Discussion: “Changing” Families and Relationships

Please complete the following as preparation for this discussion.

Materials

  • Read the “Introduction” section AND the section you selected in class from the New York Times article, “The Changing American Family.”

Questions

Answer the following questions, and bring your answers typed and printed to class. You can use these questions and any other notes you bring during the discussion.

Part 1: In 100 words, summarize the Introduction to the article. Then, in another 100 words, summarize the section your were assigned. In your summaries, use at least SEVEN new words from the articles you didn’t know before. Underline or bold the words in your summaries to show them.

Part 2:

  1. The article’s Introduction explains how the traditional concept of the nuclear family in the U.S. has changed. What does “family” mean in your culture? How does this situation in the US compare to the idea of “family” where you come from?
  2. From your point of view, is it better to have one parent at home who cares about the children or should both, mother and father, go to work? Why?
  3. Section 3 discusses online dating, and in the Introduction the author gives the example of Kristi: “after the divorce, friends persuaded her to try the online dating service match.com, and just as her free trial week was about to expire, she noticed a new profile in the mix.” Do you think it is possible to meet the right partner on the internet? Is online dating common in your country?

Structure

We will follow a panel discussion format. Everyone will read the “Introduction” section of the article. Each panel will have 3-4 people who have read the same section selected previously in class, and the panel will be responsible for presenting their section to the class. Each panel will have a discussion leader assigned who will help coordinate what everyone on the panel will say (to avoid repetition), and who will summarize the group’s main points of agreement at the end of the panel.