Semester Project Timeline & Checklist

How the Podcast, Case Study Analysis, and Business Case Fit Together

The table below is a week-by-week guide for where you should be in the semester. The Week column shows the general time frame, the What You’ll Do column lists the main task or milestone to focus on during that period, and the Why It Matters column explains how that work connects to your larger projects—your podcast project, case study discussions, and business case competition. Read it row by row to understand what you should be working on at each stage and how it prepares you for the steps that follow.

Week	What You’ll Do	Why It Matters
1–2	Learn how to read and talk about case studies.	You’ll use the same skills when you write your own case later.
2	Get your mentor and pod assignment.	This is the group you’ll work with all semester.
3–4	Start Fishbowl discussions and write weekly reflections.	Practice finding the main challenge in a case and asking good questions.
3–5	Meet your mentor and start research.	This info will go in the background section of your case.
4–6	Record your podcast episode.	The interview will help you find a challenge or decision for your case.
6–8	Finish podcast show notes.	Practice summarizing a story clearly — you’ll do this for your case too.
9	Write a short paragraph about your case idea.	Gets your topic approved before you start writing.
11	Create an outline for your case.	Helps you organize the story and find missing details.
12–13	Share your outline with your mentor.	They can check that it’s accurate and realistic.
14	Make slides and practice your presentation.	You’ll use these for the final competition.
15	Present your case and turn in all materials.	This is your final project for the semester.