“Transitions: A Student/Faculty-Guided Reading and Writing Seminar”
Spring Semester 2009
“Transitions” extends the paths students began with "Journeys" and "Explorations,” courses in their first semester. This senior- and junior-level course anticipates the transition from college to graduate and professional schools, careers, and other positions of intellectually rigorous leadership.
As a culminating educational experience, “Transitions” is also an enjoyable and stimulating exercise of skills acquired at Hendrix College. Four faculty members and up to 16 students with majors in any field read, study, discuss, and write about eight works of contemporary literature, music, drama, and/or film.
Faculty select four works, and four teams of students each select another work to teach the entire class--including faculty--with the guidance of a faculty mentor. A faculty mentor will work with each team to present the work to the class. The class meets in the Murphy house Seminar Room during the spring semester from 12:10 to 1 p.m., Mondays, Wednesday, and Fridays.
Following are lists of works taught by students and faculty. The list of student works includes student team members and mentors, while the list of faculty works includes information about why they're teaching these works and about their other interests.
Student Selected Works:
To be announced.
Faculty and the Works They Selected
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Dr. Eric Binnie, “Transitions” Coordinator Professor, Theatre Arts and Dance.
Antonement by Ian McEwan (book and film)
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Dr. Binnie's academic interests:
Theatre and drama, Shakespearean production, Irish literature, African literature, anything about his native Scotland, study abroad.
Dr. Binnie's other interests:
reading, acting, dancing, cooking, and traveling
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Professor Lyle Rupert Professor of Economics and Business
The Arabian Nights edited by Sir Richard F. Burton and Sheherazade by Rimsky-Korsakov (CD)
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Professor Rupert's academic interests: I have taught in the Department of Economics and Business for 21 years. My primary teaching responsibilities include financial and managerial accounting, financial management, and business computer classes. Professionally, I have also been involved in church music over 30 years as organist and/or music director.
Professor Rupert's other interests: I enjoy participating in various activities such as golf/wallyball/basketball, working with wood, reading, and solving Sudoku and Kakuro puzzles. I also serve the community by working with non-profit organizations. I'm usually a board member (e.g. Treasurer) or provide volunteer services such as accounting, tax, payroll, and financial functions.
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Dr. Alex Vernon Associate Professor of English
Regarding the Pain of Others by Susan Sontag and Waltz with Bashir directed by Ari Folman (film)
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Dr. Vernon’s academic interests:
20th century American literature, American studies, war literature, American literature and the environment, Hemingway, Vietnam, Tarzan studies, writing
Dr. Vernon’s other interests:
family, friends, dogs, film, eating (and cooking as required), travel, reading, writing, and exercise
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Dr. Carol West Professor of English
On Tarzan by Alex Vernon
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Dr. West's academic interests:
Africa (especially African literature and film), post-colonial literature and theory, Jane Austen, Chaucer, grant-writing for outreach projects.
Dr. West's other interests:travel, films, detective fiction, pets, and writing