Question: Introduction: Changing American Family

In this phase, you will read the 2010 PEW Research report titled, "The Decline of Marriage and the Rise of New Families." The authors contend that over the past 50 years the institution of the family has changed more than at any other time in history. To understand these changes, you will need to understand the history of the American family. Consider how expanded opportunities for women have affected the American family, and how changes in this institution emanated or reflect changes in society at large. Consider The Nineteenth Amendment (1920), as well as, the feminist movement and sexual revolution of the 1960's

During this phase, you will:

Judge the viability of the features of diverse political ideologies and economic systems to advocate for a more just government.

Define societal problems and analyze potential political and economic solutions to judge those that provide the greatest good for the greatest number.

Communicate with integrity, civility, and respect in visual, oral, and written communications.

Articulate clear and concise messages to facilitate consensus on political issues.

Communicate expectations and encourage openness, transparency, and fairness to mitigate differences and achieve a mutually agreeable outcome.

Synthesize and analyze various policies and issues to judge more effectively political decisions.

https://youtu.be/sF4pYQ_5obk

No gays in Iran says Ahmadi nejad, UNITY4IRAN, 2010

The definition of the American family continues to expand and evolve. The increase in single-parent households, same-sex couples and greater divorce rates signal some more apparent changes in the family unit. One might reasonably ask, "What is the interest of the government in the family?" For a myriad of reasons, the institution of the family has been a basic component of society. We often hear suggestions that the family is under threat by the rapid changes in the 20th Century.

Readings & Research: Changing American Family.

Review the following Required Reading Articles:

Watch It or Read It: In this article author Elizabeth Cady Stanton uses the words, and importantly, emulates the argument that Thomas Jefferson used in the Declaration of Independence. In the article, Letter from a Birmingham Jail, King also employs the arguments Jefferson used in the Declaration of Independence. In both these articles, the authors suggest that society had not fulfilled the social contract and that because of this lapse society could not expect them (women, people of color, Colonists) to adhere to the terms of the broken contract.

http://content.bellevue.edu/cas/la/400-410-420/id/kss/elizabeth-cady-stanton.pdf
Elizabeth Cady Stanton

https://youtu.be/wy8vtSmcp_4

Declaration of Sentiments by Elizabeth Cady Stanton, FULL audio books for everyone, 2012

http://search.proquest.com/docview/756461531/fulltextPDF/686280E2F7D342C7PQ/1?accountid=28125
Bert N. Adams, 2010

http://www.pewsocialtrends.org/2010/11/18/the-decline-of-marriage-and-rise-of-new-families/
Pew Research Center, 2010 Read all 6 pages

Review the following Required Research Articles:

http://www.brookings.edu/blogs/social-mobility-memos/posts/2015/04/09-race-assortative-mating-inequality-reeves
Brookings, 2015

http://www.pewresearch.org/2011/04/08/new-facts-about-families/
Pew Research Center, 2011.

http://www.pewsocialtrends.org/2014/09/24/chapter-1-public-views-on-marriage/
2014, Read all 7 sections

http://www.pewsocialtrends.org/interactives/marriage-market/
Pew Research Center, 2014

http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2014/04/30/5-facts-about-the-modern-american-family/
Pew Research Center, 2014

http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2014/12/17/census-bureau-proposes-dropping-some-marriage-and-divorce-questions/
Pew Research Center, 2014

http://www.people-press.org/2007/05/02/motherhood-today-tougher-challenges-less-success/
Pew Research Center, 2007

http://www.people-press.org/1997/05/09/motherhood-today-a-tougher-job-less-ably-done/
Pew Research Center, 1997

Videos: Changing American Family.

Review the following videos:

Two years before the USA, women obtained the right to vote in England.

This audio clip discusses a unique artifact commemorating the English, "suffrage movement." Hear this audio clip regarding women's right to vote in England

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00v73z9
Suffragette-deface penny, BBC

The World Economic Forum published a report recently that says the United States finishes far from the top of a list when it comes to gender equality. American women finished 23rd on the list of 136 countries. Kathleen Gerson, a Sociology professor at New York University sheds light on the findings and the Nordic model of gender equality

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/social_issues-july-dec13-gerson_11-02/

Where do USA Women fair in Gender Equality?, PBS News Hour, 2013

Where do USA Women fair in Gender Equality?, PBS News Hour, 2013

Social protest for equal rights is not unique to our generation. This video explores women's pursuit of equality and the use of their First Amendment right to dissent. In 1920 the American suffragette movement resulted in the passage of the 19th Amendment giving women the right to vote. This turn of the 20th Century movement would serve as a model for future organized protest movements in American society.

https://youtu.be/DZSVQD7nwAs

Best Kept Secret: Suffrage in the 20th Century, Fairfax County Government, 2015

In this video Ryan Messmore explores marriage, the family and a good society. He examines the argument that government welfare programs have undermined the American institution of marriage resulting in a plethora of single parent households. Is marriage the cure to poverty?

https://youtu.be/lFMCLShzNPk

In this video Ryan Messmore explores marriage, the family and a good society. He examines the argument that government welfare programs have undermined the American institution of marriage resulting in a plethora of single parent households. Is marriage the cure to poverty?

https://youtu.be/lFMCLShzNPk

Marriage, Family and a Good Society by Dr Ryan Messmore, SAC Aust, 2013

View from 7:40 - 16:22

In this Ted Talk host Hanna Rosin explores how women are "taking control of everything." She discusses how women are dominating college graduating rates and other factors. While the historical debate suggests that women are subjugated to men, Rosin's presentation suggests that something amazing and unprecedented is happening for women on a global scale.

https://youtu.be/7ZymFMmpOa0

Consider a current or former employer. A work supervisor has asked you to give a Power Point presentation on changes in the American family over the past 100 years (since 1920).

Specifically, the supervisor wants to know how these changes might affect the company. This presentation should be no more than 12 Power Point slides including one slide for 'Sources Cited.' Each slide should contain no more than 25 words. You may use images including graphs or photos in your presentation.

For example, will demand for services or goods change as the family evolves? How might your company adjust to meet the changing family lives of its employees? Will the company want to respond to this change in its marketing messages? Are there aspects of the company facilities that might need to be changed? Will new people or departments need to be added to respond to changes in the family? Will the skill sets of the company employees need to change?

Be certain that your presentation is addressed to the intended audience and that the context (or reason) of your presentation is obvious. Since you want your employer to realize what a great asset you are to the company, be certain to provide as many references to credible researched sources as you are able in order to anchor your report in objectivity AND to make its content beyond reproach. (Cite no fewer than three sources from the assigned reading materials from this phase as well as one assigned reading article from earlier in the course). Students are expected to demonstrate learning by primarily utilizing the assigned course materials including articles, videos and research.

Include the following items in your presentation:
1.A Thesis statement
2.Visuals. (charts, graphs, images),
3.No more than 25 words per slide,
4.Citations from a minimum of three assigned course reading materials from Week Eight.
5.A bibliography
6.Attempt to include topics from earlier in the course into this assignment.
7.****When doing the assignment, you must follow the attached Rubric Detail to ensure a passing grade****

For example, consider how concepts like justice (King, Adler), equality (Jefferson), dissent (Madison), truth (Adler), judgment (Berkowitz), rights (Madison, France, United Nations) and values (Baker) might have an effect on the American family. Be certain to use APA style in-line citations to reference the assigned reading articles which embody these ideas.

Additional Notes:

This course uses plagiarism software.

Throughout the course, students will submit their assignment work in two places. Students will post their assignment on the appropriate weekly discussion board. This is to encourage interaction and discussion among the students so as to enhance the learning experience for everyone. Be certain to provide a minimum of three substantive comments, each week, on the assignments of three different students.

Students will also submit their assignments to the grade-book. This link is found at the top of the assignment area. Your Professor will use this private forum to provide feedback to students on how to improve their performance.

Grading: This course is designed in the Skills-to-Performance format. There are three components in the course. Each component is comprised of four phases. A phase represents one week. The assignments for the first three phases of each component are for skill practice and development. Each assignment grade in first three phases of each component is worth only five points. However, in the fourth week of each component students are expected to demonstrate skill mastery. In the fourth week of each component, the assignment points are much higher. The points for Week 4 (C1P5) and Week 8 (C2P4) are 100 points each. The Service Learning Project (SLP a/k/a C2P4) assignment is due in Week 12. The SLP is worth 200 points.

The rubric for this assessment will be used to provide feedback on your work. Review the rubric and use it to guide your work.

Assistance: Students are encouraged to collaborate BEFORE writing their assignments. Each phase of the course has its own student led, non-graded discussion board. Students are encouraged to use this forum to seek or offer help, to discuss the course readings, to define the themes and topics of the articles and to discuss the assignment questions. However, you assignment is to be your own work.

Another form of assistance is the voluntary, online synchronous KSS Tutorial. Check with your instructor for additional information.