| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Dutchman |
Posted - 02/01/2009 : 3:40:13 PM
Back in the late summer/early fall, we had a thread here on the forum discussing the possibility of creating a series of threads to help RR-L members who are working through the Achievement Program of the NMRA. There seemed to be quite a bit of interest in the concept. Here is the link to that earlier thread: http://www.railroad-line.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=22837
The purpose of these threads would be to provide focused areas where members working toward a specific Achievement Award could post questions or have a common discussion on their progress. In that earlier thread, it became obvious that the Forum already has a number of members who have earned their MMR and were willing to offer advice based on their experience in the program. Many more members, while not yet MMRs, have earned the Achievement Awards in one or more of the categories and also expressed a willingness to help fellow forum members.
In the next post, I will include links to some of the first such threads that will be created. We will try to place them in the sub-forums which make the most sense, based on the focus of the individual Achievement Program category. As we add additional threads, I will add the appropriate links as well.
We want to make it clear that this is a RR-L Forum initiative, and is not formally associated with the NMRA.
Whenever the topic of the NMRA and/or the NMRA’s Achievement Program comes up, we tend to see a number of comments, pro and con, about the Association and/or the AP. That is fine, and there are certainly places to express such opinions. However, we want to make it clear that this thread, and the individual threads linked to it, are not places to post such comments. The sole purpose of these threads is to support RR-L members who are working through the program. Any posts in these threads ‘bashing’ the Association or the Achievement Program will simply be deleted by the moderators.
More information about the NMRA’s Achievement Program can be found at this link: http://www.nmra.org/education/achievement/
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| 15 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| CVSNE |
Posted - 05/14/2013 : 12:46:31 PM
I feel your pain.
1200 words for a full page doesn't seem unusual though - I doubt it's 1200 characters. Remember, that's solid text - no banners, photos, etc....
I have my Author's certificate. I found it one of the most convoluted in terms of the requirements. I started by submitting a bunch of different items. I found I got XX points for the article, but if someone else did the artwork some were subtracted - a percentage of the "full page." Likewise, if there was a prototype image the percentage of space it took up was also deducted (unless I'd taken it, and it directly related to modeling.) "History" articles, and articles on prototype equipment didn't count, although "Railroad you can model" type pieces did. It was driving me batty.
In the end I simply sent in the last four chapters of my most recent book, since I knew I took the photos, etc...
When I got it approved I got a note saying that I didn't get credit for all 24 pages since there was one prototype picture I'd forgotten - so I ended up getting 23.80 pages worth....
Good luck! |
| bitlerisvj |
Posted - 05/14/2013 : 10:13:44 AM
Thanks for this respponse Kris, I totally agree with you and I always felt this number was incorrect as well. I am not sure who came up with it and how. I also suspect that the powers that be, the Regional AP Chair as well as the National, really only count pages rather than "words", else most of the Author AP's, would not have passed. I will bring this up to our Regional AP Chair this fall at our Convention. Maybe this part needs to be re-visited and fixed.
Thanks and regards, Vic Bitleris
quote:
Originally posted by hon3_rr
Vic,
I could be incorrect, but I think the NMRA AP Author guideline was supposed to say "letters/characters" instead of "words". It currently reads: "A "page" is approximately 1200 words."
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| hon3_rr |
Posted - 05/13/2013 : 12:20:08 PM
Vic,
I could be incorrect, but I think the NMRA AP Author guideline was supposed to say "letters/characters" instead of "words". It currently reads: "A "page" is approximately 1200 words."
The following is an example of articles which I submit. The following numbers are from the article which I just submitted to my NMRA region for inclusion in the next regional newsletter:
-- The article is 27 pages in length containing 8,041 words. That is about 298 words/page. Don't forget, pictures/drawings affect the word/page count.
-- The article has 43,804 characters (with spaces included in count). That's about 1622 characters/page.
-- The article has 35,779 characters (spaces not included in count). That's about 1325 characters/page.
I've done this mental exercise a couple of times on the articles which I'm trying to use for my AP, and the numbers keep coming up within the same ranges. You can see from this example that the guideline of "A "page" is approximately 1200 words" probably does not fit, but "letters/characters" does fit within the statement.
In the past I also did a bit or research on the net. I mostly came up with answers to word count/page like the following:
"These figures represent continuous words with no blank lines or breaks. In practice you need to subtract 15-20% from the page word total once the white space is taken into account. This gives you 200 (large print), 500 for an academic book with 350 words per paperback page as a working average." This is from:
http://www.writersservices.com/wps/p_word_count.htm
My bit of research on the web for word count per page in magazines turned up about 600 words per page in general.
I **must note** that idea of an incorrect statement on the NMRA website is an assumption on my part, so I could be starting a false fire storm here. I have considered the idea of "pictures" which are included in my articles have an effect on the word count, but even when I have reformatted to a text only situation, I still do not come up with the word count/page of the guideline.
I do have a club meeting tomorrow night where I can try to obtain a better handle on this subject. The club has 3 MMR's, but I'm not sure who is going to be attending. I suspect that there will be at least one MMR who got his sticker in the author category, so I'll ask. |
| bitlerisvj |
Posted - 05/13/2013 : 11:21:20 AM
Hi,
What do you mean by the "word per page count is incorrect". Is it posted wrong or do you feel like 1200 words per page is wrong? I am curious and have wondered about this number, but I always figured the "powers that be" should know.
Regards, Vic Bitleris
quote:
Originally posted by hon3_rr
Yes, James... (the 'word per page count' is incorrect on the NMRA AP site) ...
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| hon3_rr |
Posted - 05/12/2013 : 10:59:44 PM
Yes, James... I've heard that is how they score something like this site. I'm ahead of the game so far by the page count, (the 'word per page count' is incorrect on the NMRA AP site) that even allowing for the discounted number of pages, I still have way more than enough to qualify. I'm actually about 2x or greater over the number of pages I need to have published, and I still have articles being published by the NMRA region I'm in. (Because I'm not sure of the editing which will be done, I don't know exactly how many points I can claim.) But your info is good counsel to be passed on to anyone else who may be considering using pages from this site or other modeling blog sites. |
| jbvb |
Posted - 05/12/2013 : 07:38:04 AM
Kriss, when I first looked into Author, the local AP people liked my Unofficial B&M Pages site a lot, but would only give me 21 points (half the required) for web-based content. The rest had to come from print articles and clinic write-ups. |
| hon3_rr |
Posted - 05/11/2013 : 8:40:09 PM
Couple of things on my end:
1) I have obtained merit awards on a couple of structures which I documented the build here on the forum:
-- Rusty Stumps's- Reed&DeYoung Tobacconists Shop
-- Chambers Mine - from the Silverado Mine thread in HO scale.
I'll be having another kit build, the Quincy Salvage judged at the Rocky Mountain Regional meeting next month. I may also try to have the trestle on that diorama judged, but not sure of that decision at this time. I've been told by a couple of MMR's that the Quincy structure should get at least 100-110 points, so I think I have three of the six structures in the bag. I can easily show 6 other structures built, so it is really just a matter of a couple more structures to get judged and the bridge to complete that category.
2) I have been writing articles for the NMRA regional newsletter for the region I'm in. I already have more than enough material to complete the "Author" category using the published articles and the documented construction builds I have done on this forum. So the "Author" is a matter of paperwork for me at this time.
3) "Volunteer" category is also almost complete. I have been doing hands-on clinics for a few years now, at division and regional levels. This is another category where I just need to do the paper work. I'll be doing a couple of days worth of hands-on clinics at the Rocky Mountain Regional meet next month, and those clinics should put me over the top. I've also got a clinic at the division level next week to present. So... again.... paperwork!!
Bottom Line... Almost completed 3 categories towards the MMR sticker at this point, with paperwork being the big hang-up.
Next to be attacked:
Category: CARS
Somewhere along the line I need to start building RR cars. I appreciate the assistance towards that end by some of the guys here. I just need to sit down with the threads and get my hands dirty at the work bench. Just so you know that I have not been sitting on my hands on this subject, for anyone reading this and looking to build some freight cars, I really strongly recommend looking at the documentation presented by one of the NMRA divisions. These guys have put together some really outstanding step-by-step tutorials for building freight cars. Using info presented by this group in their PDF's (more than the one below) and the info on this forum, I should not have a difficult time completing the 'CAR' category.
http://www.pcrnmra.org/sierra/October-2011-digital.pdf |
| jbvb |
Posted - 05/11/2013 : 4:36:03 PM
I got Volunteer a few years ago, and finally did the paperwork for Author last winter; since the certificate has been in the hands of the Hub AP chair, we haven't been in the same place at the same time. My next two will probably be Electrical and Civil. I may enter a structure or two at the Laconia NER convention this October to see how I stand in that area. |
| Dutchman |
Posted - 05/11/2013 : 12:36:53 PM
Tom,
I'm the AP Chair for the Garden State Division (NER). Chuck (WVRR) just earned the Electrical Certificate. I'm heading over to another GSD member's house this afternoon to see if he is ready for the Golden Spike. I'm a half a passenger car away from the Cars Certificate. That would be my fifth.
We are starting to see a few members of the GSD getting interested in the AP Program. |
| ELK RIVER RR |
Posted - 05/11/2013 : 10:45:31 AM
It's been a little over a year I thought I would ask the question has anyone done any certificates or still trying, I turned in some paperwork to my AP person in my Div. just to see if it's enough information before I do twelve sets for structures I hate paperwork but once you get into it you can do it. I'll let you know how it turns out. Tom |
| hon3_rr |
Posted - 04/02/2011 : 12:49:23 AM
You know, there are so many wonderful builds on this forum with a lot of S-B-S instructions, I'd think that a lot of the paper work would be almost cut and paste for a lot of folks around here to obtain various Merit Awards. |
| Orionvp17 |
Posted - 04/01/2011 : 11:04:40 PM
quote:
Originally posted by ELK RIVER RR
Hi Bruce I just googled www.div4.org went to HOME PAGE, scroll down just below Auctions forms in red. Just underneath that is article by Bruce Brintnall click it and you should have it Tom
This article has some good stuff in it. The "Dreaded Paperwork" is really no harder than a paper you wrote in high school, and in many ways it's easier. The evaluators are working against a matrix to come up with a score. The official wording goes something like "What did the modeler attempt to do and how well did he/she do it?" The two sides of the matrix are really nothing more than "How complex?" (think "Really Simple" to "Oh, Wow!") and "How well executed?" (think "Yuck" to "Oh, Wow!!!").
The idea is to get a complex model done really well, but remember that you need only 87.5 points out of the 125 possible to earn a Merit Award. The requirements are listed on the NMRA website AP section (http://www.nmra.org/education/achievement/). Don't forget to read the other information out there, such as FAQs and Definitions! They're a gold mine of good information!
And as far as the computer is concerned, if your handwriting is like mine, which resembles an electrocardiogram, be sure to use the computer -- the judges will thank you!
Pete
in Michigan |
| Dutchman |
Posted - 04/01/2011 : 10:57:08 PM
Got it, Tom. That is some good advice on the paperwork. |
| ELK RIVER RR |
Posted - 04/01/2011 : 10:16:09 PM
Hi Bruce I just googled www.div4.org went to HOME PAGE, scroll down just below Auctions forms in red. Just underneath that is article by Bruce Brintnall click it and you should have it Tom |
| hon3_rr |
Posted - 04/01/2011 : 8:15:32 PM
Thanks Bruce. I appreciate the additional time you may introduce into the documentation for us 'newbies' in car building, and I for sure consider myself a newbie when it comes to modeling rolling stock. |
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