This paper discusses case studies as an active learning strategy for helping students develop the critical thinking processes that are key to composing, interpreting, and responding to literature and are important in other fields as well. To illustrate how case studies work in the classroom, why they are exciting and beneficial, and how they are inter-disciplinary, a sample case study exercise is presented, along with additional examples. Case studies are then defined, and good characteristics outlined to help instructors develop their own. The paper concludes by discussing some of the benefits of using case studies to teach writing and literature. (Contains 26 references and an appendix containing three sample case studies.) (EF)