Course Syllabus

Marriage and the Family in the U.S.

SOCY 3016, Section 003

Fall, 2001

 

 

Instructor:            Katherine A. Lineberger, MA, MSS

Phone: (303) 492-6637, leave message

Mailbox:            Department of Sociology, Ketchum, Room 217

Email:             lineberk@sobek.colorado.edu

If you need to send an attachment, send it to katherinelineberger@hotmail.com

Office Hours:            Fridays, from 1:30 to 2:45 in Ketchum 35

 

Course Objective:            To develop a sociological eye (I) through a comprehensive study of issues related to marriage and the family in the U.S.

 

Required Texts:

 

Hutter, Mark            The Family Experience: A Reader in Cultural Diversity (3rd ed.).

2000                                Allyn & Bacon: Massachusetts.

 

Coontz, Stephanie            The Way We Really Are: Coming to Terms with America’s

1997                                Changing Families.  Basic Books: New York.

 

Additional readings are kept on reserve in the Department of Sociology or will be passed out in class.  A reading list and timeline will be passed out the first week of class.

 

Course Requirements:

 

Exams:  There will be three exams, each a combination of multiple choice, true/false, and short essay.  They will cover the material from readings and lectures and ARE NOT CUMULATIVE (meaning, they will cover only that information presented for that segment of the course).  Exams are worth 100 points each and will occur on October 12, November 16, and December 19, 2001. 

 

Response Papers:            Students are required to write 2 response papers (please see attachment).  Response papers are worth 100 points each and are due October 3, 2001 and November 21, 2001.

 

Journal:            Students are required to keep a journal through the duration of the course (please see attachment).  Journals must have a minimum of 16 entries and are worth 100 points of your final grade.  Journals are due December 3, 2001.

 

Family Tree:            Students are required to research the STORY of their family tree (please see attachment).  Family trees are worth 100 points of the final grade and will be presented on December 10, 12, 14, 17, 2001.  A sign-up sheet will be provided the first week of class.

 

Attendance and Participation:            The readings are only a teensy weensy part of the information presented in the course.  I tend to be a more process-oriented teacher, so it would benefit you to attend and participate in all classes.  I will pass around an attendance sheet each class.  There are no ‘excused’ absences. You are fully responsible for any material you miss if you are absent.  Attendance and participation are worth 100 points of the final grade.

 

Some Important Policies:

 

1.      I want to reiterate that there are no excused absences. You don’t need to gain my permission or to explain yourself in any way.  Please don’t give me notes, send me mail, call me, etc.   Just be absent!  Shit happens!  I know that!  And understand that your absence will result in fewer points toward your final grade for the course.

2.      I don’t offer extra credit.  If I did, I would have to offer it to everyone and this is just too time prohibitive for me.

3.      If you must miss an exam, you may make it up by taking an essay exam at another arranged time (PSST! THIS OPTION SHOULD TERRIFY YOU).  However, no one will be allowed to take the final exam after December 19, 2001 at the specified time.

4.      I do not accept late work.  If you cannot turn in an assignment on the specified date, pay a courier, prevail upon a friend or family member, etc.  I have a very strict schedule to adhere to, which means I depend on you to keep to your own time responsibilities.  Also, if I don’t keep all student produced paper products together, they tend to disappear (Where? I don’t know.  It just happens every time I’ve allowed late stuff.).

5.       You are responsible for everything in this syllabus.  Guard it with your life!  Frame it and put it on your wall for the semester!  This is very important!  I will go over it thoroughly on the first week of class.  After that, I’m over it!  If you have any questions that are unanswered by this syllabus, please feel free to ask them.

6.      If you have any problems with the course or with school or life in general, please do not hesitate to talk to me about them.  I am resourceful and friendly and it’s very important to me that you have an enriching educational experience.

 

Persons with Disabilities:  If you are a person with a disability (even one you can’t see), please talk with me in the first two weeks of class.  I am more than happy to accommodate, make changes or adjustments.  CU Boulder has a Disability Services Office in Willard 322 (phone: 303-492-8671).  I strive to be as accessible as possible on all levels.

 

Parents:            Long before Hillary Clinton wrote her book, I knew it takes a village to raise a child.  I envision a world in which the work and school places are family friendly.  Parenting is difficult and expensive.  Therefore, if you have children and find it difficult to afford or obtain childcare, bring your kids (and something for them to do) to class.

 

Important Dates:

 

September 3, 2001                Labor Day-no class

October 3, 2001                First Response Paper Due

October 4-5, 2001                Fall Break-no class

October 12, 2001                Exam 1

November 16, 2001                Exam 2

November 21, 2001                Second Response Paper Due

November 22-23, 2001            Thanksgiving Break-no class

December 3, 2001                Journals Due

December 10, 12, 14, 17, 2001    Family Tree Presentations

December 19, 2001 (7:30-10:00 am)            Final Exam

 

Grading:            Exams (3 X 100 points each)                            = 300 points

Response Papers (2 x 100 points each)             = 200 points

                        Journal                                                               = 100 points

                        Family Tree                                                     = 100 points

                        Attendance & Participation                             = 100 points

                        Total Points                                                  = 800

 

            Therefore…               720-800 pts.                         = A-, A, A+

                                                640-719 pts.                        = B-, B, B+

                                                560-639 pts.                        = C-, C, C+

                                                480-559 pts.                        = D-, D, D+

 

 

 

J