“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 beat the word count.

The Paramedic Method

1. Circle the prepositions
2. Circle the “is” forms
3. Find the action
4. Put this action in a simple (not compound) active verb
5. Start fast – no slow windups
6. Read the passage aloud with emphasis and feeling
7. Write out each sentence on a blank screen or sheet of paper and mark off its basic rhythmic units with a “/”
8. Mark off sentence length with a “/”

See examples from the podcast below.

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 Paramedic Method (20:00)
• Example 2: Applying Paramedic Method to Conclusion (22:45)

Show Notes

• Revising Prose by Richard Lantham
• The Paramedic Method: A Lesson in Writing Concisely
• Touch MBA Episodes on How to Get & Keep Attention

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Example 1

Before Paramedic Method

My formative years, as a woman growing up in one of the fastest growing Asian economies, were marked by embodying a nonconformist perspective. After graduating from University of Southern California with a B.S. in Business Administration, and capitalizing on the knowledge-base and international outlook my program instilled in me, I founded “M,” a Web3 company focused on decentralized storytelling. In the past year alone, we secured 110k+ followers on social media platforms, 50k+ active users on our discord community, and raised over $130k of equity from investors. Importantly, in managing over 20 professionals for conducting market research, I secured a holistic understanding of business operations, HR management, ethical leadership, and te am dynamics. (113 words)

During Paramedic Method

My formative years,/ as a woman growing up in one of the fastest growing Asian economies,/ were marked by embodying a nonconformist perspective./ After graduating from University of Southern California with a B.S. in Business Administration,/ and capitalizing on the knowledge-base and international outlook my program instilled in me,/ I founded “M,”/ a Web3 company focused on decentralized storytelling./ In the past year alone,/ we secured 110k+ followers on social media platforms,/ 50k+ active users on our discord community,/ and raised over $130k of equity from investors./ Importantly,/ in managing over 20 professionals for conducting market research,/ I secured a holistic understanding of business operations,/ HR management,/ ethical leadership,/ and team dynamics./ (113 words)

After Paramedic Method

Growing up in one of Asia’s fastest-growing economies,/ I embraced a nonconformist perspective./ After graduating from USC,/ I founded “M,”/ a Web3 company focused on decentralized storytelling./ In the past year alone,/ we secured 110k+ social media followers,/ 50k+ active discord users,/ and $130k+ in equity funding./ Managing over 20 market researchers gave me a holistic understanding of operations,/ human resources,/ ethical leadership/ and team dynamics./ (67 words)

Example 2

Before Paramedic Method

NUS, with the location advantage of Singapore – the hub of disruptive innovation, will allow me to interact with like-minded colleagues on the Marketing Analytics Project (MAP) to propose analytics-driven business solutions to real-world problems faced by existing Web3 companies. In the future, I hope to continue applying my knowledge and experience in marketing analytics to make informed and effective business decisions in my entrepreneurial endeavors. Entrepreneurship has enticed me since I was young, and my end goal is to continue to start and run my own businesses as a woman CEO. In my industry, I notice that women typically do not have a major role because they are often viewed in a different light, allowing for more “reputable” male founders. In turn, we see more women labelled as “influencers” or
“KOLs”. In the future, I hope to put my foot in the door as a female founder and represent women in a space where they are not typically heard. (159 words)

During Paramedic Method

NUS,/ with the location advantage of Singapore/ – the hub of disruptive innovation,/ will allow me to interact with like-minded colleagues on the Marketing Analytics Project (MAP)/ to propose analytics-driven business solutions to real-world problems faced by existing Web3 companies./ In the future,/ I hope to continue applying my knowledge and experience in marketing analytics/ to make informed and effective business decisions in my entrepreneurial endeavors./ Entrepreneurship has enticed me since I was young,/ and my end goal is to continue to start and run my own businesses as a woman CEO./ In my industry,/ I notice that women typically do not have a major role because they are often viewed in a different light,/ allowing for more “reputable” male founders./ In turn, we see more women labelled as “influencers” or
“KOLs”./ In the future,/ I hope to put my foot in the door as a female founder/ and represent women in a space where they are not typically heard./ (159 words)

After Paramedic Method

The program’s Marketing Analytics Project (MAP)/ allows me to interact with like-minded colleagues/ and propose analytics-driven business solutions to real Web3 companies./ In the future,/ I hope to make informed and effective business decisions with my knowledge of marketing analytics./ Entrepreneurship has fascinated me since childhood,/ and I want to run my own businesses as a woman CEO./ In my industry,/ women are often stereotyped as “influencers,”/ while men are seen as founders./ I want to open doors as a female founder/ and represent women in a space where they are not typically heard./ (97 words)