Office Hours: Thurs 1-5 p.m., Saturday Tk B 12 noon – 2p.m.

Texts:

Sociology of Marriage and the Family, 5^th Edition, by Scott Coltrane and Randall Collins, Wadsworth Pub Co. 2001.
Marriage, a History: from Obedience to Intimacy or How Love Conquered Marriage by Stephanie Coontz, Viking Press, 2005.

OBJECTIVES: This course introduces basic sociological research in the area of marriage and family, helping students become familiar with topics of concern to area specialists. The course also examines the dynamics of family relationships so that material can be useful to students in their own lives. In general, the emphasis will be on family strengths and differences as well as family problems. By the end of the course students should have a basic understanding of research on this subject and a comprehension of related contemporary issues.

FORMAT: The format of the course will consist of focused discussion, individual research, papers, quizzes and tests. Each student will be expected to prepare material to contribute to the class discussions.

CLASS PREPARATION: As preparation for each class, students are expected to have read the assigned material, take notes, and be prepared to discuss the topic, ask questions or comment on the particular subject.

QUIZES will cover assigned readings. They will consist of five to ten multiple choice, fill in the blank, or short answer questions. Quizes will be given unannounced anytime throughout the semester. No make-up quizes will be given. Anyone caught cheating will receive a zero for that quiz.

PAPERS: Writing and self-expression are essential to professional performances and learning these skills is part of the academic experience. There will be three papers throughout the semester – two short papers and one longer term paper. Except as specified, no outslde sources are required for any of the papers.

First short paper will be on a theory of the student’s choosing.

Second short paper will be analyzing a movie or TV show using the chosen theory.

The term paper will be on a topic from the given list. Students MUST address the specific topic - no papers will be accepted on related topics.

Paper grades will be based on 1) the number of facts included and their appropriateness, 2) the quality of the argument, 3) the comprehensiveness of the presentation, 4) thoughtfulness, and 5) inclusion of opposing points of view. No folders or title pages are required - especially not plastic folders. For more information on writing a good paper, please see the selection on the sociology web page. For this class Facts are defined as statistics, material from a documented research study, or an anecdote.

TESTS: There will be two tests - a midterm (in October) and a final (December 9). Format will be multiple choice, fill in the blank, short answer, or other format appropriate to the content.

GRADES: Tests 50%

Term paper 25%

Short papers/ Quizes 15%

Discussion 10%

A final grade of A signifies that the student has excelled in this course, going beyond the expected requirements. A final grade of B signifies that the student has mastered all the concepts, has a working knowledge of what it means to do sociological research as demonstrated in tests, the team project and class discussions. A final grade of C signifies that the student’s understanding of the subject matter is acceptable. A final grade of D signifies that the student is familiar with the subject matter, but may not understand or recall some important ideas. A final grade of F signifies that the student has not mastered the material of this course. Most students who have taken this class in the past received Bs or Cs as their final grade.

PROCEDURES:

Discussion and questions are encouraged. A free flow of ideas is essential to a college education. No student should hesitate to express him/herself for fear of being wrong. All ideas are valuable and all contributions are welcome.

Respect is an essential element of academic discussion and free interaction between students and between instructor and students is essential. Disagreements can be settled by clarification of the issues and amicable discussion between parties. Agreeing to disagree is an acceptable academic resolution. Prejudice, resentment and other hostilities are not a part of academic behavior.

Class attendance is expected and absences will affect your final grade. Leaving the class early or coming late will also be noted and could affect your final grade. A student who misses several classes without notifying the instructor will be dropped. If for some reason – legitimate or not – you miss a deadline, or are absent from class but intend to continue, please notify the instructor as soon as possible. Disastrous situations can sometimes be salvaged, albeit not without consequences.

Students absent for whatever reason are responsible for all material, including announcements, that they missed.

Anyone caught cheating on a test/assignment will receive a grade of zero for that assignment.

Anyone guilty of plagiarism will receive a zero on that assignment and risks expulsion from the University. Plagiarism is copying someone else’s writing and claiming that it is your own. This includes ANY AND ALL material from the Internet, papers of other students, material from the text or any other book.

No late papers or assignments will be accepted.

Students with questions or complaints about anything having to do with the course are encouraged to make an appointment with the instructor to discuss the situation. Misunderstanding and inadvertent human error – on the part of the student or the instructor – can cause unnecessary problems. The easiest solution is informal discussion. No concern is too small to be addressed. All problems will be solved with reference to Texas Wesleyan University guidelines.

Students are urged to use common sense when approaching the course procedures and grading. For instance, evaluation is based on expressed knowledge, including definitions and indications of meanings. Instructors cannot presume you know what you are talking about if you don’t explain yourself. Similarly, should it happen that you receive a low daily grade, that does not mean that you going to fail the course. Please refer to the syllabus for the weight that grade has in the over all grade. Especially if the course material is difficult, it is not unusual for a student to receive a low grade for new material early in the semester. That is an indication that the student has not mastered the content, not an evaluation of the student’s ability to perform or an indication of the course grade.

Every attempt is made to judge and grade all students fairly. Please note, however, that a portion of the final grade rests on the subjective judgment of the instructor. If you feel this assessment is in error, you may appeal to the instructor with evidence to support your reasoning. Further grade appeals must go through the procedure outlined in the University catalog.

Texas Wesleyan Policies

Students should read the current Texas Wesleyan Catalog and Student Handbook to become familiar with University policies. This includes but is not limited to grade appeal, sexual harassment, student access to records, and others; policies specified in the current catalog are applicable unless otherwise stated in this syllabus.

Texas Wesleyan University adheres to a disability policy which is in keeping with relevant federal law. The University will provide appropriate accommodation. Students must notify instructors of any permanent or temporary disabilities and must provide documentation regarding those disabilities prior to the granting of an accommodation. For assistance, students should consult with Dr. Michael Ellison, Psychology Department.

Note: Course syllabi are intended to provide students with basic information concerning the course. The syllabus can be viewed as a ‘blueprint’ for the course; changes in the syllabus can be made and students will be informed of any substantive changes concerning examinations, the grading or attendance policies and changes in project assignments.”

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