THE FAMILY - SOC 3003

DEPARTMENT OF EXTENDED LEARNING

AUGUST 2005

© 2005-2006 Southwest Baptist University

 

Professor:       Evelyn Mercer, Assistant Professor of Sociology

 

Textbooks Required:

    

            Cox, Frank D.   Human Intimacy:  Marriage, The Family and Its Meaning. Tenth Edition,     Wadsworth Publishing Co., 2006.

 

Disclaimer:

 

            This text is written from a worldview rather than a Christian view. Therefore, some of the content may not reflect the views of SBU or of the instructor.

 

Description:

 

This course is designed to introduce students to dating, marriage and family life, as well as aid individuals in understanding their roles in the family and the family life cycle.

 

 

Aims and Objectives:

 

            Upon completion of this course the student should be able to:

    

            1.         have a basic understanding of courtship, marriage and family life.

 

            2.         identify family structures , patterns, and current issues related to contemporary American family life and marriage.

    

            3.         have a better self understanding and personal growth in relation to marriage and family.

 

            4.         acknowledge problems in mate selection, marital expectations, adjustments in courtship and marriage, communication, human sexuality, finances, and other factors related to understanding and preparation for marriage and family life.

 

            5.         demonstrate skills in communicating with other individuals in order to form the basis of successful social and family relationships.

 

Evaluation:  Evaluation will be based on the following:

 

100 points - Study Question completion (found in PowerPoints)

100 points - Unit Activities (25 points each)

100 points - "What is A Family?"  paper and genogram (see attached guidelines).

200 points - Four Exams - 50 questions each.  Each exam will be multiple choice and taken on Blackboard.  There are sample chapter practice exams  that can be taken on Blackboard. Exams: There will be four online unit exams. Each exam contains 50 questions with a 50 minute completion time limit. Please follow the instructions posted in your course.

 

Exam 1 - Chapters 1- 4

Exam 2 - Chapters 5 - 8

Exam 3 - Chapters 9 - 12

Exam 4 - Chapters 13 - 17                

 

NOTE:            For 10 points of extra credit a student may choose to read and turn in a book report on any book related to marriage and family. The typed book report should include a summary and critique of the book, as well as bibliographical information.

 

Grading Scale                                     4 Exams (50 points each)                  200 points

450 - 500 Points - A                            Study Questions                                 100 points

400 - 449 Points - B                            4 Unit Activities (25 points each)        100 points

350 - 399 Points - C                            Paper and Genogram                         100 points

300 - 349 Points - D                                                                Total points     500 points

Below 300 Points - F

 

 

NOTE:  ALL exercises must be completed and submitted to the instructor before taking the final exam.

 

 All activities assigned must be turned in according to the units (Chapters 1-4, Chapters 5-8, Chapters 9 -12, and Chapters 13 -17).  The Study Questions (found in the PowerPoints for each chapter) and Unit Activities must be turned in before taking the exam for that unit.  

 

Requirements:

 

*           All Study Questions for each unit must be completed (this will help you study for the exams) and turned in before taking the unit exams. These are found in the PowerPoints. Please provide the original question with your response. Please submit per unit and before engaging the unit exam. These are to be submitted by e-mail attachment.

 

*           The following 4 Unit Activities are to be completed.

 

Chapter 1 - 4: As you view your family of origin and review the characteristics of a healthy family answer the following questions:

•                      How many of these characteristics do you see in your family of origin?

•                      Which of these characteristics are the most important to you?

•                      What family traditions did your family of origin do that you would like to carry on in your family of procreation?  Why are they important to you?  Interview your parents and find out which of the family traditions they carried over from their family of origin and which ones they developed themselves.

•                      How do you plan to establish those characteristics that are important to you in your own family or future family?

Write out your answers and turn in before taking Exam 1 by e-mail.

 

Chapters 5 - 8: Interview a married couple and ask the following questions. 


 

•                      What adjustments did they have to make to married life?

 

•                      How did they deal with those adjustments?

 

•                      What suggestions could they give for avoiding some of these?

 

•                      Name some of the positive things about married life?

•                      What are some of the goals for their marriage?

Write out their answers and turn in before taking Exam 2 by e-mail.

 

Chapters 9 - 12:  Do a sample budget for yourself.  Use the income that you think you will be making when you graduate.  If you are married or already living on your own, use your current monthly income.  (There is an attached budget which you may use for a guideline).  Turn in before taking Exam 3 by e-mail.

 

            Chapters 13 - 17: Interview a divorced single parent on the joys and stresses of his/her situation. OR      Interview a stepparent with regard to problems, adjustments, and strengths of their family.

           

            Write out their answers and turn in before taking Exam 4 by e-mail.

 

§                     Paper and Genogram. Each student will submit a paper on Family.  The following guidelines are to be followed.

 

1.         Develop a genogram for 3 generations (see attached for how to do a genogram.  Remember this is for you, not necessarily me.  If symbols are not included, you may come up with your own; just let me know what they represent.  Give biographical information such as names, birth dates of family members, occupations, religious faith, place of resident, etc.). You may draw it out or use the FREE program on Genopro.com.

 

2.         Describe your own family.  How has your family changed during your lifetime?  Identify patterns that you see within your family (the genogram is a good starting point) and how these patterns will affect your family of procreation.  The purpose of writing a paper about yourself and your family is to gain insight into who you are, as well as look at your past, present, and future.  Being open and honest is essential.  The written material will be held in strictest of confidence

.

3.         Write you own personal definition of the word "family".  How has your definition changed as a result of your readings?

 

4.         Discuss 5 significant events that have occurred in your life--they may be either positive or negative.  Discuss how each one has affected you and/or your family.

 

5.         Discuss patterns in your family that you like or that you would like to change in your family and how this has affected you in your development as a person.

 

6.         What have you learned about yourself by doing this assignment?

 

NOTE:            Do not put in a binder; rather staple your paper.  This assignment is to be typed and can be sent by postal mail or e-mail attachment which ever will accommodate your materials before taking exam 4.

 

If you have any questions about this course or assignments, please feel free to contact me at the office or at home (phone numbers are listed at the first of the syllabus) or email me.

 

END…..