[birdie_man]

My ideas in bold.
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What exactly is the path followed by my hands, the clubshaft, etc.?

Trace a straight Plane Line! i.e. keep the club pointing at the Plane Line (on a STRAIGHT shot the Plane Line IS the same as the Target Line). i.e. Flashlight Drills (attach a flashlight to the clubshaft....or imagine one is there- keep beam shining on Plane Line).

Also, if one traces the Plane Line, the clubhead WILL move in an arc....the most important part though teach, is that the club points at the Plane Line.

Is this a straight back and straight forward motion, or should there be a small arc?

ARC!

Here's what our own putting guru Vijay Trolio says about that SBST stuff for putting...and it's more or less the same with chipping:

http://theputtingarc.com/puttingarc/...ory_splash.htm
http://theputtingarc.com/puttingarc/...aight_back.htm

...and it's true!

Should I be using any pivot at all for a short chip just off the green?

Nah, not really. Minimal body movement teach.

Where should the ball position be?

About middle of your narrow stance.

How close together should my feet be?

Pretty narrow. I'd say heels should be no more than a foot apart. This will allow you to have more pressure on the front foot and will set you with minimal Axis Tilt (i.e. shoulder tilt)....take an exaggereted, wide stance and try to hit a chip....you'll see the point. Can't hit down.

Should my stance be square or open?

I like mine slightly open (for some reason...I'm not even sure why). I'd say square is fine too. Maybe someone else will know for sure.

In more general terms, should a beginning swinger think of chips as a long putt with a lofted club, or a shorter version of a full swing?

I guess whatever works in your own head. I like to think of a long putt myself.

What would be a good swing thought for a beginning chipper?

You have said a good one- long putt....

Also, monitor varying distance with Lag Pressure, not stroke length.

Also, setup at Impact Address (which is essentially a slight forward press- set Left Wrist Flat, Right Wrist Bent) keep Left Wrist Flat at, and THROUGH, Impact. Hold that Flat Left Wrist right into your Finish (Finish essentially is at Follow Through [both arms straight] in this short stroke, or even before Follow Through

Another note...

I am also a Swinger teach.....and personally, I have had success with "erring" (if it is to 'err') to the longer (and smoother) side of the stroke length spectrum.

Whenever I'm chipping badly, I find it's usually because I get hurried and "choppy," if you know what I mean. I like to be a little longer (if anything) in stroke length to allow the club to Swing (...Swing!....).

Vary distance with Lag Pressure.

Good luck teach.

Ask more questions if you have them.