1000 words essay

RESEARCH ESSAY QUESTION

Death in Garment Factories near Dhaka, Bangladesh  

Question

Late last November, more than 100 workers were killed and many more suffered burns or smoke inhalation in a fire in a garment factory near Dhaka, Bangladesh. In a second accident at this spring, more than one thousand workers were killed in the collapse of another garment factory in the same area (Yardley 2013). According to the “Clean Clothes Campaign,” an anti-sweatshop advocacy organization in Amsterdam, more than 500 Bangladeshi garment workers have died in factory fires since 2006 (Bajaj 2012). Many reports indicate that workers were prevented from leaving the factory after the fire alarm sounded (BBC 2012); while reports on the collapse indicated that the building was known to be structurally unsound. Clothing from these factories were sold both in the U.S. and in Europe (Banjo 2013).

Provide details about the factory fire in Bangladesh in November 2012 and the collapse of a second factory in April 2013. Please discuss the role of globalization in this fire, including links with retailers in the U.S. and elsewhere. 

To answer this question, you may consider the following questions. Why did these disasters occur? Why did so many workers lose their lives in these incidents? How did people in Bangladesh react? How large is the garment industry in Bangladesh?  What are working conditions like for employees in Bangladesh's garment industry?   What retailers (stores) sell the garments that were made in these factories?   Are any of these retailers taking steps to try to ensure that fires, building collapse and other threats to the health and well-being of workers do not occur in the future? 

Sources and Strategies

Choose a variety of sources. First, use the library and/or the internet databases to learn more about this subject. Because this is a current event, please look for up-to-date articles in reputable popular media (for example, New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Time, Newsweek, BBC, etc.). As well, look for expert analysis and historical background by scholars, participants and journalists. Be sure that your search for expert analysis and opinions includes voices from across the political spectrum, and if possible, from outside the United States as well as inside. I’ve given you a start with four sources, shown below.  Wikipedia is NOT an acceptable source. Nor is any other encyclopedia.

Formatting Requirements

Length: The body of your research essay should be 950-1200 words (use “Word Count” to make sure you meet minimum length of 900 words).  This is between 2-1/2 and 3 pages using Times New Roman font (12 point), with 1 inch margins all around. Begin your response at the top of the page. Do NOT use a title page. Please include your name in the “header.” No other identifying information is needed. Please number your pages. Please send a digital copy as an e-mail attachment through the “Messages” application in Blackboard. SAVE A COPY FOR YOURSELF.

Tips on Essay Writing

Tips on writing an essay and “21 Writing Tips” are included in the “Research Essay” area on Blackboard. In addition, there is also information on the evaluation criteria.

Works Cited