Commodity Chain Research Paper

1. Commodity Chain Research Paper Sociological Research

2. Commodity Chains • The global economy today is a network of commodity exchanges that connect producers and consumers around the world • Each commodity in this global economy can be traced from production to consumption • Not all products we consume have global origins, but the trend is a powerful one

3. Commodity Chain Analysis • Examines the hidden social, cultural, and environmental relationships behind the commodities we consume • Allows us to better understand globalization and a global economy by tracing one commodity • When you wear, eat, or use a final product in a commodity chain, you participate in a global process

4. The Story of Stuff • Who are the people that have the most say in how this system - the materials economy - runs? • Who has the least say in how the system runs? • Who are the people that work in the different parts of this system? • What do you think determines where a person will be in this system? • Where are you in this system? • What options do you have, from where you sit, to change the system?

5. Your Commodity Chain Analysis • This assignment asks you to do some detective work to investigate the sources of the products you consume. • You’ll be asked to choose a specific product and trace it from source to consumption. This type of project is called “commodity chain analysis,” since it starts with a product (a commodity) and uncovers the chain of events, people, and materials that produced it.

6. Stages of a Commodity Chain • When researching your commodity the stages of the commodity chain to focus on are (note: some commodities will : • Design and technology • Raw inputs and parts • Manufacturing/Production • Sales, distribution • Marketing

7. Example: The iPod • When looking at each stage of the iPod commodity chain consider: • Design and technology – who made it, where, what are the wages/labor conditions, who owns the technology (patent)? • Raw inputs and parts – what is needed to make the iPod – metal, plastic, how many separate parts? • Manufacturing/Production – who assembles the iPod, where, what are the wages/labor conditions? • Sales, distribution – how does the iPod get to the stores it is sold in, who sells the product, who buys it? • Marketing – how is the iPod marketed, to whom is it marketed, how much are those in the advertisements paid?

8. Analysis of the Commodity Chain • For the analysis of your commodity chain you need to consider the following relationships behind your product • social (who makes the products, what are the labor conditions like, etc.) • cultural (does this product have significant cultural meaning in the societies that consume it) • environmental (how does the making and consuming of this product affect the environment)

9. How do I research this paper? • With the Gavilan Library online databases located at: https://www.gavilan.edu/library/ • If you do not have a Gavilan Library card already you need to get one ASAP. You can get one online, but it may take a few weeks to arrive in the mail. You can get one the same day by going to library in person.

10. EBSCO Host • The EBSCOhost database available through the Gavilan Library website will provide you with a wealth of information • If you are unfamiliar with EBSCOhost please view the following tutorial on techniques for searching in this database: • http://www.more.net/training/handouts/feb2008/ebscohostfeaturecard-070216.pdf

11. What sources can I use? • You want to look for information (evidence) in several sources: • Peer reviewed journals (at least two of these sources are required) • Newspaper, magazines, and trade journals • Websites (make sure they are reliable and provide accurate information) • Interviews • Books • You cannot use: • Wikipedia • Encyclopedias

12. What bibliographic formatting do I use? • You want to use APA style formatting • http://www.gavilan.edu/library/documents/APA_print_92808.pdf • http://www.gavilan.edu/library/documents/APA_internet_92808.pdf • Your sources need to be annotated, which means you provide a 1 paragraph summary of the main points of the article/book • http://www.lesley.edu/library/guides/citation/APAanno.pdf

13. Due Dates: • February 23rd - CCA Research Topic Summary (10 points) • March 18th - Outline of research paper and annotated bibliography(50 points) • April 13th - Rough Draft of research paper (40 points) • April 22nd – Final research paper (100 points) • May 20th - Class presentation begin (100 points)

14. Want to see some examples? • You can review examples of A student commodity chains on the Commodity Chain Analysis Website below: • http://hhh.gavilan.edu/rkreider/CCATermPaper.htm • On this website you can find more information about researching and writing this paper. • As usual, be sure to ask me if you have any questions!

15. Your are going to turn your papers in at Turnitin.com