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Sociology of the Family
ON- LINE
SUMMER 2013
Professor: Alan Turley, Ph.D.
Office: Room 217H
Office Hours: By appointment M-F 9am to 5pm-6pm ON Line T-Th
Phone: 254-519-8706 msg left may not be able to be retrieved. EMAIL is best
e-mail: a.turley@ct.tamus.edu
Course Description: This course requires students to integrate and use fundamental concepts learned in
previous courses within the students’ degree concentrations including research and analysis of real-world
phenomena and problems. A real-world aspect of the course will be maintained as assignments given in
the work environment to college graduates are not spoon fed to them anymore, neither will be parts of this
course. Discovering sources and success on one’s own will be emphasized. Students can do volunteer
work as part of the course requirement. All hours completed in 8weeks and preapproved by professor.
Course Objectives:
Knowledge Outcomes:
1. The students will know the nature of scientific inquiry.
2. The students will understand the process of forming research questions.
3. The students will know the techniques of conducting sociological research and critiques of these
techniques.
4. The students will understand issues of measurement and sampling,
5. Students will understand the ethical considerations of research, particularly for the family.
Skills Outcomes:
1. Critical thinking: students must have “sociological insight” in order to see through official
explanations of social life, common sense conclusions, and conclusions based solely on personal
experience. Using the tools of the discipline, sociologists analyze social life while minimizing the
influence of personal emotions and political agendas.
2. Abstract thinking: sociology is a discipline of theory testing. Research techniques and statistics
help us describe social phenomena and allow us to evaluate theoretical statements.
3. Persistence: just because we live in a society does not mean we automatically know everything
about it. Hard study is required, and thinking is mandatory! Research methods help us see through
the veneer of official accounting of the world around us. Research is about persistent curiosity.
4. Flexibility: Students will learn the discovery of hidden social processes. It is imperative that we
become flexible in our thinking and willing to process what we already know. Students should be
active agents in their own learning.
5. Expansion of knowledge; this course aims to expand students’ breadth of knowledge of social
behavior, organization, and diversity within populations. Research techniques help us see how
social processes affect individual development and life chances.
Value Outcomes:
1. Students will value scientific inquiry.
2. Students will be able to discern false information from factual information.
3. Students will understand the appropriate method to utilize given the scientific question.
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Course Objectives: Upon completion of this course, the student will:
1. Develop the reasoning and communication skills expected of a person holding
a Bachelor of Science degree.
2. Develop proficiency in the use of online research retrieval methods.
3. Understand the use of quantitative and qualitative methods.
4. Be able to apply these methods in real world circumstances.
Note: This is an UPPER level course. Be prepared to make the appropriate time commitment to study,
volunteering and writing that this course requires.
Required Texts:
Eshleman and Bulcroft. 2012, The Family. 12 Ed. Allyn and Bacon
NOTE: A student of this institution is not under any obligation to purchase a textbook from a
university-affiliated bookstore. The same textbook may also be available from an independent
retailer, including an online retailer.
Other readings will be on the web as an assignment.
I. Course Requirements:
1. Participation (25 points) THINK BONUS POINTS
These points are NOT automatically awarded with your attendance. They are awarded when you
contribute to the class and scholarly discussion of the on line class. No contribution - then no points. You
will also have chance for these with the Discussion Topics section.
2. Quiz x 3 at 33 pts a piece (100 points)
Multiple-choice and essay exams emphasizing methodological foundations research in society.
3. Community Service Project Journal (100 points):
Students will work 16 hours during the semester on a Service Learning community project focused on
family support with a local agency of their choice (pre-approved by professor), a journal (2pg) of that
experience will be submitted (scanned) with a signed letter from the agency (on their letterhead) of the
hours you completed. Church volunteering CANNOT be used, DON’T ASK.
Or you pick one or the other
Research Paper (100 points):
Students will write a descriptive research project that addresses one of the course topics. Double-spaced,
one-inch margins. Use proper citation styles. Papers are due JULY 25. You can use Turnitin.com as a
resource to check against plagiarism in your paper, but turn in all assignments thru BB.
4. 3 Assignments x 33 pts each
Three of these will be components of your paper (Topic, Lit Rvw, Outline). ALL STUDENTS will do a
Topic, Lit Rvw, and Outline for a paper topic EVEN if they do volunteering.
5. Final Exam (100 points)
multiple-choice and essay exam covering course material for the entire course.
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II. Grading Scale and Rubric
Grades will be determined by performance on online discussion projects, 3 quiz, a final exam, 3 Paper
Components, and the final research paper or service project. Weighing of requirements for final grades
are:
Participation
Quiz x 3
Research Paper/Volunteer
Paper components/3 assgn each 33pt
Final Exam
25 points
100 points
100 points
100 Points
100 points
bonus%
25%
25%
25%
25%
Total
400 points
~100%
The following grade scale will give you some indication of the grade you will receive in this class:
90-100% = A (Excellent)
80-89% = B (Better than Average)
70-79% = C (Average)
60-69% = D (Below Average)
Below 60% is Failing
Incomplete Grades:
I do not give out INCOMPLETE GRADES. ALL ASSIGNMENTS AND TESTS ARE DUE ON THE
DATES OUTLINED IN THE SYLLABUS. It is the responsibility of the student to notify me if they
cannot make a test or will not be in class. Please call me if you feel you will be missing an exam. If I do
not hear from you prior to the class, I will not allow an excuse for the absence.
Posting of Grades:
All student grades should be posted on the Blackboard Grade book and students should monitor
their grading status through this tool.
Grades for Quizzes will be posted 3 week days after the availability period has passed. Grades for
Weekly Assignments and Papers will be posted the Wednesday following the due date.
III. RESPONSIBILITIES AND CONDUCT
You will be responsible for getting the notes for any classes you may have to miss. This class will be run
according to the code of conduct established by the University. Any student who is intentionally
disruptive will be asked to leave. You are expected to show respect to yourself, other students, and your
instructor. Class discussion on line is encouraged. Please frame your questions and comments with
respect. We all come from different perspectives and belief systems. If a video or discussion topic brings
up emotional issues for you, you may leave and talk with me after class for an alternative assignment.
Dr. Turley’s class policies:
Turn in all assignments through the BB email system IN our course.
*On all assignments, papers, etc., if the printer failed to print, you are late - period. Plan
for this, just like the real world. If your presentation were due on a Monday at work, and
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you didn’t have it… you would be fired. Do not turn in handwritten assignments; if you
do not have access to a computer in your home, plan ahead to make sure you can get to
the computer lab in time.
**I will not accept any work past the last scheduled class day for the semester, unless
you confront an emergency situation and have contacted me about that situation.
***If anyone is deemed to be abusive or derisive AT ALL by the instructor, that student
will be asked to leave the class or discussion assignment immediately. This is not open
to debate, and depending on the level of the incident, may be turned over to the Dean or
Campus Security. This is part of your student code of conduct and I take this VERY
seriously. By signing the syllabus agreement below, you are agreeing to participate by
these rules.
Academic Integrity Statement
Texas A&M University - Central Texas expects all students to maintain high standards of personal and
scholarly conduct. Students guilty of academic dishonestly are subject to disciplinary action. Academic
dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, cheating on an examination or other academic work, plagiarism,
collusion, and the abuse of resource materials. RECYCLING of papers is also forbidden. If you use a
part of a paper you wrote for another class or even a major section of one, you are breaking this rule. The
faculty member is responsible for initiating action for each case of academic dishonestly. More
information can be found at www.ct.tamus.edu/JudicialAffairs
Please be aware—if you plagiarize your work, you will receive a failing grade for that work.
Depending on the seriousness of the offense, you may also receive a failing grade for the course.
IV. Academic Resources
Disability Services: If you have or believe you have a disability, may wish to self-identify. You can do so
by providing documentation to the Academic Support Programs Coordinator. Students are encouraged to
seek information about accommodations to help assure success in this class. Please contact Ryan
Thompson at (254) 519-5796 or Main Building Room 114. Additional information can be found at
www.TAMUCT.org/StudentAffairs.
Drop Policy: If you discover that you need to drop this class, you must go to the Records Office and ask
for the necessary paperwork. Professors cannot drop students; this is always the responsibility of the
student. The record’s office will provide a deadline for which the form must be returned, completed and
signed. Return the signed form to the records office, wait 24 hours, go into Duck Trax and confirm that
you are no longer enrolled. If you are still enrolled, FOLLOW-UP with the records office immediately.
You are to attend class until the procedure is complete to avoid penalty for absence. Should you miss the
deadline or fail to follow the procedure, you will receive an F in the course.
Religious holidays: If you need to be absent for religious observance please notify me at least one week
in advance so that arrangements may be made for you to obtain lecture notes, turn in assignments, or
schedule exams.
Library Services: INFORMATION LITERACY focuses on research skills which prepare individuals to
live and work in an information-centered society. Librarians will work with students in the development
of critical reasoning, ethical use of information, and the appropriate use of secondary research techniques.
Help may include, yet is not limited to: exploration of information resources such as library collections
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and services, identification of subject databases and scholarly journals, and execution of effective search
strategies. Library Resources are outlined and accessed at.
http://www.tarleton.edu/centraltexas/departments/library/
TECHNOLOGY REQUIREMENTS AND SUPPORT
Technology Requirements This course will use the new TAMU-CT Blackboard Learn learning
management system for class communications, content distribution, and assessments.
Logon to http://tamuct.blackboard.com to access the course.
Username: Your Tarleton email address (the complete email address, e.g. john.doe@go.tarleton.edu)
Your DuckTrax ID (UID)
Initial password:
For this course, you will need reliable and frequent access to a computer and to the Internet. You will
also need a headset with a microphone or speakers and a microphone to be able to listen to online
resources and conduct other activities in the course. If you do not have frequent and reliable access to
a computer with Internet connection, please consider dropping this course or contact me (see page 1)
to discuss your situation.
Blackboard supports the most common operating systems:
PC: Windows 7, Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 2000,
Mac: Mac OS 10.6 “Snow Leopard®”, Mac OS 10.5 “Leopard®”, Mac OS 10.4 “Tiger®”
Check browser and computer compatibility by following the “Browser Check” link on the TAMUCTBlackboard logon page. (http://tamuct.blackboard.com) This is a CRITICAL step as these settings
are important for when you take an exam or submit an assignment.
Upon logging on to Blackboard Learn, you will see a link to Blackboard Student Orientation under My
Courses tab. Click on that link and study the materials in this orientation course. The new Blackboard
is a brand-new interface and you will have to come up to speed with it really quickly. This orientation
course will help you get there. There is also a link to Blackboard Help from inside the course on the
left-hand menubar. The first week of the course includes activities and assignments that will help you
get up to speed with navigation, sending and receiving messages and discussion posts, and submitting
an assignment. Your ability to function within the Blackboard system will facilitate your success in this
course.
Technology issues are not an excuse for missing a course requirement – make sure your computer is
configured correctly and address issues well in advance of deadlines.
Technology Support
For technological or computer issues, students should contact the TAMU-CT Blackboard Support Services 24
hours a day, 7 days a week:
Support Portal: http://www.ct.tamus.edu/bbsupport
Online chat (through the support portal at: http://www.ct.tamus.edu/bbsupport)
Phone: (855)-661-7965
For issues related to course content and requirements, contact your instructor.
The Operation of the Online Course and Being an Online Student
Online learning requires students to be very self-disciplined, be sure you understand and are prepared to comply with
all required class assignments and deadlines. For this course, the Weekly Assignment will be posted on the Course
Home Page By Monday or Tuesday morning (latest) and will be due to the associated Discussion Forum, Assignment
Drop Box or Quiz the following Friday night at midnight. Always be checking the Announcements section!
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Note: The course syllabus provides a general plan for the course, and deviations may become necessary.
V. Calendar and Readings List: (Please note this is a hypothetical structure for the course, except for
DUE DATES which are REAL. You are expected to complete assigned reading PRIOR to the class for
which they are assigned to keep up.)
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June 4 Intro – Syllabus – Book – Believe it or not, Start thinking of paper topics NOW!
SIGN AND RETURN THE LAST PAGE OF THIS SYLLABI. You will not be in the course until you
do, this and email it to me.
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June 7 –
[READING: Chapter 1]
June 11 BOOKS MUST BE PURCHASED! [READING: Chapter 2 and 3]
June 13 QUIZ 1 ON LINE by Fri at midnight
[READING: Chapter 2-3]
June 18
[READING: Chapter 4-5 ] **course withdrawal deadline
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June 20
PAPER TOPIC or CONTACT info for Volunteering due
[READING: Chapter 4-5]
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June 25
[READING: Chapter 6-7]
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June 27 QUIZ 2 ON LINE by Fri at midnight
[READING: Chapter 6-7 ]
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July 2
[READING: Chapter 8-9]
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July 4
LIT REVIEW DUE
[READING: Chapter 8-9]
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July 9
[READING: Chapter 10-11]
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July 11
[READING: Chapter 10-11]
QUIZ 3 ON LINE by Fri at midnight
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July 16
[READING: Chapter 12-13]
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July 18
OUTLINE DUE
[READING: Chapter 12-13]
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July 23
[READING: Chapter 14 ]
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July 25
REVIEW for Final Quiz
[READING: Chapter 14 ] FINAL ON LINE by Fri at midnight
PAPER or Volunteer Hours DUE. No exceptions No LATES. Period
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Term Paper Project
I. Expectations for the Paper
This is a research paper. I expect the paper to be between 8 and 10 pages in length with between 5 and 7
“peer-reviewed” journal article or book resources in a bibliography that does NOT count towards the
number of pages.
II. Paper Topics
Choose a topic which interests you, is related to the course, and is worth spending your time on. It will have
academic and public value; ie your feelings on Justin Bieber will not cut it.
III. Constructing the Paper
Once you have a topic and have begun to read the relevant literature, begin considering how you want to
construct the paper. Keep these points in mind:
1. What is your thesis?
2. How many points do you want to make?
3. In what order are you going to present these points?
4. Do your points follow a reasoned pattern?
5. Does your conclusion tie the paper together (from thesis to final point)?
IV. Body of the Paper
The paper should be comprised of the following components:
1. Introduction:
What is your research question? What is your hypothesis? (What did you expect to find) What is your
theoretical orientation? (How would a functional/conflict perspective best explain your expected outcomes
and research question?)
2. Literature Review:
This is where you introduce your points and begin to lay the groundwork for illustrating them in the
discussion section of your paper. What have previous authors said about this topic? What were their
hypotheses and how did their findings support or reshape their theory? Where are the major gaps in the
literature, and how does your paper fit into the discussion (novel idea, supportive of one perspective)?
3. Discussion:
Develop your points here. What did you find, without making any conclusions.
4. Conclusions:
Was your hypothesis correct? How did your findings support your hypothesis? How did your findings
support your theoretical perspective?
5. Bibliography, Notes
This page does not count towards a total pages. This is where you give the full bibliographic reference for
the books and articles you read.
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Grading Rubric for the Final Paper
Title:
Excellent
This rubric is designed to make clear the grading process for written
communication by informing you, the writer, what key elements are
expected by the university in a “good” piece of written work.
Your written work will be evaluated by the criteria below in order to give
you specific feedback to help guide your development as a writer.
Your writing will not be graded point by point by these items; it will be
graded for its overall quality.
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2.8
Presentation (25 points)
1. Proper Format (1 inch margins, double-spaced, at least 8pg)
2. Free of Spelling Errors
3. Grammatically Correct
Content (30 points)
4. Information and evidence are accurate, appropriate, and
integrated effectively.
5. Claims and ideas are supported with citations from the article
and text.
Thinking (35 points)
6. Analysis/synthesis/evaluation/interpretation are effective and
consistent.
7. Independent thinking is evident.
8. Creativity/originality is evident.
Assignment Specific Criteria (10 point)
9. Responds to all aspects of the assignment.
Overall Evaluation

Excellent (90+)
Grade _100.0 (A)_
Presentation
Content
Thinking
Assignment
Total

Above Average
(80-89.9)

Average (7079.9)
25
30
35
10
100
Comments
Notes:
9

Not Acceptable
Date:
Competent
Author:
Below Average
(60-69.9)
2.4
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Personal Information
Name:
Address:
Home Phone Number:
Work Phone Number:
Last 4 of Social Security Number or student number:
Email Address:
Work Schedule:
Are there any issues that might affect your class performance?
Why did you pick this course?
Relevant Personal Information:
Fill out the info. Copy it- INCLUDING the HONESTY statement below. Open an email msg to me.
Paste the info. Send me the email in BB.
By signing this paper, I agree to the syllabus as a course contract and agree to abide by the course as
outlined within, including Dr. Turley’s policies:
_________________________________________________ date: ______________
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Definitions, Violations and Consequences of Academic Honesty
Courses Offered by
Dr. Alan C. Turley
Department of Sociology
I have read Texas A&M Central Texas’ statement on Academic Honesty on page 16 of the TAMU-CT
Student Handbook (http://www.ct.tamus.edu/departments/student-affairs/pdfs/Texas_A&M_University_Central_Texas_STUDENT_HANDBOOK_.pdf). I have also read over the definitions and examples of
Plagiarism at “Purdue University’s Online Writing Lab” web-site
(http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/589/01/). I am aware that if I should violate Texas A&M’s
Academic Honesty policy in Dr. Turley’s course, he will 1) fail me for the assignment and/or the course,
and 2) initiate an Academic Dishonesty action against me. I know I have the right to appeal Dr. Turley’s
action against me with the Vice Provost.
Course: Sociology 301—FAMILY
Term: SUMMER 2013
Print Name
Student ID
Sign Name
Date
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