Articles written by Neal Whitman

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About me - Neal Whitman

Neal Whitman spent 37 years teaching medical school faculty how to be better teachers. Thus, as s a Doctor of Education, his students were Doctors of Medicine. In hit last ten years as a medical school professor, Dr. Whitman gave special attention to demonstrating

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Arts & Humanities > Poets & Poetry Does the best poetry come from the heart or from the mind?: 10 of 115
Move a Mountain, but Not a Molehill It's odd what poetry can do for us, and doesn't do. It can save lives individually, but not collectively. [Charles Wright. from his Introduction to The Best American Poetry, 2008. Scribner Poetry, 2008.] I am not an English professor, but a writer and reader holding deep beliefs about poet... More..
Arts & Humanities > Poets & Poetry Is it better to write a poem based on experience or based on opinion?: 4 of 30
Too Much Information After reciting a poem about growing up on a farm in Watsonville, California, an audience member asked me about this farm town. He was surprised that the closest I had come to rural life was as a little boy riding the swan boats in Boston's Public Gardens. I am a Poetry Professor no, not a college teacher... More..
Arts & Humanities > Poets & Poetry Can 'bad' poetry have value?: 9 of 67
"It's Good to Be Bad" Yes, we have no bananas. And, yes, it is good to be bad for one good reason: CONNOISSEURSHIP. You can be a connoisseur of about anything - wine, even beer. So, why not of poetry? What makes a connoisseur a connoisseur is (a) knowledge, (b) experience, and (c) enthusiasm. So, for example, wine and beer c... More..
Arts & Humanities > Poets & Poetry Does poetry matter in the 21st century?: 3 of 11
Circling the Drain Poetry could matter in the 21st century, but too many poets today hold the Common Reader (I hold myself to be one) in well, le't's put it this way. Look up the English department in a college catalogue and you will see a listed course abbreviated as Contemp. Poetry." But, if the Registrar followed the Trut... More..
Arts & Humanities > Poets & Poetry Does society need poets?: 11 of 39
My Profession Society needs poets? Society high, middle, low is a division of labor. We work. We need to work to make a living. But, poets help us answer the question, "How do I make a life?" Poets, along with the Dreamers and the Saints, are essential to Society we need to know why we work. What is the purpose of it all? An... More..
Creative Writing > Poetry Poetry: Him: 2 of 7
"She Thought of Him" She thought of him. Click. Clack. Her fingers moved in rhythm knitting by the window. Winter afternoon. She looked out the window. and could tell it was a cold day. There on the beach he had cast his line only twice and left. for good Looking down at her tangle she decided to rip back, to start anew and ... More..
Creative Writing > Poetry Poetry: Never give up: 31 of 107
Never Give Up You are not am not a bottom feeder when writing for common readers: readers who don't need footnotes to know if a poem emotes academics let's call obscurist write for whom they consider purest: purest readers who make matters worse don't know their elbow from bad verse You spare no words to rhyme or reason. But... More..
Arts & Humanities > Poets & Poetry Predictions on how modern American poetry will evolve in the 21st Century: 1 of 3
"Circling the Drain" I predict that 21st century poetry will circle the drain and be flushed down the Wait, a sec. Block that metaphor. Let's be more poetic. Okay, 21 century poetry will take the first commercial space shuttle to Neptune where its only readers will be residing. Back to the "circling" metaphor for a moment. L... More..
Education > Educational Philosophy Good teachers use creative teaching methods: 1 of 3
"Creative Teaching Is Novel and Useful" The key to creative teaching lies in finding the second right approach, and the third and the fourth and so on to every educational forum, whether yours is the classroom, the laboratory, the work place. The reinforcing key is to approach teaching situations as if you were applying for ... More..
Relationships & Family > Communication Skills Communication skills: Providing feedback that has an impact: 9 of 22
"Giving Feedback that Makes a Difference" Feedback happens to be the shortest word in the English language that contains each of the first six letters of the alphabet. It also happens to be the most powerful way to make a difference. Is there someone who is not doing what needs to be done, the way it needs to be done, when i... More..