10% each, three times during the semester (twice before week 8), for a total of 30% of the final grade.
Case studies allow you to test theories, hypotheses, and arguments. Scholars often make very broad statements that may be exemplified by some cases or disproven by others. By testing specific cases against the broad statements we often learn about the effectiveness of the argument, better understand the specific case as well as as the larger theory.
In the course you will complete THREE case studies. The case studies ask you to find an example of what the scholar is arguing about or maybe something they did not take into account and explain what we learn from the case study.
There are several steps to the case study:
Early Steps In the Case Study
The Write-Up of the Case Study
Delivery of the Case Study in Class (this final product is the primary material for grading. See grading scheme for more).
1. Early Steps In The Case Study:
Watch the week’s lecture online.
Find a recent news-story (from the last 15 years) that you think is an example of what the lecture is explaining (you could be using more than two news articles on the same news story). It can be an expansion of an example mentioned in the online lecture.
Identify the main issue in the news story—this will be at the core of your case study. To help you figure it out, ask these questions:
What actions were taken in the case or what conditions led to the situation?
Where the actions the proper ones to take or could the situation have developed differently?
What were the consequences of what happened?
Could the actors have considered something they have not considered (and here too the IR perspectives will help you)?
Clearly link the news story with the lecture: Clearly explain how the news story is an example of what the lecturer was arguing or describing. How does the lecture help us understand this event or is it clearly an example of a situation the lecturer did not foresee (an anomaly)? Does the news story prove or disprove the lecturer’s argument? Explain and give evidence from the news story and the lecture.
Take one of the IR perspectives you have been introduced to and use it as a lens to describe/analyze the news story. Explain why it is an effective lens to use and why (give evidence from news story and lecture).
2. The Write-Up of the Case Study (template at the bottom)
Description of the main issue in the news story (250 words suggested)
Link between news story and online lecture and the lesson(s) we learn (500 words suggested)
Application of an IR lens to describe the news story’s issue and its effectiveness (300 words suggested)
3. Delivery of Case Study in class in about 10 minutes (structure):
Briefly summarize what you thought was important in the online lecture/what caught your attention (with an eye to the news story you are about to share with the class)
Briefly tell the class what you think the news story you chose shows about the lecture (what is the link?)
Go into more depth about the news story, describing it to the class and linking it back to the online lecture—here you also evaluate the actions, and the lecture’s argument
Offer the students an IR perspective to understand the news story and explain its effectiveness and what you think we learn.
Grading:
You are graded based on the delivery of your Case Study***.
For an A: You clearly cover all four components of the structure listed above. You show exceptional understanding of the online lecture. Your news story is obviously linked to what you thought was important in the online lecture and you explain the link with exceptional clarity. You fully answer the majority of the questions listed under the “Early Steps In The Case Study”. It is clear if you think the news story proves or disproves the online lecturer’s argument. You support all of your statements with evidence from the news story and the lecture when necessary. The reason for applying the chosen IR perspective is very clear and its effectiveness is clearly explained. A copy of the article or link to a video is included with the write-up.
the topic for this case study is:
| Security: On Terrorism and the Shock Doctrine |
the link video link is: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XZJKi1VHdpU
