Sociology distance Learning

Period 2 - Sociology / Attendance

Period 7 - Sociology / Attendance

Assignment - Stages of Family Life Crash Course Video

Assignment Family and Marriage Word Doc.

Attendance Period 2 and Period 7 – Please click link below for your class period to sign in / be counted present by 2:00 pm on Thursday, 4/16. 

Sociology assignment due by Friday, April 17 at 2:00 pm: Submit assignments to me through email – [email protected]. You may type assignment and include in body of email or as an attachment.  You may also submit a picture of handwritten assignment (please make sure it is clear enough to read).

Click on the button at top middle of post for assignment in a word document.

Our distance learning lesson for this week will focus on the family and marriage.  The family has been the most important social institution in all societies.  Families produce new generations, serve as an agent of socialization for the young, provides care and affection, regulates sexual behavior, transmits social status, and provides economic support.  The assignment for this week is broken down into three parts.
Part A are questions for written reflection that are your opinion. 
Part B consists of watching a Crash Course Sociology video and responding to specific questions from the video. 
Part C involves critical thinking and prediction discussion questions.

Part A – Written reflection / opinion (respond in complete sentences, paragraph format):
1. Respond to this writing prompt:
If an alien from another planet landed in your backyard and asked you to describe the basic social unit (the family) how would you do this?
2. Discuss at least five factors that in your opinion are essential to a long-lasting relationship.  Think about qualities or characteristics of a partner (girlfriend / boyfriend / spouse) that you think are important for a successful long-term relationship.  Explain why you think that each factor is essential.
3. Why do you that marriage rates are declining in the United States?

Part B – Watch Stages of Family Life: Crash Course Sociology #38 (length 10:52) and respond to the following questions. Click on button at top of post for link to video or google in you search engine. 

1. The video discusses four stages of family life (courtship, marriage, childrearing, and launch stage).  Take basic notes on each stage.
2. What is an arranged marriage?
3. Define homogamy.
4. Define no fault divorce laws?
5. What was the outcome of the no fault divorce laws?
6. Prior to no fault divorce laws, list the reasons for which courts would grant divorce. 
7. Why are divorce rates in the U.S. in decline since the 1990’s?
8. Which groups of people have higher divorce rates?
9. What is the data on who has kids before marriage and after marriage?
10. What are three factors why large families were more common in preindustrial America?
11. What is the average birth rate for an American mom during the last thirty years?
12. What is the average age of a mother at the birth of her first born?
13. What are reasons that people are waiting later to have children?
14. How much will a typical middle-class family spend on a child born in 2015 according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture?
15. Describe the sandwich generation.
16. What is a nuclear family and what are other types of families?

Part C – Respond to the following (use complete sentences in paragraph format):

1. The coronavirus pandemic has led to social distancing and safer at home orders.  Write a paragraph that discusses the challenges that families may be experiencing and any positive outcomes that may occur during this time. 
2. One of the characteristics of families is that family members spend time together.  Under ordinary circumstances, as people grow busier and busier, spending time together becomes more difficult.  Predict the future: twenty years down the road, what do you think will be the typical amount of family time?  Do you believe family time will disappear or do you think family members will always make time for each other, no matter what? Will technology help or hinder family time together?  Explain your views.