Case study topics will be selected by the student and should focus on a media organization, event, technology, or controversy that corresponds to a theme from the textbook.

1) Keep in mind as you prepare your case study that you want to focus on a particular case related to the topic of a chapter from your text (e.g., Communication Policy, Radio, etc.).

2) For your case study, you can choose a media organization (e.g., Wikileaks, Apple); media event (e.g., AT&T’s merger with DirecTV); media controversy (e.g., Ashley Madison hacking scandal, Facebook redlining) media product; media policy (e.g., digital piracy, NSA surveillance, etc.)

Case studies are prepared in a variety of fields (communication, business, medicine, etc.), and they deal with issues that are remarkable or controversial in some manner. In other words, they need to have a “so what” factor.

3) Case studies are meant to provide information based on research and not mere opinion. Your goal is to give relevant information that provides context for the issue addressed, presents various angles or pros and cons on the case, and provokes discussion.

The layout for the case study is typically as follows:

A) Introductory paragraph including your topic (statement of purpose) and your thesis statement.

B) Paragraph discussing larger concept (i.e., if you’re writing about Instagram, you’ll want to give an overview of social media in general.)

C) Description of the actual case.

D) Link the case back to the larger idea (you’ve talked about Instagram and given an overview of social media; now it’s time to talk about how Instagram reflects larger trends in social media).

E) Conclude

The response paper should be in APA style. Avoid plural pronouns (“we,” “us,” “you”).