Trinity Western University SOCI 221E -- MARRIAGE AND THE FAMILY Tuesday, May 22 – Friday, May 25, 2012 8:30 - 4:30 Dr. Mike Richardson E-mail: mrichardson@telus.net Faculty Secretary: Carole Davis (new Music Practice Building) Course Description This course is a sociological examination of families in society. This emphasis is on the structural and cultural aspects of family life. Topics include: theories and methods for understanding families; formation of intimate relationships; mate selection processes, marriage, and parenting; families over the life course; gender issues; and transitions in families Course Objectives This course is an introduction to modern theories of family systems and the sociology of marriage in the context of a biblical worldview. The course will explore marriage and family issues that correspond with the normal family life cycle. These issues will be considered from sociological, theological, and psychological perspectives with the intent of personal application in the lives of students. Students will… • Define the basic concepts of kinship, family, family of origin, family of procreation, and marriage • Cross-culturally compare and contrast various forms of the family • Describe the life course of the average North American family • Describe the problems and transitions that seriously affect family life • Recognize new realities of families in Canada • Think about a Christian perspective of the family This course is designed from the viewpoint of a young adult considering basic patterns of dating, courtship, marriage, and family relations. Class discussions and lectures emphasize issues relative to successful relationships within the family. Although reference will be made to cross-cultural family material, the emphasis will be on family life in North America where both theoretical and applied material will be examined. No prerequisite. Course Texts Required Balswick, Jack O., and Balswick, Judith K. The Family. Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 2007, Third Edition. Recommended Larson, Lyle E.; Goltz, J. Walter; Munro, Brenda E.; and White, James M. Families in Canada: Social Contexts, Continuities, and Changes. Toronto: Prentice-Hall, 2005, Third Edition. -1- Written Assignments The contents of the Book Review should be an interaction with the material presented in the book and must include personal, practical applications that have been gleaned from the book. It should not merely be a retelling of the contents of the book. The length of the written review must have at least four (4) pages of content and must not exceed five (5) pages of content -this does not include the Title Page (which is required and must include the title, author, and date of the book as well as the course number and section [i.e. SOCI 221, Section A]). A blank Book Review Evaluation signed by the student must be the last page of the Book Review; if omitted there will be a penalty of ten points. Electronic submissions will not be accepted. The selected book must be highly relevant to the subject matter of this course. The course text and all categories of fiction (which includes novels) and biography are unacceptable review selections and will be returned without being evaluated. If you have any question about the appropriateness of a book for the Book Review, please check with the professor before you read the book. All written assignments must be typed using an easily readable 12-point font, double-spaced, paginated, and neatly presented. Use a style that is noted in The Little, Brown Handbook. Please staple reports in upper left corner; do not put in a folder. TWU Virtual Campus Class Learning Guides and information are posted online prior to each class session. Students are encouraged to print the Power Point Learning Guides for class. Class Presentations Current Family Event Reports are individual oral presentations of marriage and family matters that relate to the general content of this course. Materials from any form of media may be utilized. The reports are to be three to five minutes and must include a closing comment on the relevance of the material to this course of study and the possible impact upon marriage and families today. A maximum of four reports may be scheduled for each class period. Students are entitled to present two reports during the week. Class presentations will be evaluated on the following basis: Content Relevance 80% Presentation Style 20% -2- Course Outline & Reading Assignments The Quest for Intimacy Tues, May 22 Introduction to Marriage and Family Tues, May 22 Perspectives: Historical, Cultural, Biblical The Family, 1 Families in Canada, 1,3,4 Dating & Courtship -- Developing Intimacy Wed, May 23 Dating: The Getting Acquainted Process Wed, May 23 Courtship: The Mate-Selection Process The Family, 2 & 3 Families in Canada, 2 The Family, 3 Marriage -- Achieving Intimacy Wed, May 23 Establishing a Healthy Marriage The Family, 4 & 5 Families in Canada, 8 Families in Canada, 6-7 Wed, May 23 Midterm Exam (Take Home) Thurs, May 24 Communication in Marriage Thurs, May 24 Marital Sexuality The Family, 13 & 14 Families in Canada, 9 The Family, 12 Families in Canada, 9 Challenges -- Protecting Intimacy Fri, May 25 Gender and the Family Fri, May 25 Children and Parenting The Family, 11,15-20 Families in Canada, 10, The Family, 6-10 Families in Canada,11,12 Fri, May 25 Final Examination ^Online Required Reading Required Online Reading Assignments Thursday, May 24 www.xxxchurch.com (familiarize yourself with the site) www.imfcanada.org/article_files/November_7_2007.pdf Additional online reading assignments may be required as posted on the SOCI 221 site of the TWU Virtual Campus. Additional Online Resource Sites These sites offer insight and perspective relevant to this course; however, the viewpoints expressed are not necessarily shared by the instructor of this course. www.fotf.ca www.smartmarriage.com http://marriage.Rutgers.edu www.marriagedebate.com (U.S.) www.marriageinstitute.ca (Canada) www.familyindex.net www.lawlink.bc.ca www.imfcanada.org www.xxxchurch.com www.bcfamilylawresource.com www.supremecourtselfhelp.bc.ca -3- Assignment Due Dates Reading Quizzes Student Information Sheet Midterm Exam Final Exam# Book Review* Mate Selection Questionnaire Given randomly -- no make-up quizzes given Wednesday, May 23, 2012 Wednesday, May 23, 2012 Friday, May 25, 2012 Friday, June 1, 2012 Friday, June 1, 2012 #The Final Exam will be comprehensive and will include material from the course textbook, class discussions and presentations. Every student must write the final exam. *Book Reviews will not be received late for any reason including computer/printer failures, illness, and/or family emergencies of any kind. Book Reviews absolutely cannot be submitted electronically. If you choose to do a Book Review, do not procrastinate; instead, choose your book and begin reading it immediately. Assignment Values Percentile Point Values Final Examination 30% Book Review 20% Reading Quizzes/Participation 15% Midterm Examination 15% Current Family Issues Report(s)10% Mate Selection Questionnaire 5% Nuggets (5) & Applications 5% Total Percentage Total Points 300 pts 200 pts 150 pts 150 pts 100 pts 50 pts 50 pts 100% 1000 pts Course Evaluation Points 960-1000 900-959 850-899 800-849 750-799 700-749 670-699 630-669 600-629 570-599 530-569 500-529 000-499 96-100 90-94 85-89 80-84 75-79 70-74 67-69 63-66 60-62 57-59 53-56 50-52 00-49 Percent A+ A AB+ B BC+ C CD+ D DF -4- Grade Technology & Classroom Etiquette Out of courtesy and respect for your classmates and your instructor, please refrain from surfing the web, communicating wirelessly or using your technology for anything unrelated to the current class session. Also please do not bring your b’fast/lunch into the classroom. Eating during class is a distraction. Thanks for your consideration. NUGGETS Suggested Books for Review For Better or Best by Gary Smalley Love and Respect by Emerson Eggerichs Strong Fathers, Strong Daughters by Meg Meeker Before You Get Engaged by David & Brent Gudgel and Danielle Fitch When God Writes Your Love Story by Eric & Leslie Ludy Love and War by John & Stasi Eldredge Married for Good by R. Paul Stevens Fit To Be Tied by Bill & Lynne Hybels The Four Loves by C.S. Lewis Relationships by Les and Leslie Parrott The Mystery of Marriage by Mike Mason To Own a Dragon by Donald Miller also Father Fiction: Chapters for a Fatherless Generation Making Dating Work: Boundaries in Dating by Henry Cloud and John Townsend* Sacred Marriage by Gary Thomas Every Woman’s Marriage by Shannon and Greg Ethridge Building Strong Families by Dennis Rainey Why Marriage Matters by Glenn Stanton Sex God by Rob Bell Saving Your Marriage Before It Starts by Les and Leslie Parrott School Closure Policy In the event of deteriorating overnight conditions or in other emergency situations, every effort will be made to contact the following radio stations: CKNW (980 AM), CKBD (600 AM), CKSR (104.9 FM), MAX (850 AM), PRAISE (106.5 FM), and KARI (550 AM) by 6:30 a.m. An announcement will also be placed on the university’s switchboard and bulletin board (e-mail). The first announcement of a closure will cover up to 1:00 p.m. only. This covers the mornings. Any other change will be announced by the same means before 11:00 a.m. Students and faculty should assume that all night classes will continue to operate. If the emergency situation continues into the evening, students and faculty may check after 3:00 p.m. for a closure notice on the university’s switchboard, on the e-mail bulletin board, or at the security hut. 221 Summer 2012TWU -5- SOCI 221 -- Marriage and Family Book Review Evaluation A blank Book Review Evaluation signed by the student must be attached to the last page of the Book Review. Failure to do so will result in a 10 point penalty. A review of the requirements for “Written Assignments” in the course syllabus is advised. Content - 65% [130 points maximum] Book Assessment and Evaluation This should be original interaction with the book, not merely a retelling of the contents. _______________________________________________ 0 10 80 20 30 40 50 60 70 90 Average Application This should reflect practical value for your life situation. _______________________ 0 10 20 30 40 Average Construction - 35% [70 points maximum] 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 Literary Style Sentence Structure Spelling Punctuation Grammar Cover Page Presentation pagination, font, spacing Student’s Name _________________________Grade ________ / 200 7 8 9 10 Sign here to indicate your paper meets the stated expectations.