ASSIGNMENTS

Each of you starts with an “A” (500 points) and you move down from there.  The buffer for each letter grade is 15 points.  Once you go below the threshold for any given grade, there is NO way to move back up. Every semester, I dream that everyone will keep their “A”.  That has never been the case; my grade distribution is always a normal one.  Your continued enrollment means that you understand and accept this grading policy.

 A=450-500         B=400-449         C=350-399         D=300-349          F=0-299

ENGAGE THE MATERIAL! Class Attendance: As much of the learning taking place in this class will happen during the two and a half hours we have together each week, I take attendance very seriously.  We will, therefore, take roll in each class session within the first five minutes of class.  Each of you is allowed two (2) absences this semester.  No other absences—whatever the reason, excuse, or emergency—will be accepted.  If you miss class beyond those two absences, your grade in the class will drop 100 points automatically for each additional absence.

EXPLAIN THE MATERIAL! Paidiea Memos and Class Discussion (100 points): Every day, two or more students will be given formal responsibility for leading part of the seminar discussion.  During these occasions, those students will prepare short memos/abstracts on a reading.  The memos should be no less than one page in length, formatted with 1 inch margins and single-spaced with a 12 point Times font.  Pretty much, what I want you to do is summarize the reading and highlight the major issues raised by the reading.  Sum up the reading’s argument, point out central issues and concepts in the text, present 2 key quotes, and offer two questions or critiques that can serve as points of discussion (see model HERE).  Your memo can be in detailed outline form.  I would like to post copies of the memo for your classmates, so a copy of your memo is due to me as an email attachment in “.doc” or “.rtf” format by noon of the day you are presenting.  If it appears that you may need to miss your session, it is expected that you will notify me no later than one hour prior to class time by telephone or e-mail.  This will allow me to adjust class materials if necessary.  Grades on these presentations will be assigned as 25% memo and 75% presentation.  You will be expected to present once this semester for a total of 100 points.  Presentation assignments can be found on the "paidiea memo" webpage.

EVALUATE THE MATERIAL! Article Reviews (200 points): In order to explore how researchers integrate theory and research, students will select two research papers to review.  Each two-page paper should be based on a different theory that is being studied in class, but not on the theory you will lead the main discussion on.  Students will be expected to find these articles through a literature search. The reviews will include a brief statement regarding the goals of the research paper, a  critique of the author’s discussion of the theory used, an explanation of how the theory is used to identify  variables for study, and a statement about the usefulness of the theory in the discussion of the findings.  These reviews should be no shorter than 2 pages, single-spaced with 1” margins and are due in class.  They will be accepted no later than the class session.  A photocopy of the article you are reviewing must be attached to it.  The first article review is due on February 15th and should be based on either Symbolic Interaction, Life Course, or Family Systems Theory.  The second article review is due on March 17th and should be based on either Conflict, Social Exchange, Ecological, or Feminist Theory.  See the printed syllabus for journal options.  An example of the article reviews can be found by clicking "HERE".

EXPLORE THE MATERIAL! Mini-Project (100 points): Mini-projects are designed to allow you to further explore topics of interest that will not be covered in detail in the class.  They are intended to allow you to explore your own interests while expanding your understanding of the sociological approach to the study of the family.  The possibilities are listed below.  You are to pick one of these to do.  They are due in class on April 5th.   Click on the mini-project you're interested in; instructions for each are included in a popup page. 

EMPLOY THE MATERIAL! Application Paper (100 points): With a group of three randomly assigned students, you will be responsible to write a 10-page examination of a movie family, being careful to use one of the theories as the analytical lens through which you do this examination.  This paper should be a thoughtful, creative, synthetic, well-written analysis of the family as seen through the eyes of scholars who are familiar with theory and research in the sociology of families and households.  During the last three days of class and during the scheduled final period, each team will have about 20 minutes to present their analysis in an oral presentation.  Again, creativity is always appreciated.  Ninety percent of the grade will be based on the paper; the remaining 10% will be based on the oral presentation.  This paper should be no shorter than 10 pages, single-spaced with 1” margins and is due on the day your group presents.  Each student will also be evaluated by the other students in the group, an evaluation that will determine how the group grade is applied to the individual group members.  Our initial thoughts on the movie family paper can be found HERE.