Course Syllabus

Overview

SOC 311 will help students understand how social forces influence American family life and their own family experiences. Students will learn about the diversity of family arrangements in American society, and current/historical trends in romantic relationships, marriage, and childbearing. 

Requirements

Prerequisites

No prerequisites. 

Required Resources

Most of the materials necessary to successfully complete the course are available online. However, you need to purchase the following textbook for this class. The textbook is essential to your success in the class and many activities are based around the reading. This book is not technically a "textbook" and is, therefore, relatively inexpensive. If you look around for the least expensive option you can find, be sure you get the correct version by verifying the ISBN number below.

The course materials are available in the Course Materials List.

Compare prices for your textbooks through the University Store Price Comparison site. They will show you all of the options from the University Store plus several online options to help you find the best price.

Resource Title/Description
(books, software, etc.)
Author/Provider Ed./Vol. 13-Digit ISBN
The Marriage-Go-Round: The State of Marriage and the Family in America Today Cherlin, Andrew J N/A 978-0307386380

Structure

Course Outcomes (CO)

  1. Discover trends and misconceptions about intimate relationships and family life.
  2. Comprehend causes of trends in intimate relationships and family life in the US.
  3. Analyze your own family/relationship using the sociological perspective.
  4. Empathize with relationships & families of all types.

Major Assignments

The table below is meant to help you see the relevance of each major assignment as it pertains to the course outcomes (CO).

Major Assignment Description CO#
Family Research Project

You will have the opportunity to choose one family project among two existing options. The two projects are Family Change and Pathways to Marriage.

You will gather research about your own family or relationship (or sometimes include other relationships). The project will be submitted in two portions, the data (forms) that you collect, and a 10–20 page paper that includes your sociological analysis of the data. This project takes place in W02–W09. You will be working on a section of the paper each week and compile your findings in a final submission (incorporating instructor feedback) in W09.

#3
Midterm Application Exam You will write a 3–4 page essay on one of three questions about the U.S. future of either cohabitation, marriage, or childbearing. This will allow you to assimilate the readings, discussions and reflections you have participated in by writing a brief persuasive essay. #2
Qualitative Interview Project

You will select an individual to interview who belongs to a family structure different from your own. It is an opportunity for you to learn from and empathize with people who have had family experiences you might not know much about.

You will create an interview guide, a series of potential interview questions, and submit these questions for feedback and professor approval before conducting your interview (W10). After you have interviewed a person (during W11 or W12, using your approved questions), you will submit a conceptual summary of the interview you conducted (also during Week 12).

#4
Research a Subtopic

During W11 you will complete a specific step-by-step, library-based research assignment. Find and summarize research articles that answer your question. 

Note: This is not an extensive research paper; it is a guided assignment designed to help you analyze family-related scientific articles about the family.

#1
Final Application Exam

You will write a second 3–4 page essay on one of two prompts about the U.S. family-related social trends of adults living alone, or women graduating from university at increasing rates. This will allow you to assimilate the readings, discussions and reflections you have participated in throughout the semester by writing a brief persuasive essay.

This second essay should demonstrate the skills you have acquired throughout the semester. 

#2

Weekly Patterns

The table below displays typical weekly activities, due dates, and activity descriptions.

Due Date* Learning Model Activity Title Description
Midweek

Ponder

Learning Model Principles:

  • Exercise faith as a principle of power.
  • Act for themselves and accept responsibility for learning and teaching.
Assignment: Reading Comprehension

Each week, students will carefully complete the readings, identify their main theses, summarize the readings, and answer a few related questions.

This assignment must be completed before participating in the Discussion for the week.

Midweek

Teach One Another

Learning Model Principles:

  • Understand that true teaching is done by and with the Spirit of the Holy Ghost.
  • Love, serve, and teach one another.
Discussion: Learn Together The class will discuss questions pertaining to the readings each week. These are group discussions and must be completed before submitting the Reflection assignment. 
End of Week

Ponder/Prove

Learning Model Principles:

  • Lay hold upon the word of God as found in the holy scriptures and in the words of the prophets in all disciplines.
  • Act for themselves and accept responsibility for learning and teaching.
Reflection

Students prove their learning by using the week's content to briefly answer reflective questions.

*Set your time zone within user preferences so the dates and times for course activities will display correctly for your time zone.

Expectations

In an online course, regular and sustained attention to the course is critical. You will not be successful if you try to cram all your learning into short, intensive bursts of study. Instead, set a schedule at the beginning that will allow you to move through the week, completing all activities on time. Be attentive to the reading assignments, course activities, and deadlines. 

Even though this course is online, it is not an independent study course. In fact, discussion with classmates is a key component of this course. You will be expected to form opinions that can be supported with textual evidence. Let your classmates help you understand the course content and learn to think critically about it.

In order to do well, you should expect to spend 3–4 hours weekly for every credit earned. Therefore, you will need to be able to commit 9–12 hours each week to this course. If you are unable to commit to the time demands this semester, please consider taking the class some other time when you can devote the necessary time to completing the workload.

Workload

Each week has two main due dates, midweek and end-of-week. Please refer to the calendar to understand due dates.

By midweek, you will need to complete the following assignments:

  • Read prep materials
  • Reading Comprehension
  • Learn Together Discussion initial post

By end-of-week, you will need to complete the following assignments:

  • Learn Together Discussion response posts
  • Reflection
  • Family Research Project (W02–W09)
  • Midterm Application Exam paper (W08)
  • Interview Project (W10–W12)
  • Research a Subtopic (W11)
  • Final Application Exam paper (W13)

It is important to be prepared both intellectually and emotionally each week. As you interact with others in various assignments, please remember to be kind, considerate, and respectful of differing viewpoints. You can differ in opinions (sometimes the best learning comes when others challenge your thinking), but still be civil. Any violation of basic common courtesy—including interaction with the instructor—will negatively impact your grade.

Read the following short article as a reminder of the promises and warnings Elder Bednar addressed concerning learning and teaching: Repetition Important in Teaching and Learning, Elder Bednar Says.

Group Work

Students will work together in groups for the weekly Learn Together Discussions. Use this opportunity to hear and learn from others' perspectives.

Late Work

As a sign of professionalism and respect, you should complete your work on time. Assignments are due on the day indicated. Each week opens early in order to allow students some flexibility in determining their schedule. Work that is late hampers not only your own learning, but also your classmates' ability to fully participate in the course. Late work will be accepted only at your instructor's discretion. (You are more likely to be granted an extension if you do not place your instructor in an awkward situation by asking for special accommodations after the fact.) If you feel your situation warrants personal consideration, inform your instructor before the assignment is due so that he/she has time to work with you. Any late work that is accepted is subject to a penalty as determined by your instructor.

Retries

Retries for assignments are not allowed in the course. 

Extra Credit

There is no extra credit. 

Teaching Assistant (TA) Role

TAs are in this course to assist the instructor with grading certain assignments in order to provide timely and helpful feedback.

Grading Scale

Letter Grade Percent
A 100% – 93%
A- 92% – 90%
B+ 89% – 87%
B 86% – 83%
B- 82% – 80%
C+ 79% – 77%
C 76% – 73%
C- 72% – 70%
D+ 69% – 67%
D 66% – 63%
D- 62% – 60%
F 59% and lower

University Policies

Students with Disabilities

Brigham Young University-Idaho is committed to providing a working and learning atmosphere that accommodates qualified persons with disabilities. If you have a disability and require accommodations, please contact the Disability Services Office at (208) 496-9210 or visit their website and follow the Steps for Receiving Accommodations. Reasonable academic accommodations are reviewed for all students who have qualified documented disabilities. Services are coordinated with students and instructors by the Disability Services Office.

This course may require synchronous meetings. If you are currently registered with the Disability Services Office and need an interpreter or transcriber for these meetings, please contact the deaf and hard of hearing coordinator at (208) 496-9219.

Other University Policies

Student Honor and Other Policies

Please read through the document called University Policies. It gives important information about the following topics:

  • Student Honor
    • Academic Honesty
    • Student Conduct
      • Sexual Harassment
  • Student with Disabilities
  • Complaints and Grievances
  • Copyright Notice

Go to the Student Resources module to review further resources and information.

Support

If you need assistance, visit the I-Learn Help tab located on the left-hand side of your screen to contact the appropriate support center.

Course Summary:

Date Details Due