Recontextualizing the Case Study

Case studies are very difficult to use with students who will not read them or whose reading skills are too poor to absorb the details of the case necessary to use it in a class discussion or paper.  This paper explores a way to write cases that will engage such students, be memorable to them, and prompt lively discussion and achievement of learning goals.  It is based on the work of Walter J. Ong and involves centering cases around a context with which the student can identify personally.  The case was designed to facilitate ethical discussions in a senior finance course, but the techniques are applicable to any discipline at any level