You will write a case study thesis when your assignment asks you to analyze a case study. A case study is an in-depth, real-life example of a specific phenomenon, person, group, organization, or event. Think of case studies as real stories that hold a lesson within them. Analyzing case studies allows you to see how the information that you are learning in class plays out in a real-world situation. Identifying trends within case studies allows you to see the bigger picture and figure out the "why" behind issues. Finally, once you understand these things, you can use this information as evidence and to predict future outcomes.
You will find case study analysis assignments in a variety of classes, such as psychology, business, education, sociology, and science.
A case study thesis statement is a sentence that summarizes:
- The specific case that you analyzed.
- The key issue explored in the study.
- Your main argument and evidence that you'll discuss in your paper.
Getting Started
Before writing your case study thesis, you need to follow these steps:
- Carefully read your case study. Ask yourself: What exactly is happening and to whom? What problem is being discussed? What were the results?
- Find the main idea. Ask yourself: How does this case connect to my class content and the rubric? What does this case specifically demonstrate? What trends do I notice?
- Take a position. Ask yourself: What do I want to prove to my audience using this case as evidence? What do I believe?
- Write your thesis. Combine the above into a full sentence and place it at the end of your introduction paragraph.
A suggested formula for your case study thesis:
The case study (insert specific case name) demonstrates that (connection to course material/main idea), leading to (your position).
Examples
Business: The case study "Patagonia Clothing" demonstrates that focusing on the TBL framework as a business strategy leads to improved sustainability, increased revenue, and strong consumer loyalty.
Environmental Science: The case study "Solar for the World" demonstrates that community-level solar energy programs lead to expanded environmental justice, broader renewable energy acceptance, and job creation.
Psychology: The case study "EMDR and PTSD" demonstrates the effectiveness of EMDR therapy for patients with PTSD, leading to regulated emotional responses, a reduction of symptoms, and better quality of relationships.
Final tips:
- Remember, you aren't summarizing the case study; you are making a claim and using the study to support that claim.
- Ensure that your thesis is arguable.
- Don't stress about getting your thesis perfect the first time. Thesis statements may change as you write your paper, and that is alright.
Use the template and checklist below to guide you in your next case study thesis creation.
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