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A case study is a short story problem about a real person and a challenge that person faces.
These lesson plans are all based on the 10th grade benchmarks for the Washington State Essential Academic Learning Requirements (EALR's). They are also specifically designed to help students prepare for the reading and writing exercises that are part of the 10th grade Washington Assessment of Student Learning (WASL) exam.
Please note: Links lead to downloadable samples of case study lesson plans -- offered as Microsoft Word 97 documents.
Students help Washington Apple Commission International Marketing Director Ed Brooks investigate competition with other countries and non-tariff barriers to trade. As they work, students learn more about the significance of Washington State's apple market and come to understand different types of trade barriers. Case study includes a persuasive written exercise as well as two optional group or individual research and writing projects.
Career Pathway: Business & Management
Subject Area: Social Studies
EALR's: Communication 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, 3.1, 3.3
Writing 1.2, 1.3, 2.4, 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.4, 4.1
Economics 1.1, 1.2
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Students help Burien organic farmer Judy Duff research genetically modified seeds and explore the implications for the future of her farm. In the process, students become acquainted with an issue that will be central to agricultural trade negotiations for years to come. Case study includes a persuasive writing exercise as well as three optional communication or research projects.
Career Pathway: Engineering, Industry & Science
Subject Area: Science/Civics
EALR's:
Science 3.1, 3.3, 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 5.4
Civics 4.1, 4.2, 4.3
Communication 1.1, 2.1, 2.2, 3.2, 4.4
Writing 1.2, 2.1, 2.4
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Students help Port of Seattle International Marketing Director Kenneth Pai evaluate and then explain China's trade relationship with the United States. Students read information prepared from different viewpoints and use that information to prepare an expository writing exercise. Case study also includes an optional opinion essay, student debate, and research paper, each based on the information presented in the case study.
Career Pathway: Business & Management
Subject Area: Social Studies
EALR's:
Communication 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, 3.1, 3.3
Writing 1.2, 1.3, 2.4, 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.4, 4.1
Economics 1.1, 1.2
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Students help Port of Seattle Marine Maintenance Manager Lindsay Pulsifer devise an action plan when two new container cranes won't work satisfactorily. In the process, students learn about the history of containerization, the logistics of importing and exporting, and practice a business-type problem-solving exercise. Case study includes a persuasive writing exercise as well as two optional research projects.
Career Pathway: Engineering, Industry & Science
Subject Area: Social Studies/Communications
EALR's: Communication 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, 3.1, 4.3
Writing 1.2, 1.3, 2.4, 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.4, 4.1
History 1.3, 3.3
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Students help Port of Seattle transportation planner Mian Rice learn whether or not light rail train lines will be built from downtown Seattle to Sea-Tac International Airport. Students skim a 14-page technical document and then use that information to write a one-page memo. Answer key included.
Career Pathway: Engineering, Industry, & Science
Subject Area: Reading
EALR's:
Reading 1.1, 1.3, 1.5, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 3.1, 3.2, 3.4, 4.3
Communication 1.1, 2.1, 2.2, 3.2, 4.4
Writing 1.2, 2.1, 2.4
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Students help Port of Seattle Marketing Representative learn how Federal regulations will affect the Port of Seattle's ability to recruit a cruise line to locate on Seattle's waterfront, and then help him plan the Port's next steps. Lesson plan includes two persuasive writing exercises, through which students must analyze and present information from the case study.
Career Pathway: Business & Management
Subject Area: Writing
EALR's:
Writing 1.2, 2.1, 2.4
Reading 1.1, 1.3, 1.5, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 3.1, 3.2, 3.4, 4.3
Communication 1.1, 1.2, 2.2, 3.2, 4.4
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Students help Port of Seattle project manager Charlie Sheldon and his APL counterpart Doug Ward negotiate over improvements to container Terminal 5. Case study includes an introduction to the fundamentals of negotiations, and a small group negotiations exercise, with answer key.
Career Pathway: Business & Management
Subject Area: Social Studies
EALRs:
Economics 1.1, 1.2
Writing 1.2, 1.3, 2.4, 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.4, 4.1
Communication 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, 3.1, 3.3
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Students help King County Executive Ron Sims research and evaluate the proposed Multilateral Agreement on Investments and make a decision about how King County Government should react to this proposed world trade agreement. Students explore the economic and political implications when world trade rules affect local jurisdictions. Case study includes a persuasive writing exercise as well as several optional research assignments.
Career Pathway: Business & Management
Subject Area: Social Studies/Economics
EALR's:
Economics 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5
Communication 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 2.1, 2.2, 3.1, 3.2, 4.4
Writing 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 2.4
Mathematics 3.1, 3.2, 4.1, 5.1, 5.2, 5.3
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