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.
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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%
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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
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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
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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
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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.