Download - Sociology 1201 Sociology 1201 Instructor: Bruce Mork Welcome! Find your group (A-Y) on the class lists posted on both sides of the room. Then consult the.

Sociology 1201Sociology 1201

Sociology 1201Sociology 1201Instructor: Bruce MorkInstructor: Bruce Mork

Welcome!Welcome!Find your group (A-Y) on the class lists posted on both Find your group (A-Y) on the class lists posted on both sides of the room. Then consult the maps that are posted sides of the room. Then consult the maps that are posted around the classroom and sit in one of the six seats assigned around the classroom and sit in one of the six seats assigned to your group. Introduce yourself to your group members. to your group. Introduce yourself to your group members. We’ll have time in groups later in the period.We’ll have time in groups later in the period.


Introductions: my mother’s parents’ Introductions: my mother’s parents’ families in southern Minnesota families in southern Minnesota


My father’s parents and his siblings My father’s parents and his siblings


My family of orientation plus my My family of orientation plus my mother’s parentsmother’s parents


Introductions: my family and yoursIntroductions: my family and yours

My familyMy family Where do you see the Where do you see the

power of social forces power of social forces most obviously in most obviously in these photos? these photos?

What can I quickly What can I quickly learn about your learn about your families? families?


Syllabus Syllabus and and ScheduleSchedule Teaching assistants: Lindsey Nehring, Jessica Teaching assistants: Lindsey Nehring, Jessica

HeldHeld TextsTexts My expectations (including new policy on cell My expectations (including new policy on cell

phones and laptop computers)phones and laptop computers) Printing “handouts” (lecture notes)Printing “handouts” (lecture notes) http://http://www.d.umn.edu/egradebookwww.d.umn.edu/egradebook Schedule and reading assignmentsSchedule and reading assignments Videos: What if you miss them?Videos: What if you miss them? Questions?Questions?


My Expectations My Expectations I expect you to arrive on-time, to treat your fellow I expect you to arrive on-time, to treat your fellow

class members and me with respect, to have class members and me with respect, to have done the reading that is assigned for the day, to done the reading that is assigned for the day, to bring your questions and ideas about the bring your questions and ideas about the material we are covering, to make me aware of material we are covering, to make me aware of any problems you are having with course any problems you are having with course materials. In return, I pledge to be prepared and materials. In return, I pledge to be prepared and organized, to communicate clearly my organized, to communicate clearly my expectations of you, to evaluate your work expectations of you, to evaluate your work promptly, to listen to your concerns, to respect promptly, to listen to your concerns, to respect your point of view, and to treat you as a person your point of view, and to treat you as a person of value. of value.


Cell Phones and PagersCell Phones and Pagers

All cell phones and pagers MUST be on turned off All cell phones and pagers MUST be on turned off during class meetings. Cell phone ringing and during class meetings. Cell phone ringing and pager buzzing is VERY disruptive during pager buzzing is VERY disruptive during discussions, and I consider it disrespectful of discussions, and I consider it disrespectful of class members as well as myself. Text class members as well as myself. Text messaging can also be distracting to those who messaging can also be distracting to those who sit near you and in some circumstances, it opens sit near you and in some circumstances, it opens up the possibility of cheating. If you are up the possibility of cheating. If you are expecting an important message by phone, let expecting an important message by phone, let me know before class that you have set your me know before class that you have set your phone on vibrate, so I will know why you are phone on vibrate, so I will know why you are stepping out of the classroom if a call comes stepping out of the classroom if a call comes through. through.


Course description (from syllabus) Course description (from syllabus)

1.1. This course will examine the ways in which American This course will examine the ways in which American family patterns have been shaped by larger social family patterns have been shaped by larger social forces, particularly forces related to inequality, conflict, forces, particularly forces related to inequality, conflict, and social change.and social change.

2.2. We will look closely at the interrelations between the We will look closely at the interrelations between the family and other social institutions, including schools, family and other social institutions, including schools, religious institutions, businesses, and government. religious institutions, businesses, and government.

3.3. Learning how families are shaped by race and Learning how families are shaped by race and ethnicity, class, gender, and sexuality should provide ethnicity, class, gender, and sexuality should provide new perspectives on your own family. But this is not new perspectives on your own family. But this is not primarily a family improvement course, and I want to primarily a family improvement course, and I want to be clear about that from the beginning. be clear about that from the beginning.


Course objectives (from syllabus)Course objectives (from syllabus)

1.To understand the ways in which social 1.To understand the ways in which social inequality affects families inequality affects families

2. To understand how American society's cultural 2. To understand how American society's cultural norms about gender, sexuality, marriage, and norms about gender, sexuality, marriage, and parenting affect family life. parenting affect family life.

3. To understand how the family as an institution 3. To understand how the family as an institution intersects with the other major institutions in intersects with the other major institutions in American society, including politics, the American society, including politics, the economy, religion, and the education system. . economy, religion, and the education system. .

4. To identify the major trends and movements for 4. To identify the major trends and movements for change that may modify American families, as change that may modify American families, as well as the impact of public policy. well as the impact of public policy.


GroupsGroups

Facilitator, recorder, reporterFacilitator, recorder, reporterProject record sheetProject record sheetWorksheet--Your Worksheet--Your family of orientationfamily of orientation: 1. : 1.

On your own; 2. In groups (how much On your own; 2. In groups (how much time?)time?)


Sociological approaches to familySociological approaches to family

The scientific method: theory and researchThe scientific method: theory and researchObjectivity and the community of scholarsObjectivity and the community of scholarsScience: the process of creating (and Science: the process of creating (and

modifying) theories that are tested through modifying) theories that are tested through systematic research. E.g. what are the systematic research. E.g. what are the consequences of divorce for children? (not consequences of divorce for children? (not primarily a matter of opinion or political primarily a matter of opinion or political views)views)


Research methodsResearch methods

Experiment: NOT FEASIBLE OR Experiment: NOT FEASIBLE OR ETHICALETHICAL

Quantitative research methods: censuses, Quantitative research methods: censuses, surveys and samples, government surveys and samples, government statisticsstatistics

Qualitative research methods: field study, Qualitative research methods: field study, in-depth interviewsin-depth interviews

Cross cultural and longitudinal studiesCross cultural and longitudinal studies


Thursday’s reading assignmentThursday’s reading assignment

Edin and Kefalas, Edin and Kefalas, Promises I Can KeepPromises I Can Keep (E&K),"Introduction" (E&K),"Introduction"


Video: “Legacy,” part IVideo: “Legacy,” part I

Notice that video worksheets have two Notice that video worksheets have two sides, the first an individual worksheet sides, the first an individual worksheet where you take notes during a movie, the where you take notes during a movie, the second a group worksheet with questions second a group worksheet with questions for discussion afterwards. for discussion afterwards.

When a video is spread over two class When a video is spread over two class periods, you will only get full credit for periods, you will only get full credit for attending both days. attending both days.