This book provides timely, practical, and high-interest information about marriages, families, and intimate relationships, in an engaging format that is easy-to-use and learn from.
Pedagogy With my students in mind, I really appreciated clarity of key concepts and topics. This also makes it easy to re-read the chapter before the test. The learning lab also is a great help, and information on internet sites is up to date with current ways of doing research and learning. Annette Schonder Orange Coast College The William's text is wonderfully reader friendly in that it is written in a style that draws the reader in and invites learning. The layout is easy on the eyes with many helpful headings announcing to the reader the more important concepts. I highly value the practical advice offered to the reader; it makes learning useful. Dr. Kenneth Smylie Santa Fe Community College "One of the best things about it is the way it's organized and broken into small sections. I like the "questions for thought" at the beginning of each section of each chapter. Also, the "preview" helps focus the reader's thoughts on the topic. This would be an excellent text for an introductory "marriage & family" or "intimate relationships" course. " Joy Jacobs Michigan State University My favorite part of the chapter was the opening vignette. It immediately caught my attention and made me want to read on. It provides a real life scenario that provokes students to think and motivates them to dive into the chapter. Naima Prince Santa Fe Community College Writing Style To me, the writing style in the Williams, Sawyer & Wahlstrom text is personalized and the study of marriage and family is brought to life through relevance to everyday life. Indeed, reading the text is very much like having a conversation with an enthusiastic sociologist. Naima Prince Santa Fe Community College Diversity Because of the internationalization [at my school], I also greatly appreciate the information that was included on other cultures. Naima Prince Santa Fe Community College Design & Layout I personally enjoyed not having page after page of written word without any other visual stimulation. This makes reading interesting on another level. Annette Schnoder Orange Coast College The layout design is very colorful. I particularly liked the Self-Assessment tool at the end of the chapter and the Take It to the Net section. Lillian Dees Texas State University Chapter 14. Uncoupling: Separation and Divorce The chapter on Uncoupling was very interesting and organized. The reader is assisted with color in the headers. Also, a concise, to the point preview is provided before a new topic is tackled, and at the end of the chapter a good summary is provided....I felt that the chapter did not only teach the topic, but gave students information that will assist them in making better personal decisions regarding family and marriage. I thought it was a nice touch to include a self-assessment on marital adjustment. Lastly, it was pleasant and concise reading. Annette Schonder Orange Coast College I read chapter 14 on uncoupling and found it extremely helpful in exploring the many reasons for the high divorce rate in the United States today. It offered reasons that make sense. The insights and practical advice were useful and clear. Dr. Kenneth Smylie Santa Fe Community College