1. Prof. Richard Lanham of the UCLA Writing Center developed the Paramedic Method for revising wordy sentences. Here are the steps:
Step 1: Underline the prepositional phrases in the sentence.
Step 2: Circle the “to be” verbs (is, are, as, were)
Step 3: Place a box around nominalizations and identify the primary action.
Step 4: Write the nominalization/primary action into a single verb.
Step 5: Ask “Who what performs the action?” Then write the new base clause with the agent in the subject position.
Step 6: Keep the base clause near beginning of the sentence.
Step 7: Eliminate unnecessary words and phrases.
2. Videos
Write Well: Editing Sentences Using the Paramedic Method (Macalester College)
Help from Dr. Lanham
Richard Lanham - Revising Prose
Paramedic Method
Self-Editing (Paramedic Method)
The Paramedic Method
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