“Deleting prepositional phrases and replacing “is” forms with active verbs energize your prose.” – Darren, Touch MBA
Darren edits an applicant’s essay using Professor Richard Latham’s Paramedic Method, an editing exercise to reduce your word count and energize your prose. Use the paramedic method to keep your essays action-oriented and concise.
The Paramedic Method
- Circle the prepositions
- Circle the “is” forms
- Find the action
- Put this action in a simple (not compound) active verb
- Start fast – no slow windups
- Read the passage aloud with emphasis and feeling
- Write out each sentence on a blank screen or sheet of paper and mark off its basic rhythmic units with a “/”
- Mark off sentence length with a “/”
See examples from the podcast here:
https://touchmba.com/paramedic-method
Topics
- Introducing the Paramedic Method (0:00)
- Example 1: Applying Paramedic Method to Introduction (5:40)
- Sentence 1 (7:40)
- Calculating the “Lard Factor” (11:00)
- Sentence 2 (11:35)
- Sentence 3 (14:10)
- Sentence 4 (15:20)
- Caveat to then Paramedic Method (20:00)
- Example 2: Applying Paramedic Method to Conclusion (22:45)
Show Notes
Resources for MBA Applicants
