Wayne Muller’s Four Questions

How, Then Shall We Live? “Muller meditates on four questions–Who am I? What do I love? How shall I live, knowing I will die? What is my gift to the family on the earth? This quietly magical program also offers several exercises and practices. Muller’s voice is calm, soft, and reassuring as he weaves meditations, poetry, religious allusions from East and West, and his personal experiences as a minister. He captivates with the strength of his message.”

Via Amazon and P.B.J. © AudioFile 2001, Portland, Maine

Give me an example

American Journalism Review: “Instead of asking Sarah Ferguson, for example, ‘Is it hard being a duchess?’ ask: ‘What’s it like being a duchess?’ Instead of asking Ronald Reagan, ‘Were you scared when you were shot?’ ask: ‘What’s it like to be shot?’ “

(Via Susan Paterno at AJR.)

Sawatsky’s Favorites

American Journalism Review: “His method is based on asking questions beginning with what, how, why and to a lesser degree, who, when and where. Not exactly a novel concept. But what Sawatsky succeeds in showing is how even the best-constructed questions will fall flat if laden with the interviewer’s attitude. “

(Via Susan Paterno.)

The Art of the Interview, ESPN-Style (Sawatsky)

NPR : The Art of the Interview, ESPN-Style: “ The old saying goes, “There’s no such thing as a stupid question.” But in the opinion of at least one major television network, there is such a thing, and some of the least effective questions are coming from top broadcast journalists.”

Via David Folkenflik

What is it that …?

This question construction may have promise. Ask a good grammarian to analyze it … to get at what the question is actually doing.

16 Questions for the Semester – Al Schroeder

1. Why am I here?

2. What is education?

3. What is success?

4. What is important?

5. What is real?

6. Where is home?

7. Where does the road go?

8. Who is(are) my hero (s), and why?

9. What is just beyond the horizon?

10. If I were going on a long journey, what five things would I take with me, and why?

11. If I were going on a long journey, what five things would I leave behind, and why?

12. At the interesection just down the road, there is a large sign. What does it say?

13. What does a good day sound like?

14. What does silence sound like?

15. When I listen, what do I hear?

16. What would a picture of life look like?

Shared at the Teaching for a Change Confference, Park City, Utah, June 21-23 in the session entitled “Seeing Yourself in the Window.” Al Schroeder is a computer science teacher at Richland College and a Vietnam veteran.

What, NOT Yes/No … or even Why

In situations where questions might be threatening, it’s better to ask “what” questions, than yes/no or why questions. “What” questions are easy to answer and don’t feel invasive. They can also be used to guide the other person along a helpful thinking path.

Clarifying Vision

Woudn’t it be great if…?