{"product_id":"9780894202148","title":"Personal Shorthand for the Journalist","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eDouble\u003c\/i\u003e your longhand writing skill!\u003c\/b\u003e The average person writes  longhand at only 25 to 30 words per minute.  In a single school term, or a few  months of independent study and practice, you could learn to write \u003ci\u003ePersonal  Shorthand\u003c\/i\u003e at 50 to 60 words per minute.    \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWhy? \u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eHow?\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e    \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eYou \u003ci\u003eneed\u003c\/i\u003e such a skill because you might not always have a recorder  handy . . . or yours could fail at the most inconvenient time.  Not only that,  but it's not \u003ci\u003econvenient\u003c\/i\u003e to review the tape in the middle of an  interview.    \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eYou can do it with a minimum of time and effort because \u003ci\u003ePS\u003c\/i\u003e is the  only all-alphabetic shorthand system in America -- using only the 26  letters of  the longhand alphabet. Unlike other so-called alphabetic systems, it is not a  \"hybrid\" system that employs both letters of the alphabet and  \u003ci\u003enonalphabetic\u003c\/i\u003e symbols. Therefore, \u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003ePersonal Shorthand\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e can  be written or printed with pen or pencil, (or even crayon!), or typed with  typewriter or computer. \u003cb\u003eIt is the essence of all abbreviated longhand  systems, refined into one.\u003c\/b\u003e    \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003ePersonal Shorthand for the Journalist\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e also includes many  special writing, interviewing, and notetaking pointers of specific value to  writers and journalists.  Did you know that one couldn't receive a degree in  journalism in the British Commonwealth without learning shorthand? How . . .  sensible.    \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAs you will note in the sample below: PS uses absolutely no \"symbols\"  foreign to the 26 letters of the alphabet; no shortbread curves, angles or  unnatural joinings; no plus signs, minus signs, hyphens, quotation marks,  parentheses (or any other abstract symbols or unnatural uses of punctuation)  for the purpose of phonetic abbreviation. PS uses just the 26 letters of the  longhand alphabet -- written in your natural longhand style. Punctuate just as  you do in longhand.    \u003c\/p\u003e\u003ccenter\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eds n rpli t y rqst o mr 5, svrl o r\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e  Dear Sir: In reply to your request of March 5, several of our     \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003esals ctlgs r bg spd t u, u sprt cvr.\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e  sales catalogues are being shipped to you, under separate cover.    \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003e\/\/ t u f y ntrst n r org. w aprsat\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e  \/\/Thank you for your interest in our organization. We appreciate    \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003ey hlp. f w c b o frtr srvc, lt u n.\/\/\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e  your help. If we can be of further service, let us know.\/\/    \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003es\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e  Sincerely,\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/center\u003e      \u003cp\u003eWhy is \u003ci\u003ePS\u003c\/i\u003e so simple?    \u003c\/p\u003e\u003col\u003e  \u003cli\u003eBecause it is the only completely alphabetic system (using absolutely  nothing but the 26 letters with which all students are acquainted);    \u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBecause there is no costly \"unlearning\" of habit patterns each letter is  written as it is commonly written by each student, not in some special or  unnatural way.  (Does a symbol curve clockwise or counter-clockwise? Is a  symbol written above, on, or below a line. In some shorthands, even how  \u003ci\u003ethick\u003c\/i\u003e the lines of a symbol might be can be important)    \u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBecause it can be learned in a fraction of the time required by other  systems;    \u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBecause \u003ci\u003ePS\u003c\/i\u003e and only \u003ci\u003ePS\u003c\/i\u003e can be written with pen, pencil,  typewriter, or computer;    \u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBecause any competent teacher of any subject can teach it without special  training.  \u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ol\u003e    \u003cp\u003eBecause there is no difficult learning or unlearning of your natural  writing  style, \u003ci\u003ePERSONAL SHORTHAND\u003c\/i\u003e can be learned in a fraction of the time it  takes to learn other shorthand systems . . . and is extremely effective  both as  a vocational and a personal-use shorthand skill.  (This is not to suggest  it is  painless -- you still have to invest a reasonable amount of time practicing,  but \u003ci\u003ePS\u003c\/i\u003e requires less time than other shorthand systems.)    \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003ePS\u003c\/i\u003e Theory is presented in just 10 lessons, which you could complete  in anywhere from two or three days to two or three weeks.  From that point on,  you will review those same theory principles and practice writing \u003ci\u003ePS\u003c\/i\u003e on  real world vocabulary.  In fact, the sooner you begin to apply \u003ci\u003ePS\u003c\/i\u003e to  your work, the faster your skill will develop -- after the Theory  presentation,  skill improves purely on the basis of practice. The more you practice writing  high-frequency words and applying Theory principles, the sooner they become  instinctive.  Continue to practice, and you could write at 80 to 90 words per  minute, or even more!    \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003ePS\u003c\/i\u003e has been used in almost every walk of life.  It is ideal for  personal-use notetaking by students (law students, medical students --  \u003ci\u003eany\u003c\/i\u003e students), or even in mangerial or administrative positions.  But it  can be including by the private secretary of a sitting justice of the U.S.  Supreme Court.  It might even be good enough for you, too!  \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"National Book Company","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47009349861616,"sku":"9780894202148","price":13.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"url":"https:\/\/shop-qa.barnesandnoble.com\/products\/9780894202148","provider":"Barnes \u0026 Noble (DEV)","version":"1.0","type":"link"}