Leading the Way - August 2009
Quotes, Athletes, and Grammar Mastery -- Oh My!
By Brenda J. Reid, PP, CP
I sometimes look at famous athletes such as Tiger Woods (golf), Serena Williams (tennis), and Lance Armstrong (cycling), with amazement and a little touch of jealousy. What is it about them that is so different from me? What is the special ingredient to their success? Obviously, there is some natural talent associated with it; however, there is another ingredient that I feel is much more important. Michelangelo once said, “If people knew how hard I worked to get my mastery, it wouldn't seem so wonderful at all.” I believe that is unequivocally true. Hard work is the key to any success or mastery.
The same holds true with lesser, everyday endeavors. I remember learning to ride my first bicycle. I had some guidance by my parents and a sister who had already learned how to ride. They told me and showed me how it should work, but only I could input the “special ingredient” – effort – that would either make me successful or not.
The same holds true for all our pursuits, including the pursuit of the certifications offered by NALS (ALS, PLS or PP). One thing all of these certifications have in common is Written Communications; another thing they have in common is that many people don’t pass this section because of their lack of a textbook understanding of grammar.
When we first learned English, we didn’t construct sentences based on knowledge of nouns, adjectives, or subject-verb agreement. However, before long we were speaking understandable sentences which were, for the most part, grammatically correct. Mastering language is not the same as mastering textbook grammar. NALS provides the tools for us to master textbook grammar and successfully pass the exams. The Basic Manual for the Lawyer’s Assistant devotes a long chapter to Written Communications. Another required text is the Gregg Reference Manual. Both of these are superb tools and used properly, coupled with a fair amount of effort, will help us successfully master grammar skills, including the skills necessary to pass the Written Communications sections.
If we use the tools recommended by the experts and add the “special ingredient” – effort – then, like Arnold Palmer, maybe we can say, “I find the more I practice, the luckier I get.”Woods was a child prodigy who began to play golf at the age of two. He is ranked among the most successful golfers of all time.
Serena began playing tennis at age 4. She also has won more Grand Slam titles than any other active female player and has won more career prize money than any other female athlete in history. In 2005, Tennis Magazine ranked her as the 17th-best player in 40 years.
Lance Armstrong won the Tour de France for a record-breaking seven consecutive years and has successfully combated testicular cancer which metastasized to his brain and lungs, since 1996. The cancer is now in remission.
The Gregg Reference Manual is the official resource for the Written Communications section of the NALS exams; however, a significant effort has been made to ensure that the Tenth Edition of the Basic Manual for the Lawyer’s Assistant’s Written Communications chapter does not conflict with Gregg. The Tenth Edition will be available for purchase early this fall.