September 14th

1. Attendance & deposit participation cards

2. CCA Research Paper handout

3. Lecture: CCA Research

4. Film: Story of Stuff

5. Homework: CCA Research Topic Assignment Due On

Tuesday

Commodity Chain Research Paper

Sociological Research

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

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

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?

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.

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

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?

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)

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.

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

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

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

Due Dates: September 21st - CCA Research Topic Summary (10

points)

October 14th - Outline of research paper and annotated bibliography(50 points)

November 2nd - Rough Draft of research paper (40 points)

November 11th – Final research paper (100 points)

December 9th - Class presentation begin (100 points)

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!

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

September 16th

Attendance and participation cards Questions about CCA Paper? Film: Black Gold Homework:

Introduction to Sociology: Chapter 3 and Chapter 16 (only pages 513-519)

CCA Research Paper Topic

Questions for Black Gold

Try to identify the hidden social relationships behind the coffee commodity chain: Design and technology Raw inputs and parts Manufacturing/

Production Sales, distribution Marketing

Whose responsibility is it to ensure that coffee growers are paid enough to take care of the basic needs of their families?

What do you think is the best way to help Ethiopian coffee farmers?