Part A

Les Bl (psych)

Main post (due Thursday, November 20, by 11:59 PM):

1. For your assigned country, research four of the six following statistics:

a. Age when children/young adults typically complete education and what level (include for both males and females).

b. Age when marriages typically occur (including for males and females) and whether or not these marriages are arranged by others.

c. Age at first childbirth (for males and females) and how many children in an average family.

d. Divorce rates/how common or uncommon divorce is in your assigned country.

e. Age when adults stop working/retire (include for both males and females)

f. Life expectancy (including for both males and females)

2. For these statistics, include any information that contributes to when these milestones occur in your assigned country (e.g., what are gender expectations for work/child care, marital roles, etc., is infant mortality high or low, does your assigned country offer retirement benefits, what contributes to high or low life expectancy).

3. Based on the information you researched above, describe a typical day in the life of someone your age in your assigned country.

For your response post, reply to a classmate’s initial post whose research on their assigned country was similar to your own research, OR select a classmate whose research on their assigned country was different from your research, and answer the following questions

If you selected a similar country, reply to that classmate and answer the following questions:

1. What similarities do you notice between the two countries? Describe them.

2. Why do you think these two specific countries are similar in this way?

3. Note – do *not* just state that these countries are similar cultures. Explain what about these two cultures might explain these similarities

4. Discuss any similarities or differences between a typical day in your life compared to someone in your classmate’s country.

*OR*

If you selected a different country, reply to that classmate and answer the following questions:

1. What differences do you notice between the two countries? Describe them.

2. Why do you think these two specific countries are different in this way?

3. Note – do *not* just state that these countries are different cultures. Explain what about these two different cultures might explain these differences

4. Discuss any similarities or differences between a typical day in your own life as compared to someone is your classmate’s country.

Only one response post is required !

***Avoid Plagiarism: Please remember that on this and all assignments, you are expected to paraphrase your answers and not copy directly from the text or any other source. Keep in mind that copying more than three words in a row means you are using a direct quote. Do not use any direct quotes. In any assignment in which you use any published source, including your textbook, you will need to provide a complete reference that allows me to find the source. For more information on formatting citations and references, view “How to provide APA formatted references for your sources (APA Quick Reference Guide)” in the “Course schedule and policies” section of the “Start Here” folder.

Part B (cos)

Discussion Forum: Long Walk to Freedom – Part 500 words

“Nelson Mandela was one of the great moral and political leaders of his time: an international hero whose lifelong dedication to the fight against racial oppression in South Africa won him the Nobel Peace Prize and the presidency of his country. After his triumphant release in 1990 from more than a quarter-century of imprisonment, Mandela was at the center of the most compelling and inspiring political drama in the world. As president of the African National Congress and head of South Africa’s antiapartheid movement, he was instrumental in moving the nation toward multiracial government and majority rule.” Long Walk to Freedom is not just a moving autobiography about one man’s political resilience, it also teaches us about the collective struggles of Black South Africans against Apartheid and White oppression.

Part 3. In your view, and within the context of contemporary racial tensions and systemic racism, what lessons can we learn from Mandela’s Long Walk to Freedom?

Struggling with where to start this assignment? Follow this guide to tackle your assignment easily!

Step-by-Step Guide for Writing This Assignment

1. Start Your Post by Introducing the Country

Begin with a brief description of your assigned country and explain that you will focus on four key life-course statistics.

2. Choose Any Four Statistics from the Six Provided

For each selected statistic, write a short paragraph including:

The numbers (ages, rates, averages)
The gender differences
Cultural, economic, or health-related factors that influence these ages

Keep your tone analytical but simple.

3. Explain “Why” Behind These Milestones

Your instructor wants more than just facts — they want context.
Include factors such as:

Traditional gender expectations
Social or economic pressures
Access to healthcare or education
Cultural norms regarding marriage or family size
Employment patterns
Longevity or retirement patterns

4. Write a “Typical Day in the Life”

Imagine a person your age living in the country you researched.
Describe:

Where they live
How they get to school or work
Daily responsibilities
Social or cultural expectations
Evening routines and family structure

This section should bring the statistics “to life.”

5. Response Post (Choose One Classmate)

You must select either a similar or different country and answer the appropriate set of questions:

If similar:

List similarities
Explain why those similarities exist
Compare daily lives

If different:

List differences
Explain what causes the differences
Compare daily lives

Avoid simply saying “cultures differ” — be specific (economics, religion, history, gender roles, etc.).

6. Avoiding Plagiarism

Paraphrase everything
Do not use more than 3 identical words from a source
Cite any research in APA format at the bottom

7. Check Your Word Count

Main post ≈ 350+ words
Response post ≈ 100+ words
Part B ≈ 500 words

Helpful Research Links for This Assignment

Use these to gather accurate statistics:

Lesotho Data Sources

UNESCO Education Statistics: https://uis.unesco.org
World Bank Country Data (Lesotho): https://data.worldbank.org/country/lesotho
UN Population Data: https://www.un.org/en/desa
WHO Life Expectancy Database: https://www.who.int/data/gho
UNICEF Country Reports: https://www.unicef.org/lesotho

Life Milestones and Daily Life Patterns in Lesotho: A Cultural Overview