Sociology 210

Families and Intimate Relationships, by Gloria Bird and Keith Melville

The Family 02/03...Annual Editions Reader

Online Materials

NOTE: The following is my "best guess" of how our course will go...but at least it gives you an idea of WHAT you should be reading and approximately WHEN.

The legend for chapters and articles is: Bird/Melville text = BM...The Annual Editions Family reader = AE. Also, check Online Materials for other required readings for each topic.

Finally, you should notice that we are covering the textbook chapters (BM) out of order (OUR sequence is 1,2,5,4,3,6,7,10,11,12,8,15,9,14,16...and eliminating 13 all together).

4/04………Introduction/The Sociology Shop/Selected Sociological Concepts/Overstreet Quote

4/11………What is a Family?/History/Perspectives (BM 1)(AE 2) & Gender Roles (BM 2)

4/18………Singlehood(BM 5) (AE 7)and Mate Selection/Dating (BM 4)

4/25………Finish Singlehood/Mate Selection and Start Love (BM 3) & Sexuality (BM 6)

5/02………Continue Love (BM 3) & Sexuality (BM 6)

5/09………Marriage/Life Cycle (BM 7) & Kinship (BM 10 )

5/16………Communication/Conflict Love (BM 11) and Power/Violence (BM 12 )

5/23………Parenting(BM 8 )(AE 14)/Single Parenting(BM 15 )(AE 21) and Family & Work(BM 9 )

5/30………Finish (BM 8/15/9) and Start Divorce (BM 14 )/Remarriage (BM 16 )(AE 33)

6/06………Continue Divorce(BM 14 )/Remarriage(BM 16 ) & Conclusion

6/13………Finals Week

There will be two (2) analysis papers worth 20 points each...you will get 10 for just doing it and I'll evaluate the other 10 points. Minimum length is 1 page...Maximum is 3 pages. Topics are HERE

MESSAGE BOARD ASSIGNMENT

You will be required to post three messages on our course Message Board...each worth 20 pts (10 for doing it and 10 to be evaluated) Instructions are HERE.

ARTICLE REVIEW

You will be required to do an Article Review...worth 100 points. You will be able to pick ONE (1) article for review from the five I have selected (FROM THE ANNUAL EDITIONS READER). Go HERE for the articles you can select from...and go HERE for Instructions.

INTERNET ASSIGNMENT

An assignment utilizing the Internet to research M/F sites of interest to you...worth 100 pts. Instructions are HERE

FINAL EXAM

This exam...worth 100 points...covers all the materials of the course. It will be a Take-Home Essay test.

4/11.....................Analysis Paper #1 Due

4/25.....................1st Message Board Post Due by this Date

5/02.....................Article Review Due

5/21.....................All Message Board Posts Due by this Date

6/06.....................Internet Assignment Due

6/06.....................Pass Out Final Exam

6/13.....................Final Due and AP #2 Due...6-8 in our Classroom

In order to facilitate the expression of your own perspective and to hear what others are thinking, too...there is a Message Board for our class. You will be required to post three (3) messages during this course...on topics of your own choosing, from the eight (8) "Prompts" I will post for your consideration. Each of these will be worth 20 points (10 for just doing it and the other 10 will be evaluated by me).

In addition to other uses and purposes (described on the portal page to the Message Board), here's how this assignment will work:

Each Sunday evening I will post a topic, a question, a quote, or even a short piece to read from the Internet. What I want is your reaction to and analysis of what I post.

During the quarter, you can pick the three you choose to respond to (the 1st one is due by 4/25)...and all of them need to be done by 5/30.

You will need to choose a "code name" which only you and I know...using it to post your three messages. I believe anonymity is the best policy in order to allow people to express themselves without fear of personal reaction from anyone else in the class. Do NOT use this code name for any posting other than for this assignment. Also...you will NOT be required to submit an email address when you post a message...although, you can if you want to do so.

Length is always an arbitrary factor and I'd rather not dictate a certain length. However, I fully expect something more than a few sentences. Yes, you will get 10 points for simply writing any amount...but IF you write very little and expect to get many of the other 10, you'll be a bit disappointed. Try to choose your topics with care...choosing those about which you truly have something to say.

I have posted the first one already...clearly labeling it as a "Prompt #1". That means there will be a total of eight (8) posted...the last one will be posted on 5/26. Please don't let these build up to the last minute...do them over a period of time, thereby allowing all of us to read and consider your remarks.

You may, of course, "go back" and do one you passed over...but you can only do any given prompt one time.

Finally, the Board is really easy to use...after reading the prompt, click "post reply." Then, AFTER ENTERING YOUR CODE NAME, scroll down to the empty text box and write your response...then click "post message" and that will do it. If you have trouble, please contact me immediately via email.

You are going to need access to a Computer for this course with access to the Internet. Whether its your own computer, your parent‘s, one in a Lab, a friend's computer, or one at a Library, they're not that difficult to find these days.

That means you'll need to have or to learn a basic minimum of skills in navigating the Internet. It's a tool that's quickly become a necessity in today's world...especially as it relates to academics. If you have no experience in doing this, don’t worry, there's plenty of help available...especially at LCC (here in Cottage Grove) (Social Science Lab is on the 4th floor of Center Bldg on main campus) (and each Community Learning Center has a computer lab available) and on the Internet itself. I've put a link under DETAILS (above) to a "beginners" tutorial which takes you through it step by step. I’m also willing to help get you started, if necessary.

ALSO, you will need an EMAIL address for this course. There will be occasions I may need to email you individually as well as the class as a whole. Likewise, you may need to email me with questions or information and possibly, an assignment. If you don't have an Email account, please get one SOON...it is a requirement of the course, not an option. Many are free, such as Yahoo and Hotmail...and these can be accessed on any computer, anywhere. I will be glad to assist you in setting one up...just ask me. IF you already have one (or when you get one), please send me a message (indicating your name---sometimes usernames don’t reveal that) so I can enter your address into my address book and create the class list. Send it to socshop@yahoo.com Please pay prompt attention to this matter...Thanks.

Why? Besides being an immensely rich and important source of all sorts of information, the Internet provides the opportunity for providing reading material for academic classes...making materials accessible to anyone...anytime. This also cuts down on the amount of copying necessary...saving paper and money. My own website, The Sociology Shop, will be an integral component of this course...it will have a “room” for our class, links to required reading materials, a Message Board for our class, and the details of the course...including assignments and instructions you will need, plus, of course, due dates. The Required Reading Materials...beyond the textbook...in effect substitute for asking you to buy a Reader, thus saving you money. Thus you need to become familiar with The Sociology Shop in general as well as familiar with our “Sociology 210 Room”...which you are “in” right now.

#11..."Should You Have Your Baby Now?"

#17..."Will Your Marriage Last?"

#18..."Men, Women and Money"

#36..."Failing to Discuss Dying Adds to Pain of Patient and Family"

#40..."What's Ahead for Families: Five Major Forces of Change"