discussion is directly related to individuals’ willingness to participate, their respect for the opinions and feelings of others and ability to stay on task. I feel strongly that there should be ample opportunity for students to actively participate in class. However, the oath of matriculation requires that students conduct themselves "with dignity, honesty and civility, respecting the views and diverse backgrounds of ... teachers and peers" (Buffalo State Undergraduate Catalog).

2. A portion of each class will be devoted to lecture. During lectures, as at all times, you are required to direct you attention and consideration to the class. I do not tolerate disruptive behavior by students in my classes. Whenever I deem a student to be acting in a disruptive or threatening manner, I will exercise my right to ask that individual to leave the classroom. If refused, I will exercise my right to notify University Police. The responding officer will determine whether an arrest should be made or whether a referral to medical or counseling staff is appropriate. If a student is perceived as a danger to himself, herself, or others, the dean of students, may propose an interim suspension until a hearing is held. Any student removed from class will have the right to a hearing.

3. Students should be familiar with the section of the Undergraduate Catalog regarding college policy on academic misconduct. Consistent with this policy, plagiarism, cheating on assignments or examinations, or other academic dishonesty, will result in a failing grade for the course.

4. Any student who requires accommodations to complete the requirements and expectations of this course because of a disability is invited to make his or her needs known to the instructor and to Marianne Savino, coordinator of services for students with disabilities, South Wing 120, ext. 4500.

5. Buffalo State College faculty and staff want all students to feel safe on campus. Be alert and walk in pairs, especially after dark. Consider using campus safety services, including Escort Van, Motorist Assistance Program, and walking escorts. Blue light emergency phones located throughout the campus provide direct access to the University Police. For all emergencies on campus, call University Police at ext. 6333.

COURSE OUTLINE AND READING SCHEDULE:

CLASS DATE	TOPIC	READING: CHERLIN
	*Introduction*
1. 8-26	Course Introduction: Optimistic/Pessimistic Perspectives on Families
	*Family Theory*
2. 8-28	Public Families (Functionalist, Conflict and Feminist)	Chapter 1
3. 9-2	Private Families (Exchange and Symbolic Interactionist)
	*Families Throughout History*
4. 9-4	FILM: Family	Chapter 2
5. 9-9	The Evolution of Families Before 1900
6. 9-11	Changes in Families Over the Last 100 Years
7. 9-16	EXAM ONE
	*The Impact of Race, Class and Gender on Family Life*
8. 9-18	Children’s Experience of Gender Roles within the Family	Chapter 3
9. 9-23	FILM: Fatherhood USA
10. 9-25	Class Differences in Families	Chapter 4
11. 9-30	Racial and Ethnic Family Diversity	Chapter 5
12. 10-2	Racial and Ethnic Family Diversity
13. 10-7	EXAM TWO
	*The Family and The State*
14. 10-9	Social Policy	Chapter 14
10-14 &16	Special arrangements for this week of WNY sociology meeting. No regular meetings of SOC320
	*The Development of the Private Family*
15. 10-21	Courtship and Dating	pages 215-223

16. 10-23	Families without Marriage	pages 238-256
17. 10-28	Sexuality FILM: The Human Animal, Love and Sex	Chapter 6
18. 10-30	Marriage	pages 223-237
19. 11-4	EXAM THREE
20. 11-6	Parenting and Socialization	Chapter 9
	*The Family and the Economy*
21. 11-13	Parents, Work and Child Care ASSIGNMENT DUE	Chapter 8
	*Family Disruption and Conflict*
22. 11-18	Domestic Violence	Chapter 11
23. 11-20	Divorce	Chapter 12
24. 11-25	Remarriage	Chapter 13
	*Social Change and Families*
25. 12-2	Family Life of the Elderly	Chapters 10 & 15
26. 12-4	EXAM FOUR

PAPER REQUIREMENTS: Media Critique

Your assignment is to use the information presented in readings and lectures to critique the way that American Families are portrayed in the media (newspapers, magazines, television, films, the Internet, music videos, song lyrics, novels, etc.).

1. Choose a representation of family in the media that you want to critique. When you choose make sure that the song/book/article/program/movie is related to the course in some way.

2. Review course material that relates to your selection (the economy and the family, race, class, family policies etc.).

3. Write a critique of this media portrayal of family that answers the following questions. Be specific in your answers, give examples from your media piece to support your answers to these questions.

What family structure is used in this media piece?
How are family roles (mother, husband, grandparent, sister, etc.) enacted?
Relate one sociological theory (Functionalism, Conflict, Symbolic Interaction etc.) to the experiences of this family?
What problems do family members face?
How are these problems related to race, class, gender, or age?
Use the information presented in this class to critique the accuracy of the image of family life portrayed in this example?
Give considerable thought to the implications of the picture of family life given in this media piece. How could it affect people's thinking about family if they are frequently surrounded with this vision of family life?

Structure of the Paper

Part One: A brief summary/review of the media piece. This description should be no more than half a page.

Part Two: A review of the material covered in class that relates to Part One. Do not just copy information from the text and lecture. Illustrate your understanding of the content, your ability to select the relevant course content and apply it to a real life situation. This should be about a page.

Part Three: A 2-3 page assessment of the accuracy of the picture of family presented. Use the questions in 3. above in this part of the paper.

Papers will be 4-6, 8 1/2 X 11 inch pages, typed, double-spaced, with 1 inch margins, in 12 point font.

All writing assignments are due at the beginning of class on the days specified in the course outline. I accept assignments latter than the beginning of class only under extreme circumstances and, if accepted, they lose points for each calendar day they are late. Normally this means an assignment that would have earned a (b) if handed in on time will receive a (b-) if it is a day late, a (c+) if it is two days late, a (c) if it is three days late, etc.