Badger Precollege Classes

How is it that someone can become an "influencer"? How do you cultivate a product and build an audience interested in learning more? Explore the answers to these questions and more as you investigate the dynamic world of media platforms and their role in shaping cultural identities, influencing politics and building global perspectives. This course will explore the undeniable fact that the media around us shapes us and persistently changes the way we think, learn and interact. Learn different theories behind social media, explore your own use of media and research the types of products that are used to impact the world around us. It will acknowledge the evolving landscape of digital influence, providing insights into the dynamics of being an influencer. An interest in media studies, communication, sociology or political science is recommended.

When you don't understand the rules, is the question about the rule itself, or why it exists in the first place? How do we know if they are fair, moral or just? Who decides that? This course will interrogate the law to the fullest extent. How did it come to be? Can morality and law be separate, or should they be closely linked? What is the logic behind legal reasoning? How do legal philosophers approach the issue of legal interpretation and judicial decision-making? Through research, discussion, and maybe even a little debate, analyze fundamental concepts of legal systems at play and negotiate the settlement of philosophy versus reality.

In Write on! Words Have Power!, students will explore the intersectionality between writing and activism. Students will broaden their idea of what is possible through inspirational readings, writers, guest speakers and activities. Together with the University of Wisconsin–Madison’s top-tier Creative Writing Program and a vibrant community of fellow high school writers, you'll learn how to integrate personal experiences and Social Justice into your work and find authentic expression to answer the following questions: What kinds of Power do words really have? How can each of us get involved in writing for Social Justice?