Download Case Analysis Worksheet

Whale or no whale responses: CASE ANALYSIS SHEET
1.
Recognize potential issues and major topics in the case What is this case about?
Underline and list terms or phrases that seem to be important.
Then, list 3-4 biology-related topics or issues in the case.
Whales
Conservation
Forensic science
Authorities
Mai-Jon Sien relationship
Taking samples
2. What specific questions do you have about these topics? By yourself, or better yet in a group, list what
you already know about this case in the ”What Do I Know?” column. List questions you would like to learn
more about in the “What Do I Need to Know?” column.
What Do I Know?
What Do I Need to Know?
 Whaling is illegal in most
countries
 There are countries in which
people are still eating whale
 Hunting whale is a tradition in
Japan
 Japan does whale hunting
every year
 Each species has their own
unique sequence of DNA
 When they try to catch tuna
they sometime catch
whales/cetaceans indirectly
 There are hunting seasons for
species of whales
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 What is the history of whale
meat eating in Japan?
 Is there any other way to test
for the presence of whale
meat?
 What are the biotech tests
being conducted on the
samples?
 What does CITES stand for?
 Are all species of whales
illegal to be hunted?
 What are the criteria that
CITES has agreed upon to
determine which species can
be hunted?

Waterman, M. A. and Stanley, E. D. 2004. ICBL Case Analysis Worksheet. NIE Workshops 2016
US-28
3. Put a check mark by 1-3 questions or issues in the “What do I need to know?” list that you think are
most important to explore.
4. What kinds of references or resources will help you answer or explore these questions? Identify two
different resources and explain what information each resource is likely to give that will help you answer the
question(s). Choose specific resources or types of resources.
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Documentaries from discovery on whales
“Whale War” documentary: National geographic
News on whaling: local and global
Ask someone who is familiar with the Japanese whaling history
Ask the teacher
Plastic whale models
Search terms: whales, CITES,
Waterman, M. A. and Stanley, E. D. 2004. ICBL Case Analysis Worksheet. NIE Workshops 2016
US-28