COURSE SYLLABUS:
COURTSHIP, MARRIAGE and DIVORCE: FAMILY and INTERPERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS                                                  
                                                    SOCIOLOGY-32-52165                  

 Reedley Community College, Fall, 2022
 Instructor:  Rebeca Rangel   M.A.			              
 SOCIOLOGY-32-52165. 08/08-12/09/22
 Portable classroom; ROOM 5: Tuesday-Thursday, 11:00-12:15 pm
Email: rebeca.rangel@scccd.edu

I. Course Description;
	Sociology 32 is the introduction to the principles of marriage, family and relationships, including: love, courtship, mate selection, sexuality, family planning, pregnancy and childbirth, sexually transmitted diseases, family conflict, conflict resolution, communication skills, divorced families, step-families, aging and widowhood.

II. Course Objectives
1.	To participate intelligently and respectfully during class discussion.
2.	 Illustrate ‘evidence of understanding.’  During; Discussion Board Discussions, the goal is to incorporate the various concepts we are studying as they relate to your comprehension of these principles, from one of the following primary Sociological perspectives: Conflict and Symbolic Interaction, Exchange, Modernity and Life Course, Perspectives.
3.	Demonstrate knowledge of the dynamics of interpersonal relationships. 
4.	Demonstrate awareness of psychological factors and cultural values that affect mate selection and marriage forms.
5.	Identify and evaluate functional and dysfunctional communication forms.
6.	Demonstrate conflict-resolution skills appropriate for the family setting.
7.	Identify basic issues faced by divorcing couples and their child(ren).
8.	 To demonstrate critical thinking of the concepts we are studying as they relate to our everyday lives.
9.	Evaluate alternatives faced by divorcing couples and their child(ren).

Communication Policy
 Announcements will be posted in Canvas on a regular basis. They will appear when you log on, in Canvas Inbox or your campus email. It is your responsibility to check these two regularly as I will be sending you important information about upcoming course assignments.
When you contact me by email (rebeca.rangel@scccd.edu), when submitting messages, please include the following in the subject box: Identify which course you are in, example; SOC-32, # 52165. Be sure to check your messages frequently. Please allow 24 to 48-hour turnaround time for emails, if you do not hear from me, that means I did not receive your email, please resend your message. 
If you are not sure about taking this course, the following link is worth a visit; www.thoughtco.com/should-i-drop-a-class=793148

III. Course Organization

The course objectives will be reached through a program of: directed reading, writing, film, exams and discussion board discussions, see below;

1.	Required Text: The Family, Diversity, Inequality, & Social Change, by Philip Cohen, Publisher, Norton, Third Edition; ISBN: 978-0-393-42202-4.
2.	Reading Assignments: It is important to purchase and read the Cohen textbook. It will be impossible to pass course without reading. Weekly reading assignments listed within syllabus.
3.	Research Assignment; 800 words. Suggested Topics for Research Assignment, see VIII. Instructor approval of topic, required.
Research paper topic due; first week;  Thursday; 08/11/22. 
Seventh week; research paper due; Thursday; 09/22. 
Instructor’s approval of topic, required.
4.	Three exams. see:  VII. READING & EXAM SCHEDULE 
5.	Eighteen class meetings; Attendance and participation are required.
6.	Fourteen films; to be reflected within class discussions along with assigned reading.  
7.	Reading Assignments: Scheduled weekly are included within syllabus.
 Lecture/classroom discussion, Are designed to supplement textbook reading assignments.
My goal is to discuss issues and experiences as they relate to textbook assignments, in a thoughtful and intelligent manner.  Plan on reading Cohen Textbook, otherwise, it will be difficult to participate in discussions or earn a passing grade.

IV. Course Requirements 

1.	Textbook; Philip Cohen; The Family, Diversity, Inequality, and Social Change, 2021. 
Third Edition. Norton & Company;
a.	Reading Assignments: A detailed weekly reading assignment is listed within syllabus.
Examinations: Three exams covering assigned readings. It is your responsibility to prepare for exams and take them when they are scheduled.  There are no make-up exams.  
2.	Written Assignment: 
a.	Research topic due; first week Wednesday, 08/11, (instructor’s  approval of topic required). Written Assignment must be at least, 800, words with a title and resource page. For suggested topics go to VIII.
b.	 Research assignment is to be uploaded onto Assignments tab within Canvas. 
3.	Research assignment due week, Seven ; Friday; 09/22; 8am.
4.	Late Assignments: Students are responsible for turning assignments in on time.  If an emergency prevents you from turning assignment in on time, you must notify me in advance of due date . Late assignments will automatically be marked down 50%.   
5.	 Late work is not accepted. Technical difficulties will not be considered an exception for work not being submitted on time. Please do not wait until the last minute to complete your assignments- in online work technical difficulties are a likelihood and it is the student's responsibility to plan in advance for these potential problems. Should you encounter an issue submitting your Research Assignment via Canvas you may email the completed file before the deadline as proof your work was completed on time. The actual file must be included in the email.
6.	Writing Standards: It is assumed students can perform professionally in preparing work required for this class and will submit all assignments by due date.  Assignments are to be spell-checked, grammar-checked and follow APA format requirements 
(i.e. citing references, etc.) as appropriate for the assignment.  APA requirements are free & available on the internet and library.

V. Attendance/Participation and Drop Policy

If you miss first week’s assignments you will be dropped.
1.  Students are expected to participate intelligently and respectfully during class discussion.
2.  A percentage of your grade will be based on attendance and participation. 
Attendance will be taken every class meeting and is required. There is learning that is not directly evaluated and missed if you are not in class. In other words, Attendance and participation are necessary in order to success in this course. 
3. My policy is to drop anyone who misses the equivalent of one week of classes.
4. Being tardy is disruptive to class, I will count two tardies as one absence. It is ultimately your responsibility to withdraw from the course. 
5. If you miss a class, you are responsible for obtaining the information conveyed in missed class.
6. If you have any special needs, please inform me as soon as possible so that I may accommodate you. The Disabled Students Program and Services,
 DSPS 638-0332, 8:00am-5:00pm , Monday through Friday or  Counseling Services, 559-638-0337.
7.  Drop Policy;
            a. A student may be  dropped if; 
- First week’s three assignments are not completed
      -  no contact is made with instructor the first week of class
      - It is YOUR responsibility to drop this course if you choose. You must drop using the proper procedures on Web Advisor or through College Admissions and Records Office. 
You must do this before the official drop date. 
-	If you choose to stop completing assignments then make sure that you complete an official drop notice, otherwise you will end up with an “F” grade for this course.

VI. Grading: All grading based on number of points earned out of total possible (490)   

I.  Written Research Assignment                           150

II. Attendance & Class Participation:                     180                                                           
                                                                                    
III.  Exam 1   chapters 1-4                                         20 
 
IV. Exam 2   chapters 5-8                                         40 

V. Exam 3    chapters 9-13  Final                           100                                                                                     _______________________________________________________
Total possible                                        490   points                          

*The total points are subject to change

VII. READING & EXAM SCHEDULE (subject to change) 
       
                   TOPIC                     READING                                                                                                                       DATE

 WK 1,           Review Syllabus                                                                                                   8/9 &  8/11                                              
                                                    3 Assignments due; 08/11/22;                               	
a.	 Select Research Assignment topic due.
b.	list five critical points to remember within syllabus
c.	Select one of the three primary Sociological theories; Structural Functional, Symbolic Interaction and Conflict and one concept from CH 1 and view Film; The Boy who harnessed the Wind, true story, Netflix
________________________________________________________________________________________________
WK  2 ,  Ch 1,  Sociology of the Family, Films; Growing up in America,ages; 7,14 & 21.   8/16  &  8/18                                                       

Films; Growing up in America, ages; 7,14 and 21. 
Age 7;  Meryl Streep - Age 7 in America (1991) - YouTube,  Age; 14;  HDev_Age14_Part1_30m07s       
Age 21; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DdjggwDo-Ds                                                                 

WK3,Ch2,The Family in History,Films;Dallas BuyersClub,truestory,8/23& 8/25                                                                                                                                          _________________________________________________________________________________                                                                                                                                                                                  
WK 4,  Ch  3, Race, Ethnicity & Immigration.Film;  Minimalism, A Documentary about  the important things.                                                                                                                                        8/30  & 9/01  
                                                                                                                                                                                                                              WK 5,    Ch 4,  Families & Social Class/ Review Wk 2 films                                           9/06  &  9/08                                                                                           
                                                     EXAM I 09/08, due 8am

WK 6,     Ch 5, Gender,  Netflix, Green Book, based on true story                          9/13  &  9/15
                                                                                                           
                                                            __________________________________________                
WK 7,	 Ch 6,  Sexuality. Coded Bias and The Great Hack, Netflix   (skip Ch7)	                   9/20  &  9/22
 
_ Research Assignment Due today  9/22_(submit online in Canvas within Assignments tab)
_________________________________________________________________________________________
			
WK  8,   Ch 7, Love and Romantic Relations One of Us, (the life of three Hesidic Jews)      9/27  &  9/29 	                             

WK  9 ,  Ch 8, Marriage & Cohabitation,  Film; Loving,  Based on true story           10/04   &  10/06
                                    EXAM #2  MIDTERM, 10/06_               

WK 10,  Ch 9, Families &  Children, Netflix, What the Health and                         10/11 &  10/13                                                             
When They see Us. Based on true story, both NetFlix

WK 11,  Ch  10,  Divorce & Blended Families;  Minimalism, A Documentary about  the important things.                                                                                                                            10/18  &  10/20                                                                                                             
____________________________________________________________________________________

WK 12,  Ch11, Work and Families, film; Dirty Money (payday loan industry),     10/25 & 10/27                                                                                                                                         

WK 13,  Ch 12,  Family Violence & Abuse. film; 14 Peaks, Nothing is Impossible, Netflix. Documentary.                                                                                                     11/01 & 11/03
WK 14,  CH 13, Future of the Family,  Films; Roma A drama in Spanish and Mixtec with Enqlish subtitles, from Oscar-winning director Alfonso Cuaron .                                                                                                                  11/08 & 11/10                                                                                                
 and ; Netflix; My Octopus Teacher,                                                                                                                                                                                                                                ___________________________________________________________________________________                            
WK 15,         Research Assignment presentations                                                                  11/15  &  11/17
WK 16         Research Assignment presentations   continued                                                   11/22 &  11/24
_________________________________________________________________________________________________                                                                      
                                               Thanksgiving Break                                                              11/24-26             
 WK 17,          Research  presentations continued                                                            11/29  & 12/01
_______________________________________________________________________________WK, 18 Research  presentations continued  Final EXAM     12/06-08                                          12/06-08                                                                                

VIII.  SUGGESTIONS for STUDENT SUCCESS;

1.	Be on time (or early) 
2.	If you stop attending class, drop the course.
3.	Keep the course syllabus. It has information you may find helpful.
4.	If you are late, please don't begin a conversation with someone who was paying attention before you interrupted the class with your late arrival. 
5.	When the paper is written beautifully but doesn't include what Professor (or the text) is teaching, it is naturally assumed that it was taken from the Internet.
6.	No, the instructor does not carry a stapler.
7.	Keep your e-mail messages short and to the point-state the class you’re in as well.
8.	If you have any questions about your grade, check before the end of the semester to avoid any surprises.
9.	  Within class, I expect mutual respect. This means no “chatting/talking” while I am lecturing or while classmates are talking.
10.	Feel free to share your opinion with classmates, WHEN you are given the floor. 
11.	 If you are late, please enter the classroom quietly.  If you must leave early let me know before class begins.  
12.	 Sleeping in class will not be tolerated.
13.	 While in class, cellphones are off.
14.	If you cannot control yourself in a classroom setting, please unenroll from this
course immediately. Violation of these “rules” may result in you being required to leave the class (if this behavior continues, you can lose your attendance points and or be suspended). 

          The college has a strict policy on cheating and plagiarism;
      I will enforce this policy to its fullest. I reserve the right to fail a student for cheating.

IX.    Suggested Topics for Research Assignment

1.	Mass media & expectations of: Family and conflict in the home.
2.	Why marriages succeed. 
3.	Why we do and do not marry. 
4.	Marriage and the at-risk youth.
5.	Marriage and children, why we do or do not have children.
6.	Changes in the family today.
7.	Women in nontraditional fields of employment and marriage
8.	 Marriage and the American Culture of violence
9.	 Marriage and education
10.	 Marriage and homelessness
11.	 Marriage and drug addiction 
12.	 Courtships in America, do they work?
13.	Communication and courtship violence
14.	Interpersonal relationships, how to make them work

     This is not a comprehensive list of topics please talk with me about other options.
X. Research Assignment:
.   Research Assignment  DUE; Friday;  09/22, 8am
     Late work not accepted, no exceptions. 
a.	Required; Submit Research topic for approval; Thursday; 08/11.
b.	 Research paper, 800 words, see above for Suggested Topic for Research Assignment.
c.	Writing Standards: It is assumed students can write at college level, which is required for this course. Research paper is to be; spell-checked, grammar-checked and follow APA format for reference page. APA requirements are free & available on the internet and library. 
d.	Required; Integrate at least one of the sociological theories; Conflict and Symbolic Interaction, Exchange, Modernity or Life Course.
e.	Be sure to conclude within your Research Assignment; recommendation/s, a fix, solution/s. In your paper, on the topic/issue you select Again, whatever your topic is, your conclusion needs to address recommendations for alleviating or ‘fixing’ the issue or condition within relationships, family, social structure issue you selected. In other words, propose solution/s within the conclusion of your Research Paper.
f.	Provide at least 12 resources on your reference page, person interviews are acceptable.
g.	Three Examples below;
1. Why do we marry? Define who you are referring to. Due to limitation of only 500 words, you must define your parameters. Example; teen marriage. Be specific. Teen marriage and the divorce rate in California. Other possibilities;
h.	 The marriage industry, why some people marry multiple times. After choosing topic, be sure to include, a. and f. above.

As you move forward with your research, keep in mind, two factors; you need to narrow your topic, Narrowing/focusing topic, allows you to be more thorough on topic you select.