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Creative Non-Fiction
Being Like Children

The Blessing and the Blues

David and the Revelation

The Dawn, the Dark, and the Horse I Didn't Ride in On (an odd, philosophical, semi-romantic meandering)

The Mug, the Magic, and the Mistake

Trumpet Player, USDA Approved
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Writing and Education

Autobiography Challenge

Considering Conclusions         

Considering Introductions

Four Meanings of Life

Godot and the Great Pumpkin

    A Major is More Minor  Than You Think

 Thoughts About Picking a Major

Quick Points

Quick Points About Writing

Reading Poetry and Cloud Watching

Revising Revision

Reviving Experience

Reviving Symbolism

Using an Audience

What Makes a Story True

What's the Subject of a Class?

Why Write? Legos, Power, and Control

 Writing and Einstein: The Difference Between Information and Meaning

Writing and the Goldilocks Dilemma

Something Somewhat Vaguely Like a Resumé

POETRY

Selected Poems

The Poetry Process

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Showing Class: Writing by Current and Former Students

 

Links to Other Sites

 Pedagogy, Philosophy, and Nonsense

Something Somewhat Vaguely Like a Resumé

by Forrest D. Poston

 

For those with an interest in qualifications, background, and such matters (and in case a school in the Appalachians would like to offer me a job), here is just a sketch of something vita-like.

Between adjunct and graduate teaching assistant, I've got about 13 years experience teaching various levels of composition plus a bit of literature, speech, and small-group communication. I've taught at Ohio State, WVU-Parkersburg, Central Ohio Technical College, Ohio University, University of Rio Grande/Rio Grande Community College, University of Southern Indiana, and Owensboro Community College.

I just received my second listing in Who's Who Among America's Teachers (Oct. 2005).

I currently make my living as an antiques/collectibles dealer and a bit of writing.

I passed my Ph. D. exams at Ohio University (20th Century Literature), but I'm way past the time limit for writing my dissertation.

I got my M.A. at Ohio State despite really annoying two professors who had never agreed on anything except their negative opinions of me.

Part way through my freshman year, I decided that I would drop out at the end of the year and become a stand-up comedian. A lack of self-discipline put an end to that idea, and I eventually remembered that I had wanted to be a teacher since 6th grade.

Along the way, I've worked 42 or so non-teaching jobs. Those include selling vacuum cleaners, repairing railroad tracks, carpenter's helper, various stages of concrete work, plumbing, stereo sales, roofing, car sales, linen/uniform delivery, several fast food stints, and several that I can't think of at the moment (and several that I'd simply rather not think about).

I really believe the class and school mission statements about helping students think, learn, and grow. That's what tends to get me in trouble.

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     Would you like to know when the site gets updated? Drop me an e-mail, and I'll add you to the list. Much of my writing has been for the antiques site lately, but I have a long list of essays in assorted stages of revision for this site. The people who e-mail often apologize because they assume I'm swamped with e-mails. I only wish it were true. I'm a teacher from the marrow out, so give me questions. I'm a writer, so I also need an audience. Sometimes that means applause, sometimes rotten tomatoes.

     From time to time, a student decides to use some of my ideas, or perhaps they even quote me in a paper. Great, I'll take what fame and traces of immortality I can get. However, I should also warn such students that my ideas are not always the things that your teachers want to hear. I'm a stubborn idealist, and that puts me at odds with quite a bit of education theory and literary criticism. Sure, I think I'm right about some things, and I'm sometimes convinced of my own brilliance, but don't jump into the fire blindfolded.

FDP

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