Recently, I took a competitive exam that would enable me to be a candidate for permanent hire. The odds of passing this writing test are around 15%. The vast preponderance of people who pass are people fresh out of college and lawyers.
We were told one can not study for this exam. We were told that either one has the ability or one does not.
I refused to accept those myths. I quickly realized that my style would not pass that exam. I went through books of short essays and one book stood out above the rest. Mark Alexander's simple no frills writing style worked like a charm. I examined Mark Alexander's sentence style for One Hundred hours. Mark's style made the rules of grammar come alive.
My passing this exam does not ensure that I will get a permanent job. However, I have cleared a major hurdle and remain a viable candidate for the next three years minimum.
Wow I am impressed. There were no spelling errors, it really did pay off.
ReplyDeleteI have to research this guy now!!!!!!!!!!
all right Beak...you da man!
ReplyDeletetake a look at this..it could be an addition to your sidebar
http://myspace-910.vo.llnwd.net/01199/01/94/1199034910_s.jpg
oh elbro - if only!
ReplyDeletenanc....Whaaaaattt?
ReplyDeleteyour link! it's great - is this coming out in englais?
ReplyDeleteI'm still falling over after trying to drive Mel around in the last post.
ReplyDeleteEB,
ReplyDeleteIt helps to tie a few on before putting your fingers on the arrow keys.
Congrats, Beak! I see when you put your mind to it you can indeed write very proper. Nicely done.
ReplyDeletebeak I am telling you that pic would be great in your sidebar...do I need to bribe you?
ReplyDeleteit is always best to send it to him in an urgent e-mail. now, we need to work on getting fern to use proper punctuation between complete thoughts.
ReplyDeletebeak - please go back to your regular self. thank you.
Nanc
ReplyDeleteMy critics have spent way too much time looking at my spelling. This is merely one facet of writing skill. Most of the noise about my writing skills is from people who do not have a clue about writing in the first place.
i believe you have great writing skills - now, go back to it! you sounded like a robot in this short article.
ReplyDeleteI enjoy your writting! I used to know all my grammar and spelling, I've forgotten it because I haven't used it for a long time. Now I have to refresh the memory! But you get your points and your humor across which is the whole point of writting!
ReplyDeleteThat's the leftistas problem, when you get a good point across their bow's, they don't like that!
Good morning, G*D bless and Maranatha!
tmw
tmw - if you come back - check this article out - scroll down - i see you've been interested in this scenario:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.worldviewweekend.com/secure/cwnetwork/article.php?ArticleID=1110
Nanc
ReplyDeleteI painted the town red with some friends yesterday. My usual style will return when the alcohol wears off.
which reminds me of one of our kid's favorite jokes:
ReplyDeletehow do you know when a moth has the hiccups?
it flies straight for a moment!
Tried, but it didn't accept my registration! Lot of good, solid speakers though!
ReplyDeleteCute joke!
tmw
Nanc- Weird stuff with the Amaroso brothers! They are all over the map.
ReplyDeletetmw
it was a very sad thing to see that kind of meltdown. having blogged with r.m. for well over a year - i was shocked. it is good to give the benefit of the doubt when possible, however, he made it impossible in the end.
ReplyDeleteYep, dealing with that kind of disfunction and hatred can be exhausting. Not only that it is very unhealthy for the body to harbor bitterness. I was actually getting a kick out of him, then boom, his mental state just flat out broke.
ReplyDeleteSent out a prayer alert, now I do have your addy, but I won't send you anything unless you give the go-ahead! Okay?
tmw
Way to go...How ridiculous that someone said you can't study for this type of test.
ReplyDeleteThere are always ways to refresh and prepare.
That is what we were told by the Federal Government. It is not an easy exam, but I am glad I passed.
ReplyDeleteMany people who were better than me did not.
better at what?
ReplyDeleteIt's my turn to be the good cop...
ReplyDeleteohhhhhhhhhhhkay...
ReplyDeleteMr. Beamish who will be the hardened criminal who gets slapped around?
ReplyDeleteEB- plucky!
ReplyDeletetmw
tmw - I'll pay a dollar to see that.
ReplyDeleteEB- I'd pay $2 for Mr. B. to do it!
ReplyDeletetmw
TMW,
ReplyDeleteI'll raise that bid. This might be the career which Mr. Beamish is looking for!
Beak,
ReplyDeleteI have noticed the recent improvments in your writing style. Modeling is a tried-and-true learning method.
Beakerkin:
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for this praise. I am flattered indeed. I am only too glad I could have been of assistance to you.
As I said on my website the other day: You're a true gentleman. Many a man wouldn't have admitted it. Again, thank you, my friend. Naturally, I hope you will be accepted for a permanent position, and that you have a GREAT career with the service.
AOW
ReplyDeleteI have to give credit to Mark Alexander. Going into the test, I knew I had to produce a first rate essay. I looked at author after author but Alexander's simple no frills eloquence stood out. The best part is that on a timed test it makes life rather simple. A friend of the family witha PHD in education always told me "less is more".
Mark
ReplyDeleteMy boss has noted the drastic improvements in writing style. He asked if I took a brush up course at the local University.
The reality is that as we age many of us do not write. Skills that we spend our youth learning are lost. Yet, one may regain some of those skills.
Beakerkin:
ReplyDeleteAll I can say is this: I'm thrilled! Thrilled for you; and thrilled that I could have been such a help to you. Thank you!
Beakerkin:
ReplyDeleteWould you mind if I posted your comment (blog) in the sidebar of my blog? I think that would be a great idea.
Mark go right ahead and post the comments on your site. Your book provided me with a template to improve my skills. This was clearly not the intended purpose of the book, but it is obviously effective.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Beakerkin. As it's getting rather late here now, I'll do it tomorrow.
ReplyDeleteBeakerkin:
ReplyDeleteI have placed your comment up there now. I took the liberty of synthesizing one or two of your other comments into the main one. I hope you don't mind. In any case, they are your own words.
I have had a difficult time with Blogger this afternoon. It has been playing up no end. I actually wanted the comment to come up in purple, but it has appeared in blue (which is difficult to read)! But it's the best I can do for the moment. The blogger servers must be overloaded, I think. I shall try and change the colour again later.