They are expected to run to 3.500-4,000 words, and be based on at least 17-18 academic sources, and therefore students should begin work on them early. To that end, it will often be helpful to discuss topics with the instructor early. Typically students will wish to base their class presentations on material which they intend to use in their term papers.You may choose to do either a standard essay or a comparative book review. If you do a standard essay, it may focus directly on family theories, or it may consider how family theories illuminate, or fail to illuminate, specific themes about the family. (Be sure to consider evidence that is awkward for any theory you examine.) It will be prudent to check the suitability and manageability of topics with your instructor before beginning.
Note that neither your presentation nor your term paper should rely substantially on internet sources, which are NEVER sufficient for academic work. Internet sources may be used, if you are sure that they are of high quality, but the work on which the bulk of your paper relies should consist of academic books and journal articles. Textbooks from previous courses should not be used. To sustain term papers of 4,000 words, normally 18-20 solid academic sources, or more, will be needed.