Effective Case Writing methodology

Cases typically highlight specific circumstances in which individuals have to deal with a certain situation that might involve a difficult or new situation and are forced to take action. This kind of learning encourages students to act as problem solvers and develop critical thinking. 

Occasionally, cases are created to serve as references for various aspects of the issue confronted. This kind of instance covers the problem, the selected solution, and its result. Situations of this kind are reviewed, and the students analyze how and why a solution given had or hadn’t worked. Through this students gain a stronger understanding of all the important elements of a certain problem.

Cases engage students to carry out the particular task while reflecting on their actions. In essence, cases give students chances to examine and address pertinent real-world practical issues. Case studies force students to test their knowledge rather than just remember. Therefore, situations are helpful in training that calls for higher-order thinking skills like interpretation and problem-solving. Students who actively participate in learning and problem-solving are better able to adapt what they have learned to circumstances where issues are comparable in the real world.

Activities in the writing process

Writing cases is difficult, but the lessons that can be learned from using them are often worthwhile. Writing cases can actually improve one’s research and teaching. The writing process comprises four major activities: planning, organizing, drafting, and revising.

Planning 

Planning is the creation of a strategy that outlines the crucial steps and components of preparing a case. A case writer must perform the following steps:

(1) Determine the goal of the case writing assignment:

When writing, you should think about the lessons students are expected to acquire from the case as well as the context in which the case will be used in the class.

You must take into account the target audience, and  consider or make a list of the learning objectives you want students to achieve while and after working through the case. 

(2) Identifying the learners: 

Like any kind of writing, you should be aware of your audience if you want your readers to understand the concepts and information you are attempting to get through.

These cases are written with students in mind. So, the author should know how much subject knowledge students have? An effective case should capture students’ interest and encourage them to grasp the concepts and laws that have been or will be presented in greater depth. 

(3) Deciding what information should be put into the case: 

The availability of information immediately affects your choice of material and its caliber; thus, it is important to think about how to get information.

Every writing assignment calls for research. Once you have determined the case’s problems, you must start looking for items to make the case real and actual. You could get the case study information from your thoughts, from tales you have heard from friends or co-workers, or from books and articles. The information can also be acquired by conducting interviews with professionals on the subject matter you are working with or with employees of a particular organization whose work interests you and is relevant to your case problems.

Organizing 

Organizing is the arranging of thoughts to best serve the case’s objective. Instances should be provided in a narrative style since a story is believed to encourage the reader to actively engage with the facts. Additionally, cases tend to be problem-based in nature.

A narrative is typically organized chronologically, or in the order that events take place. You can arrange things in terms of importance, or you can start with the location and time, or the event itself. Beginning the action at its conclusion or somewhere in the middle and telling the story through a sequence of flashbacks can occasionally be more effective. No matter how you set out the case, the key is to maintain students’ interest and focus on the points you want to make. 

Drafting 

Putting your ideas and thoughts on paper is called 

drafting. Ideas are turned into real words and sentences through this process. A case writer should have ideas about what to write about in the case and how to communicate those thoughts after planning and organizing the case-related tasks. Additionally, before starting writing, all resources and data needed to build the case should be available. The case should draw students’ attention to the learning-related concerns you want them to investigate. The case is developed in such a way that the description will encourage students to investigate the learning concerns and include them in identifying and resolving issues.

Revising

Rereading, analysing, and revising help to make the written case stronger. You must read carefully and critically when rereading. You must be aware of what to look for while evaluating, which means you must recognize the key elements of the case and evaluate them by a predetermined set of standards or guidelines. It can occasionally be beneficial to have someone else review your case to provide an unbiased assessment.

Consider the following inquiries while you review, whether you are reviewing it yourself or having someone else do it:

1. Will the case produce the intended learning outcomes?

2. Are the problem issue(s) presented in the case related to the learning outcomes? 

3. Is the case sufficiently complete, complex, and focused? 

4. Does the case present a situation, problem, or issue? 

5. Does the case appear to be realistic? 

6. Are all the elements of a narrative style used in the case? 

7. Are the events and actions in the case sequenced in a logical order? 8. Are the events connected with appropriate transitional signals? 

9. Is the content in the case accurate, relevant, and appropriate in terms of subject matter? 

10. If there are external resources, are they appropriate?

Hope the above information helps you to write a case.

Tanisha Bansal

Batch 2022-24

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