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 maps that are posted around the classroom and sit in one of the six seats assigned to your group. Introduce yourself to your group members. We’ll have time in groups later in the period.

Sociology 1201 Introductions: my mother’s parents’ families in southern Minnesota

Sociology 1201 My father’s parents and his siblings

Sociology 1201 My family of orientation plus my mother’s parents

Sociology 1201 Introductions: my family and yours My family My family Where do you see the power of social forces most obviously in these photos? Where do you see the power of social forces most obviously in these photos? What can I quickly learn about your families? What can I quickly learn about your families?

Sociology 1201 Syllabus Syllabus and Schedule Schedule Syllabus Schedule Teaching assistants: Lindsey Nehring, Jessica Held Teaching assistants: Lindsey Nehring, Jessica Held Texts Texts My expectations (including new policy on cell phones and laptop computers) My expectations (including new policy on cell phones and laptop computers) Printing “handouts” (lecture notes) Printing “handouts” (lecture notes) Schedule and reading assignments Schedule and reading assignments Videos: What if you miss them? Videos: What if you miss them? Questions? Questions?

Sociology 1201 My Expectations I expect you to arrive on-time, to treat your fellow class members and me with respect, to have done the reading that is assigned for the day, to bring your questions and ideas about the material we are covering, to make me aware of any problems you are having with course materials. In return, I pledge to be prepared and organized, to communicate clearly my expectations of you, to evaluate your work promptly, to listen to your concerns, to respect your point of view, and to treat you as a person of value. I expect you to arrive on-time, to treat your fellow class members and me with respect, to have done the reading that is assigned for the day, to bring your questions and ideas about the material we are covering, to make me aware of any problems you are having with course materials. In return, I pledge to be prepared and organized, to communicate clearly my expectations of you, to evaluate your work promptly, to listen to your concerns, to respect your point of view, and to treat you as a person of value.

Sociology 1201 Cell Phones and Pagers All cell phones and pagers MUST be on turned off during class meetings. Cell phone ringing and pager buzzing is VERY disruptive during discussions, and I consider it disrespectful of class members as well as myself. Text messaging can also be distracting to those who sit near you and in some circumstances, it opens up the possibility of cheating. If you are expecting an important message by phone, let me know before class that you have set your phone on vibrate, so I will know why you are stepping out of the classroom if a call comes through. All cell phones and pagers MUST be on turned off during class meetings. Cell phone ringing and pager buzzing is VERY disruptive during discussions, and I consider it disrespectful of class members as well as myself. Text messaging can also be distracting to those who sit near you and in some circumstances, it opens up the possibility of cheating. If you are expecting an important message by phone, let me know before class that you have set your phone on vibrate, so I will know why you are stepping out of the classroom if a call comes through.

Sociology 1201 Course description (from syllabus) 1. This course will examine the ways in which American family patterns have been shaped by larger social forces, particularly forces related to inequality, conflict, and social change. 2. We will look closely at the interrelations between the family and other social institutions, including schools, religious institutions, businesses, and government. 3. Learning how families are shaped by race and ethnicity, class, gender, and sexuality should provide new perspectives on your own family. But this is not primarily a family improvement course, and I want to be clear about that from the beginning.

Sociology 1201 Course objectives (from syllabus) 1.To understand the ways in which social inequality affects families 2. To understand how American society's cultural norms about gender, sexuality, marriage, and parenting affect family life. 3. To understand how the family as an institution intersects with the other major institutions in American society, including politics, the economy, religion, and the education system.. 4. To identify the major trends and movements for change that may modify American families, as well as the impact of public policy.

Sociology 1201 Groups Facilitator, recorder, reporter Facilitator, recorder, reporter Project record sheet Project record sheet Worksheet--Your family of orientation: 1. On your own; 2. In groups (how much time?) Worksheet--Your family of orientation: 1. On your own; 2. In groups (how much time?)family of orientationfamily of orientation

Sociology 1201 Sociological approaches to family The scientific method: theory and research The scientific method: theory and research Objectivity and the community of scholars Objectivity and the community of scholars Science: the process of creating (and modifying) theories that are tested through systematic research. E.g. what are the consequences of divorce for children? (not primarily a matter of opinion or political views) Science: the process of creating (and modifying) theories that are tested through systematic research. E.g. what are the consequences of divorce for children? (not primarily a matter of opinion or political views)

Sociology 1201 Research methods Experiment: NOT FEASIBLE OR ETHICAL Experiment: NOT FEASIBLE OR ETHICAL Quantitative research methods: censuses, surveys and samples, government statistics Quantitative research methods: censuses, surveys and samples, government statistics Qualitative research methods: field study, in-depth interviews Qualitative research methods: field study, in-depth interviews Cross cultural and longitudinal studies Cross cultural and longitudinal studies

Sociology 1201 Thursday’s reading assignment Edin and Kefalas, Promises I Can Keep (E&K),"Introduction" Edin and Kefalas, Promises I Can Keep (E&K),"Introduction"

Sociology 1201 Video: “Legacy,” part I Notice that video worksheets have two sides, the first an individual worksheet where you take notes during a movie, the second a group worksheet with questions for discussion afterwards. Notice that video worksheets have two sides, the first an individual worksheet where you take notes during a movie, the second a group worksheet with questions for discussion afterwards. When a video is spread over two class periods, you will only get full credit for attending both days. When a video is spread over two class periods, you will only get full credit for attending both days.