Transmitting the love of literature and writing
at Hendrix College
Irish Short Stories (ENGL M23)
One of the perks of being a Murphy Scholar in Literature and Language at Hendrix is the opportunity to take an Oxford-style tutorial on some literary topic. This tutorial course, offered in the English Department, explores a sampling of Ireland’s rich, mesmerizing trove of short fiction. Students read on their own, then meet weekly with their tutorial partners and Hope to share their essays and defend their ideas in spirited, mutually supportive discussion. Thus, they get valuable experience not only in sharpening their written and oral expression but in thinking on their feet—and along the way, they enjoy being immersed in some of the world’s best short stories.
The Writer as Witness (ENGC 307)
This multi-genre creative writing course, offered every fall, examines models of witness literature by such greats as Alice Walker, James Agee, Zadie Smith, Jhumpa Lahiri, C. D. Wright, and Mohsin Hamid. What does it mean to observe and document the world--to respond to the issues of one's day through literary writing? Students respond to the readings by practicing "exploratories," short assignments that encourage them to pursue questions raised by the reading and try their hand at different genres. For the final project they write their own works of witness.
Poetry Writing (ENGC 303)
This course teaches the craft of poetry through discussion of model poems, in-class exercises, peer workshops, and directed practice in free and formal verse.
Advanced Poetry Writing (ENGC 403)
Through poetry we distill thoughts, clarify emotions, and experience a payoff of pleasure and insight. This course, for serious practitioners, aims to increase mastery and love of poetic craft.
Introduction to Academic Writing (ENGL 110)
This class teaches students to write more clearly and effectively, shoring up their writing-related skills in order to respond successfully to a variety of academic writing assignments. Normally offered in the Spring semester, this course uses a theme of sports to frame the writing practice.