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View Full Version : Woody Flowers Award

Woody1458
19-02-2009, 21:47
Getting this darn essay down to 600 words is harder then getting the robot down to 120 pounds! Anyone have any suggestions? Im at 631
jamie_1930
19-02-2009, 21:55
Contractions?
Travis Hoffman
19-02-2009, 21:56
Getting this darn essay down to 600 words is harder then getting the robot down to 120 pounds! Anyone have any suggestions? Im at 631

1. Spell Woodie's name right. ;)
2. The small word count is intentional - the reviewers want to see students who can communicate their ideas clearly and concisely.
3. Look for and eliminate repetition.
4. Avoid "fluff". Make sure you pack maximum content into each sentence.
5. When out of other options, look at your prioritized list of topics you wanted to include and cut back topics from the bottom of the list.
Woody1458
19-02-2009, 21:58
I think I got them. Can you contract "he is" or "Mr Fakelastname is"?
quadrinim
19-02-2009, 21:59
removing some of the details from your sentences and hyphens (but don't put any spaces between-the words) for ideas that flow one after another but are too short for their own sentences and where commas would be inappropriate
Travis Hoffman
19-02-2009, 22:07
I think I got them. Can you contract "he is" or "Mr Fakelastname is"?

Yes, but don't go overboard.
amariealbrecht
19-02-2009, 22:11
just eliminate everything that is not completly pertinent to your mentor. Get rid of fluff...typing one myself its hard, also try complex sentances
Meredith Novak
19-02-2009, 23:18
Let someone else cut it for you.
GBIT
19-02-2009, 23:26
Let someone else cut it for you.

The power of collaborative proof-reading is amazing... Also cut out things that are not specific to the mentor. The judges are judging the mentor not the team...
Woody1458
20-02-2009, 00:07
Let someone else cut it for you.

Thank you for the tip! I did exactly that and we got it down to 599. btw entry has now been closed so congrats to everyone and lets all hope for the best!
AlexD744
20-02-2009, 22:41
Let someone else cut it for you.

Amen to that. I have a freind that could cut down 300 words with keeping the content so the night it was due I asked if he could work his magic and cut only 100. The thing is that he loves this stuff. He did all the grammer for our Future City essay and he cut it from 1,100 to 700. It was amazing. I guess I'm lucky to have someone like that.:)