Section 1, MW, 1:30-2:45
Tahoe 1025
Professor Todd A. Migliaccio
Office: Amador Hall 451D
Hours: W 12:30-1:30, 5-6 Tu 10-11 or by appointment
Phone: 278-7573
Website: http://online6.csus.edu/
This course will examine the construction of the family, its social makeup and the reciprocal relationship it has with the rest of society. Drawing on the various theoretical traditions of sociology, we will focus on how families are influenced by social conditions, how families help shape society, and how individuals experience family life. Throughout the course we will focus on the development of the family as an institution, from the initial attraction of two individuals through the courting and marriage, emphasizing the parenting phase of the family, including the biological components of reproduction, the conflict that is present in families and the dissolution of some family units. We will discuss the different controversial issues that arise for both men and women in this institution and whether the differences are linked to biology. Through readings, lectures, discussions, field studies, films and papers, we will explore how family members in different social, economic and cultural settings negotiate family processes such as marriage, intimacy, paid and unpaid work, and childrearing.
Leeder, E. 2004. The Family in Global Perspective. Sage Publication
The due dates for each of the papers are stated in the syllabus. No late papers will be accepted. The paper guidelines are on the web, as well as in a handout given at the beginning of class. As well, a brief statement in class about what is expected will be given. The due dates for each assignment are listed in the course calendar at the end of the syllabus. While I will attempt to offer reminders to impending due dates, it is ultimately your responsibility to insure that all papers are ready to be turned in by the expected due date.
Throughout the course, each student will be allotted four extensions for the papers/assignments. Each extension is worth one class day (ex. If the paper is due on Monday, and you turn it in on Wednesday, that is one extension). You do not need permission from the professor. You may use these extensions whenever you want, subject to the rules given below:
1) You get four extensions.
Don’t ask me for more- you will not get them. Hence, you should use extensions wisely when
you really need them, such as sickness or an athletic event.
2) You may use a maximum of two extensions on
any one paper; by using two on one paper, you can turn the paper in two classes
late.
3) You can use one on any assignment given
in the class, meaning the assignment can be turned in one class period later.
Any assignment turned in later, or if you have used all of your extensions,
will not be accepted.
4) Any paper that is submitted later than
two classes after it is due (regardless of your extension situation), or is
turned in late after you have used all of your extensions will be penalized two
full grades.
5) Any assignments submitted after one class
period (regardless of extension situation), or after you have used all of your
extensions, the assignment will not be accepted.
6) No extension can be used for posting assignments. If you fail to post before the end of the allotted time, then you lose those points.
All papers must be typed and stapled and not placed in any covers, folders or any other such contraption. A title page is expected, which will contain the following information: Title of the paper, your name, and the name of the class (Sociology 166 for those of you not paying attention). Thank you.
Use of WebCT: While there are times when the site will be down, this is not an excuse for a missed assignment or late paper. The material will be up with sufficient time to copy it before it comes due. Ultimately it is your responsibility to either obtain it, or let me know of any problems you are having with it. Most problems are related to the computer department, so contact the help desk. If they are unable/unwilling to help you let me know, and I will attempt to correct any problems, but on occasion they are not my fault (I know, that is hard to imagine, but it is true).
If you are a student who has a disability that may necessitate accommodations being made in the classroom, please contact SSD, (916) 278-6955.
Turn off all pagers and cell phones before entering class. I accept the right to answer any that ring (and make up any wild stories about you to the person who has called).
Finally, cheating and plagiarism will not be tolerated. If you are caught engaging in either of these activities, you will receive an F.
The class is located on the WebCT campus server. Accessing this site requires a login and password, which are the following: Login: your campus id (the same one used on your saclink account); Password: same as your saclink password. You will be able to access the outlines for the course, any overheads used in class, any material that was handed out, a glossary of terms (if there is one not listed that you can not locate elsewhere, please let me know so I can include it), all of the assignments, as well as the posting questions and syllabus. You will also be able to locate your grade on-line if you desire.
POSTINGS: The last day of class for each week, I will be putting up posting questions/assignments on-line. I will attempt to let you know that day in class, but ultimately it is your responsibility to check. As for the postings, they will be questions that you will be required to answer that engage the ideas in the class, the readings and possibly current events. Beyond responding to the question itself, you are also required to respond to at least two other students’ comments, preferably on a different day than you originally posted. If you are not talking in class, this is a good place to get participation points by responding in greater detail and more often. This is to help in the comprehension of the material, ideas and readings from the class, as well as to generate topics of discussion within the classroom.
There will be four exams administered throughout the quarter, but only three will count. Each will consist of short answer questions, and matching, True/False, and/or multiple-choice questions. Each will be worth 15% of your total grade (for a total of 45% of your total grade). Each test will, for the most part, focus only on the information that has been presented in either lecture, videos, or in the readings since the last exam. If there are any ideas that are raised on the final that occurred earlier in the semester, I will give you an idea of what you need to study. You will need to bring blue books and scantrons for the exams. As they are short answer, each answer needs to be written in complete sentences.
Current Event: You will be
required to bring in one current event to the class that relates to family, and
offer a brief summary of the topic to the class. You will be graded on how well you present the
material, including summary and description, as well as relevance to
family. Try, if you can, have the event
relate to the topic being discussed, but this is not required and will not
affect your grade. This assignment will
help to create discussion about family in the class, but more importantly, will
present a list of possible topics for students to research for their upcoming
paper. Feel free to go beyond the
Contemporary
issues paper: You will need to take a position about a specific topic
that is related to the class. Using information from the class, the readings, 3
Scholarly (Peer Reviewed) journals and academic resources outside of the class
and 10 interviews, you will present an argument about the topic. It will be worth 25% of your total grade.
Class Assignments: Throughout
the semester, a series of short assignments will be given that incorporate the
concepts of the class into your own lives.
They will be both given out during class and on the web, so you will
need to periodically check the web for new assignments. An assignment is due the class following when
the assignment was given, as we will discuss them in class (due dates are
usually given on-line). No make-ups for
these are possible, unless you choose to use one of your extensions, and that
is only available to be used on assignments.
Quizzes: Quizzes will be given out at the beginning of each new section and will address the required readings, with emphasis on the textbook. They will be short answer questions and multiple-choice questions. Extensions cannot be used to make up quizzes.
Postings: Postings occur over the weekend. No make-ups for these are possible. As well, quizzes about the readings may be given throughout the semester.
Quizzes, assignments and postings will be worth 20% of your total grade.
TOPIC: READING DUE ON FIRST DAY:
September 6: Introduction and Overview
September 11 & 13: What is Family? Gittens (Reading 1)
Leeder, Chapter 1 and 2
September 18-25: History and Variations Baca Zinn (Reading 2); Lichter & Qian (Rd 4);
September 15: Last day to drop/add classes Coontz (Rd 5)
Leeder, Chapter 4 and 5
September 27: Exam 1
October 2 & 4: Dating and Love Whyte (Rd 9); Raffaelli & Ontai (Rd 10)
Leeder, Chapter 8
October 9- 18: Family forms Sugarman (18); Mason (35)
October 4: Drop with departmental approval Cherlin (12); Seltzer (15)
Stiers (16)
October 23: Exam 2
October 25- November 1: Family Violence Yllo (36); Krishnan, Baig-Amin, et al. (37)
Leeder, Chapter 10
November 6- 8: Family and the State Hays (46); Rainwater & Smeeding (48)
November 13- 15: Family and Work Hochschild (41); Gerson & Jacobs (40)
November
13: First 5 Interviews due
November 20: Exam 3
November 22: Elderly and Family
November 23 & 24: Thanksgiving
November 27: Elderly and Family Casper
& Bianchi (28); Margolies (30);
Leeder: Chapter 9 (p.229-235)
November 29 & December 4: Parenting Vinovskis (17); Coltrane (25);
November
29: Contemporary Issues Paper due
November 29:
Last 5 interviews due Leeder, Chapter 9 (until p.229)
December 6, 11 & 13: Divorce Ahrons (25); Amato (20)
December 20, 10:15a-12:15p: Exam 4