Discussions
Learning to theorize like a family scientist requires critical questioning and discussing ideas with others. To help facilitate this, every other week you will be asked to post and share your thinking with your learning group regarding issues related to that week’s assigned theory that advance the conversation. You will be expected to use the terms, concepts and assumptions of the theory and apply them to various media, research, and case studies capturing diverse family processes and relationships as part of analyzing, applying, and discussing the theory with your peers.
The initial post should be at least 250 words (include the word count in brackets at the bottom of the post). You will receive 20 points for each of your original posts (due Wednesdays before 11:59 pm) and 5 points for responding to at least 2 members of your learning group (due Fridays before 11:59 pm). The responses to your classmates should be a minimum of 3 sentences. You must post before reading and replying to other classmates’ posts (please respond to different people in your learning group over the course of the semester). Your reply should “advance the conversation.” This means moving beyond simply restating and affirming what other classmates have said. All assignments are to be:
- APA 7th edition formatting
- Double spaced
- Times New Roman
- 12-point font
- One-inch margins
Please see the grading rubric provided online for more details.
Application Projects
Learning to theorize like a family scientist also requires a lot of practice analyzing real family processes and interactions and learning how to apply different theoretical lenses to their experience in order to best understand “what is going on”. To help facilitate this, you will complete an application project related to that week’s theory every other week that uses family case studies, films, family research, and expert panels as opportunities to apply and explore the utility of various theoretical approaches to understanding diverse family processes. These will be due on Fridays before 11:59 pm.
Unless otherwise noted, all projects are to be:
- APA 7th edition formatting
- Double spaced
- Times New Roman
- 12-point font
- One-inch margins
Please see the grading rubric provided online for more details.
Student-Teacher Contract
This activity provides you with an opportunity during the first week of class to read over the syllabus, sign a learning agreement with me, review my teaching commitments to you, and communicate your questions, comments or concerns you have about the class to me. Please read over the form, fill out the sections in red, and sign it before uploading the document to Canvas on the first Friday of the semester before 11:59 pm.
Reflection Journals
The purpose of the reflection journal is to consider the content of each of the family theories, critically examine it, compare and contrast it with previous theories learned, and monitor the fit between that theory and your preferred ways of seeing the world. For each theoretical perspective that we examine in class, you will be expected to keep a corresponding reflective journal entry. These journals must address all of the 3C’s (Considerations, Critiques, and Comparisons) by answering at least one of the suggested questions listed under each heading.
Each journal entry is worth 25 points and should be submitted by 11:59 pm on Friday of the appropriate week.
Unless otherwise noted, all reflection journals are to be:
- APA 7th edition formatting
- Double spaced
- Times New Roman
- 12-point font
- One-inch margins
These weekly theory reflections will be integral to writing your final paper. Please see the grading rubric provided online for more details.
Knowledge Checks
Canvas provides weekly knowledge checks at the end of each module to help you learn important terms and concepts associated with each theory. These weekly questions are objective (multiple-choice and true/false) and are excellent practice for the midterm and final exams. All questions used as knowledge checks will reappear in either the midterm or final exam. As such, they provide excellent low-stakes practice opportunities to help you study for the exams. Because they are OPTIONAL, they have no time limit, do not close, have no limit on the number of attempts, and have no points attached to them. They are strongly encouraged to do as part of your review for your exams.
Final Paper
After critically reviewing your journal entries for the semester on each theory and comparing and contrasting their strengths and weaknesses, your final paper will discuss and defend why one of them is your preferred theory. You must consult with (and cite) at least one outside peer-reviewed journal article in order to deepen your understanding of this theory. Your paper must explicate your rationale for selecting the theory you have and should include the following elements:
- Compare and contrast the strengths and limitations of at least two other theories as a rationale for deciding on the theory you have selected.
- Identify how your preferred theory fits with your own world view.
- Identify which theory seems to offer the greatest potential for practical use and application in the future work you will be doing with families – again comparing and contrasting with other theories.
The paper should be:
- APA 7th edition formatting
- 4 double spaced pages
- Times New Roman
- 12-point font
- one-inch margins.
Please see grading rubric provided on line for more details.
Exams
The purpose of your midterm and final exams are to assess your ability to identify and understand the key terms, concepts and core assumptions that define a variety of family theories as well as compare and contrast various theories, evaluate their strengths and limitations, and apply them to diverse family relationships and processes in order to analyze what is going on. Each exam will have 60 objective questions (multiple choice or True/False) worth one point each and one video case study worth 40 points that will ask you to analyze family relationships and processes from two different theoretical perspectives. Points for short answer responses will be specified on the exam.