Students in the beginning public relations course at Kansas State University work in small groups to make case studies of the public relations needs of organizations (usually campus groups or nonprofit community organizations) and to develop public relations plans for them. After receiving project instructions, students suggest possible clients, and team assignments are made. Work on the projects takes place outside of class except for team progress meetings with the instructor. Part one of each team's project, written in term paper style, sets forth a statement of the problem, information about the organization under study and similar organizations, and a definition of the organization's publics. For part two, students write about long-range objectives, goals, and strategies of their public relations plans and make in-class presentations to which they invite representatives of their organizations. The advantages of the approach--which far outweigh the problems that arise--include its ability to bring relevance to classroom material, and aid community organizations, teach resourcefulness and interpersonal skills, and provide students with a great sense of accomplishment. (The paper includes project instructions and samples of a public relations plan diagram and a case problem discussed in class.) (GW)