photo by Janny van Houwelingen

Sociology 2270 (Families) Online

Abbreviated course outline

Dr. Linda Cohen, Ph.D. Sociology

Social change is inevitable, but do families change as well? Is family still important in our daily lives? With so many changes in family life and process, what do we now consider family? Perhaps ‘family’ itself is in need of redefinition? How do we visualize intimacy, marriage, parenting and childhood, aging, work? Sociology 2270: Families Online will help you answer some of these questions by providing a multi-faceted introduction to the social and cultural construction of family.

Required texts and course materials

  • Patrizia Albanese, ED. (2023). Canadian Families Today: New Perspectives, 5th ed. Oxford University Press. (available through the MUN bookstore)

  • 5th edition Albanese
  • Readings (journal articles, excerpts from ethnographies) and online video are listed in the Schedule and at the beginning of each unit. Most will be online or accessible through the Queen Elizabeth II library. They are usually available in PDF format; you will need Adobe Reader to view PDF files. Students must ensure that they have a working library card and pin number for off campus access to the library catalogue.

  • Online notes, activities and study aids are included in the course content.

Study directives

This course is delivered through a Brightspace website. The "course content" is divided into 12 units spread over the 13 week semester. Each unit includes the assigned readings for the week, study aids and directions. Please note, however, that you must buy the text.

The text chapters are supplemented by an extensive collection of sociological articles and excerpts from ethnographies, available online as links to journal articles or as reprints (copyright approved) and accessed through the course content (online). Specific reading assignments for each week are listed in the reading schedule and at the beginning of each unit. I send out two memos during the term that will contain any revised directions but we also communicate daily on the Brightspace/ D2L site line during working days.

Evaluation *

Weekly discussions / activities : 35%
Midterm examination: 30%
Final examination: 35%

This evaluation may change at the beginning of the semester.

35% of the course grade is completed through a set of weekly activities. You must have reliable access to the Internet and you must contribute an answer in at least 7 of the 13 weeks of the semester.

Examples of these activities include reflective discussions on video supplements for the course material or skills-building exercises using the assigned readings. Specific directions for each one will be posted in the course content and the relevant “discussion” site. In general, incorporate ideas from the course readings into your answers whenever you can, along with anything else you feel is relevant (e.g., from your observations or reading elsewhere). Each activity is described in the “Discussions” section of the course, along with the weekly deadlines. Your responses and contributions must be submitted in the designated Discussion area, by the weekly deadline .

The exams

The midterm exam includes all of the material up to and including Unit 6. The final exam will only test from Unit 8 to the end of the course. CITL will notify you of when these are to be written through your Memorial Self Service.

The exact format of the exam will be posted on the Brightspace site after the 4th week of classes. You will receive feedback on a memo that accompanies your graded midterm exam. Exams are not returned to students.

Communication

Communication is especially important for online students so you can contact me in a number of ways. I am available for office consultation during a specific time each week and you will be given the time, day, and my phone number by CITL at the beginning of the term. I don't mind getting phone calls at other times, so don't hesitate to call when you have to. You can also reach me by email and online during working days.

You have daily access to online communications in the course website. In addition to the course content, this site is used for the online activities option (see above), course announcements and to go over content - related problems that come up throughout the term. Students can also get access to their midterm grades here.

There will be at least 3 online rooms sessions (optional attendance): The first is at the beginning of term, the second before the midterm exam and the third before the final exam. Again, we are using the Brightspace site for a myriad of different types of communication -- get on that course site early and often!

A pdf of the compiled statistics from the CEQs for this course is available here. Feel free to email me (Linda Cohen) with any questions you have. Other addresses:





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©Linda Cohen, 2023 (since 2003)