Posted: April 11th, 2015

Individual Exercise

Individual Exercise: Checklist (Rubric)

Include your name, date, and a title in the first page of your work.

1) Table (25%)*: Your table must include four columns with the following information:

1.1) First column: a list of at-least 10 items from your wardrobe, including but not limited to: shirts/blouses, pants, underwear, socks, coats, skirts, shoes, etc. (casual clothing preferably).

1.2) The second column must include the names of the countries where each of these items were made (look for the “Made in…” section of the labels).

1.3) The third column will include the name of the brand/company that made these items.

1.4) The fourth column will include the name of the location where these companies have their headquarters. You can find this information by searching the web using the following key words: “__________ (name of the company) headquarters.”

1.5.) It is also required to include below your table a summary of your findings by grouping the countries of origin of your garments and shoes, and the location of the companies’ headquarters. These must be included in two separate tables: a) Origin of Garments and b) Company Headquarters. We will use the following labels to group this information (by continents): North America (which include USA and Canada only), Latin America (which includes all countries south of USA –including the Caribbean as well), Europe, Africa, and Asia (which will also include The Pacific).

*Note: If your table includes incorrect information (if the location of a company headquarters is not located in the country that it is mentioned in your table), this fact will make your work inaccurate (including your table and essay), and will be reflected in your grade (5% discount in the final grade for each item that falls within this category).

2) Map (25%)*: Your map must include the following information:

2.1) Title (i.e., “Origin of my Garments and Companies Headquarters”). This should be included in the top portion of your map.

2.2) Orientation arrow pointing to the geographical north.

2.3) Labels for each continent included in your exercise.

2.4) Two different symbols representing (a) the regions of origin of your garments, and, (b) the location of the companies’ headquarters. You can use a graduated circle, triangle, square, etc. to represent each of these items but not the same since each one represents a different category (origin and company headquarters). The width of these symbols should be adjusted to represent the number of items that were manufactured in each continent and, also, the number of companies’ headquarters located in each region.

2.5) A legend that includes all symbols used in your map (i.e., graduated circles, triangles, squares, etc.).

*Note: Each of these items is worth 5% of the final grade for this assignment.
3) Essay (45%)*: Your essay must include the following information and other requirements listed below:

3.1) Meet the minimum required number of words for the essay (800). This does not include the Bibliography, Table, Map, and other information included in other sections of your work.

3.2) Demonstrate knowledge of the topic using key definitions in your essay (by making a notation and explaining them as well).
3.3) Include at-least one pertinent reference (textbook or a reputable source) that relates to this exercise, and introduce this source by making a notation in your work.
3.4) Your essay must answer three broad questions (Where? Why [and how]? and, So what? [or, why is this important?]) that any geographically-based work must include. In addition, you must also include in your essay (at the end) a section in which you make a lengthy reflection about your role as a consumer of this industry.
3.5) Format: your work must follow all technical aspects: 12-point font (Arial, Times New Roman, Garamond, or Book Antiqua), one-inch margins all around, double-spaced, and, number the pages. Not following this format will result in a 10-point discount in the final grade for this assignment.
*Note: In this section you will be evaluated in terms of the detail and thoroughness of the information you provide, showing knowledge of the key definitions used by geographer when analyzing this topics. This means that your analysis should be as descriptive and detailed as possible. Remember that this is a geography exercise and spatial distribution should be highlighted in your analysis (essay).

4) Bibliography (5%)*: This section can also be referred as References or Works Cited (use only one title) in your work.

4.1) Include on a separate page using one of the following titles only, Bibliography/References/Works Cited, a full reference of all the works cited in your essay.

4.2) Include all the reference cited in the Bibliography/References/Works Cited in your Essay.

*Note: Missing to include either a) or b), or both in your work will lead to a 5-point discount in the final your grade of this assignment.

Geography of the Textile and Garments Industries:
The Where and Why of What You Wear
(Deadline: Saturday, April 11)

Note: this exercise includes three documents that you must review: a) this Instructions (in word), b) the Power Point Presentation file of this Instructions (PPT), and, c) a checklist/rubric (in word). All these files are available in the course website, in the Assignment Dropbox section. Here (in this section of the course website), you will find the Turnitin.com Dropbox icon where you will upload your work. It is your responsibility to read and understand these instructions.

This exercise is based on the “Doing Geography” section of chapter # 9 of the course textbook. In this exercise you will compose an essay and a map based on the clothes and shoes that you wear. It is also required to include a table with the data you will collect from your wardrobe, which should be included in the first page of your work. As it is mentioned in our textbook, “This exercise is about tracing the “origins” of the clothes and shoes you are wearing right now and about asking “Why?” (Domosh et al. 2013: 345).

TABLE (25%): The first step in composing this exercise is to select at-least ten items of your wardrobe, including but not limited to: shirts/blouses, pants, underwear, socks, coats, skirts, shoes, etc (casual clothes preferably). Then you will create a table in which you will include four columns. In the first column you will include the name of the item (garment/shoe). In the second column you will include the names of the countries where these items were made (look for the “Made in…” section of the labels). In the third column you will include the name of the brand/company that made these items. Finally, in the fourth column you will include the name of the location where these companies have their headquarters. You can find this last piece of information by searching the web using the following key words: “__________ (name of the company) headquarters.” Please note that in the sample table provided I have included only one column for the companies headquarters and their location; remember, your work must include four columns. Furthermore, in the sample table I have included the names of the USA states where these companies are located. Please note that you are not required to do so.

It is also required to include below your table two summary tables of your findings by grouping by continents the countries of origin of your garments and shoes, and the location of the companies’ headquarters. These must be included in two separate tables: a) Origin of Garments and b) Company Headquarters. We will use the following labels to group this information (by continents): North America (which include USA and Canada only), Latin America (which includes all countries south of USA –including the Caribbean as well), Europe, Africa, and Asia (which will also include The Pacific).

Your Table with the information of your garments should be included in the first section of your work, followed by the two additional tables. See sample table provided at the end of this document and in the corresponding powerpoint presentation file. Please include in the top portion of the first page of your work, before you include your table, a title for this assignment, your full name, and the date.

MAP (25%): You will plot this information in the attached blank world map. See map sample included in the corresponding PPT and at the end of this document as well. Your map should be included below your table.

Every map must include the following information:
a) A title (i.e., “Origin of my Garments and Companies Headquarters”). This should be included in the top portion of your map.
b) An arrow and an “N” (north) sign on top [of the arrow] pointing to the geographic north. Place it on the upper right hand-side of the map.
c) Labels for each of the continents in which your garments where made and where the companies that made them have located their headquarters. These should be located in the middle section of the continents included.
d) Two different symbols representing (a) the regions of origin of your garments, and, (b) the location of the companies’ headquarters. You can use a graduated circle, triangle, square, etc. to represent each of these items but not the same since each one represents a different category (origin and company headquarters). The width of these symbols should be adjusted to represent the number of items that were manufactured in each continent and, also, the number of companies headquarters located in each region. For example, if six items of the garments you selected were manufactured in Asia, two in Africa, and two in Latin America, then the symbol that you use to represent Asia should be three times larger than the symbol use to represent the contribution of the other two continents.
e) A legend indicating the values of the symbols that you used to represent the origin of your garments and the location of the companies headquarters.

To make your map, if you are not proficient in Microsoft Power Point (PPT), you can print the blank map that is included in the next pages (and the PPT file as well), and write all the necessary information neatly in your own handwriting. If this is the case, you will have to scan or take a picture of your map, and paste to your word document (this msut be included between your table and your essay portion). If you produce a map in PPT, you will also have to copy it and paste it to your word document. To copy your map from PPT to your word document, press Control [Ctrl] and Print Screen [PrntScr] together on the PPT slide; then go to the end of your word document, and click paste. You should crop this page to show your map only.

THE ESSAY – DATA ANALYSIS – (45%) AND BIBLIOGRAPY (5%): As it is mentioned in the “Doing Geography” section of Chapter # 9 of our textbook “The Human Mosaic, A Culural Approach to Human Geography,” 12th Edition: “This exercise is about tracing the “origins” of the clothes and shoes you wear and about asking “Why?” The cost of labor…is important, but it certainly isn’t the only factor in determining where garments and shoes are made” (Domosh et al. 2013: 345).
Your essay must first describe the historical and contemporary patterns of trade in primary and secondary production related to the garments industry (see textbook and PPT files for details), and their spatial distribution, in your own words. Then you will discuss the most important characteristics of the garments industry including its evolution and current state. A summary of these facts can be found in this exercise’s powerpoint presentation as well.
As it is mention in the course textbook: “… the textile and garments industries have historically been very footloose, able to move production facilities to locations that suit manufacturers, often because of the low cost of labor. In today’s global world, that tendency is even more pronounced, with manufacturers of clothing and other garment-related materials outsourcing many aspects of production and often subcontracting with other companies to complete different tasks in different parts of the world” (Domosh et al. 2013: 345).
Any geographically-based study must answer three broad questions: Where? Why? (and How?), and, So what? (or, in other words, why is this important?) For example, where are the garments you selected to compose this exercise where made and where are the headquarters of these companies located? Why are these items made in these countries? What are the similarities of the countries were these garments are produced and those where the company headquarters are located? What are the differences?
In answering to the “So what?” question (why is this important?) you must use the information you have included in the first two sections (Where? and Why?). This is an overview of the principles characterisitcs of today’s garment industry and must include a conclusion’s paragraph of your analysis. While answering these questions, you must also consider each of the locational factors mentioned in the course textbook and the corresponding PPT (i.e., labor, markets, state policies, consumer trends), and try to generalize the why of what you wear. Finally, you must make a lengthy reflection about your role as a consumer of this industry. Here you must make a reflection on the trends of this industry and how your preferences may have an impact its production and trade.

This essay should be at-least 800 words in length. You must also demonstrate knowledge of the topic using key definitions related to this topic. In addition, it is required to include at-least one additional reference (textbook or other reputable source) in the essay portion of your work that relates to this topic making a proper citation in your essay. You must also include this reference in a separate page (Bibliography/Reference), making a full citation of this source. Making a notation of your essay but not including it on your bibliography, or the other way around, makes this source invalid; hence, it will not count. Note that this portion (including an external source) corresponds to 5% of the final grade of this assignment.

Technical Aspects: Your essay must conform to the following formatting: 12-point font (Arial, Times New Roman, Garamond, or Book Antiqua), one-inch margins all around, double-spaced, and number the pages. Essays that do not format their work accordingly will receive a 10-point discount.

Final Details (VERY IMPORTANT): You have until Saturday, April 11 to upload your essay, including your table and map in a word document (one file only), to Turnitin.com. You can find the link to Turnitin.com in the Assignment Dropbox section. If you experience any difficulties to upload your exercise to Turnitin.com, you must send me your complete work using the course messaging system in a word document before the deadline. Late work will be accepted; however, these will receive a 10-point discount for each day they are late.

Your answer must be your own, original thoughts. If you plagiarize your thoughts from a website, journal, or any other source, not only you will be sad because you cannot write the small number of words of your own, but you will earn a failing grade in our class. See course syllabus for more details regarding plagiarism issues.

Table
ITEM MADE IN (COUNTRY) Company Headquarters
Shirt Mexico Quicksilver Huntington Beach, California
Shorts Bangladesh OUTDOOR LIFE Denver, CO
Shorts India Hurley Costa Mesa, CA
Shirt Mexico Salt Life Phenix City, AL
Long sleeve shirt India Billabong Burleigh Heads, Queensland
Pants China Lucky Brand Los Angeles, CA
Pants Cambodia Wrangler Jeans Co Greensboro, North Carolina
Shoes Vietnam Nike Beaverton, OR
Shirt India Faded Glory New York, NY
Socks US Hanes Winston-Salem, North Carolina

Origin: North America: 1 (10%)
Latin America: 2 (20%)
Asia: 7 (70%)

Co./Hq.: USA: 90%
Australia: 10%
CA: 3 (30%)
NC: 2 (20%)
CO: 1 10(%)
OR: 1 (10%)
AL: 1 (10%)
NY: 1 (10%)
Queensland, Austalia: 1 (10%)