Courtney Adams

English 2100, Salt Lake Community College

November 30, 2016

CA
CONTACT
6387 W. Basin Ride Dr.
West Valley, UT 84128

COURTNEY ADAMS

ROCKIE DUSTIN
OWNER REPRTERS INC 10 W. 100 S. SALT LAKE CITY, UT 84101

cm.adams1995@gmail.com
385-414-4290

November 25, 2016

Dear Rockie Dustin,
I am very interested in the Office Manager position at Reporters
Inc. I know that since the current office manager is leaving, you
have started the interview process for a new one. I am planning to
work for Reporters Inc. for a while and would love this
opportunity to move up in the company. I have attached my
resume, from which you will see that I am qualified for this
position.
I believe I would make a great office manager for Reporters Inc. I
am very punctual and responsible. I always get my work done in a
timely manner. Being in the office for about a year now, I have
learned a lot about the company and how things work.
I am familiar with production, filing, billing, calendar, email and
answering phones. I have learned all of it, more than any other
person here.
I would thrive in this position and keep Reporters Inc. running
smoothly. Thank you for you time and consideration. Feel free to
contact me at any time through email at
cm.adams1995@gmail.com if you have any questions,

Sincerely,
Courtney Adams

Table of Contents
Cover Letter

Technical Instructions: Filling in Calendar at Reporters Inc.

Technical Description: The Hole-Punch Machine

English 2100, Project 1: Writing as a Certified Court Reporter

6-14

English 1010, Proposal: Abortion Proposal

15-20

Resume

21-22

Filling in Calendar at Reporters Inc.

At Reporters Inc. we use whats called the calendar to keep track of all
the depositions we are scheduled to cover for law firms. We use the
information found in the body of a notice of deposition (NOD) to fill
in the calendar.
You would begin by turning the calendar to the correct date and chosing a box to fill in. Use the instructions and fig. 1 below to fill it in
correctly.

1. Time of the Deposition

2. Attorney taking
deposition

3. Person to be deposed
4. Location of Deposition
5. Who scheduled the deposition/ our
contact
6. Contacts phone number
7. Is the attorney a client of
a reporter? If so, their name
goes here
8. The reporter who will be transcribing the deposition

4
5

8
Fig. 1

Writing as a Certified Court Reporter

Courtney Adams
English 2100
September 18, 2016

Abstract
Court reporting is a profession that most people do not know about. They are the ones in the
court room typing down everything that is being said. Reporters spend almost all their time
typing and creating documents using reporting programs and devices, the machine they type on
is called a stenograph. There is a special keyboard technology they use to type as fast as people
talk. They are also very professional individuals who deal with lawyers and judges every day.
This report will consider the organization culture and the lives of professional court reporters.

Introduction
The court reporting profession is something I have recently been introduced to and
quickly found an interest. About nine months ago, I was hired to work as an office assistant in a
court reporting firm. Basically, all I do is make copies of an original transcript, which is created
by the court reporter, for attorneys to use. Although I work at a reporting firm, I do not know
much about the actual court reporting profession. I enjoy and am good at typing, however I
imagine it is a quite difficult job and requires a good deal of schooling. Trying to type everything
that is being said in a deposition sounds like it takes a lot of training and practice to be able to do.
Would this job even be for me?
While I do not know much of the day to day work of a reporter, I have picked up a little
insight. I do know that court reporters create documents and transcripts all day, every day. The
main part of their job is to go set up in a deposition and type everything that is being said in the
room between lawyers, their clients and witnesses. I know that from there they edit the document
they typed up and turn it into a transcript. The final transcript is then sent to our office and is
used to create copies for attorneys to use before going to trial.
A court reporter is always in a court room or deposition with lawyers which requires the
reporter to dress professionally and act very professional as well. If you are a freelance reporter,
then you are there representing yourself and usually a reporting firm as well. A reporter cannot
just roll out of bed, throw on some jeans and a hoodie, and head out to a job. From what I do
know about the court reporting job is enough to interest me. The purpose of this report is to look
deeper into the court reporting field and see if it is something I would want to do.

Methodology
I used a few sources to find all I could about the court reporting industry. I used multiple
websites to find information on the reporting world, a few more useful than others. To begin my
research, I picked up my laptop and turned it on. When it was on I opened Microsoft Edge and
let my google.com home page load. In the search bar, I typed what it's like to be a court
reporter. I opened the first link that came up titled What I do as a Court Reporter. I read
through this link, then went back and opened another link. This was at the bottom of the first
page titled What is a Court Reporter. I read this webpage as well and copied any information I
found valuable.
I met with a professional court reporter in person and conducted an interview to learn
about what he does daily in his career. I did not exactly set this meeting up or ask in advance. On
September 22, 2016, Rockie Dustin, who is the owner of the firm I work for, came into the office
to drop off some transcripts he had finished. I quickly remembered that I wanted to interview
him for this report so I said to him, Hey Rockie, I am working on an assignment for school and
was wondering if you could spare 10 minutes so I could ask a few quick questions? He, of
course, agreed. We went and sat at the conference table we have in the office. As soon as we sat
down he asked me what kind of project I was working on and I told him. He was ecstatic. I went
on to ask him about his daily job and what is required to become a reporter. At the end of the
interview I thanked him for his time and for answering my questions.
Results
According to CourtReporterEDU (2016) to become a reporter in Utah one must first get
an associates degree in court reporting or stenography. One can choose to be a shorthand

10

reporter or a voice reporter. From then one must take an exam to become certified with the
National Court Reporters Association, which I read will involve studying, preparing, and taking
an exam. The exam covers a variety of topics, such as technology and reporting practices. The
minimum passing score for the exam is 70 percent (courtreporteredu.net, 2016). Then a reporter
can choose to work for a reporting firm or for the courts.
Dustin (personal communication, 2016) said that reporters do not have much lee-way
when it comes the documents they create, as they must be professional and easy to read for
anyone. Court reporters across the country use the same layout for their transcripts. Each
transcript consists of a cover page with the case name, date of deposition/court hearing, and the
person being deposed. They have an appearance page of those present at the time followed by an
index and exhibit index if needed. Next would be the transcribed deposition/court hearing, a
word index, and any exhibits pertaining to that transcript. The document has a large left margin,
which is where time stamping will go. There are 25 lines to a page, as counted on the inner left
margin. The text is indented when changing between the question being asked and the answer
given.
Since court reporters are typing everything being said in a deposition/court hearing, they
would need to type 225 words per minute as two voices are speaking. In order to be able to type
so fast reporters use a stenograph keyboard, which has only 22 keys. Houseman (2013) states
that if one hit the keys in a series it creates a chord which can stand for a syllable, word, or an
entire phrase. When typing these chords on the stenograph, the computer and programs it is
hooked to will compute them into English. It is then the reporters job to revise, and edit the
transcripts on their own time to create the final by a deadline. Dustin (personal communication,
September 22, 2016) pointed out to me that reporters will hire scopists and/or proofreaders to do

11

the editing and tweaking of the rough draft, so they dont have a work overload and get too
stressed.
A freelance court reporter is typically their own boss, even when in the courtroom. They
would usually get a job from a reporting firm, which they do not have much control over unless
they have their own clients. But the reporter is at discretion to charge over the standard rate if
they have a hard time hearing what is being said at a deposition/court hearing or if people talk
over each other too often. They can also charge mileage and hotel fees if needing to travel
outside of the city. Reporters have the right to turn down work from a firm if it conflicts with
their personal life, so they basically get to choose when they want to work.
Discussion
The transcript that reporters create will look about the same anywhere in the country.
Reporters use special programs that turn their stenograph chords into words, this program also
puts the transcript in the correct format. Reporters do make changes to the format where it is
needed, but they do not have to worry about completely formatting every transcript which would
take more time. There are also programs we use in our office to create other documents that are
binded with the copy transcript. We have a program called E-Transcript. This program will
create a word index for each transcript. It also creates what we call a mini transcript. On normal
letter size paper, we fit four pages onto one to create a condensed or mini transcript. Without
these programs a reporter would have to spend the time creating and formatting all these
documents themselves.
Reporters spend most their career typing and editing transcripts of conversations said in
depositions and courtrooms. I did not realize how much time outside of the law office or court

12

room reporters are using to finish their work. This job is more than a full time-position, taking up
nights and sometimes weekends. This is the reason reporters will hire a scopist and/or
proofreader to help with editing. A scopist will go through the transcript created by the
stenograph and turn it into a readable document for everyone. They may need to change words
because the stenograph placed a word that sounds like the one that was used. Words such as to,
too and two all sound very similar but with different meanings. On the stenograph you would
enter the same chord for all three words. This saves time for the reporter, as he/she doesnt have
to memorize chords for all three. This is where the scopist comes in and selects the correct word.
Proofreaders will read through the transcripts and double check spelling, grammar and to make
sure the transcript makes sense. Scopists and proofreaders help out the reporter tremendously and
save them time to spend with family or friends.
Conclusion
Researching the career of court reporting has taught me a lot. There is much more to
court reporting than I had realized, even after working in a court reporting firm and seeing
reporters work daily. Learning a whole new typing device seems a little hard but none-the less,
fun at the same time. It would be amazing to be able to learn a new device and type around 225
words per minute. Sounds like a superpower to me!
The requirements to become a certified court reporter in Utah dont seem too bad. A 2year degree is nothing compared to a masters program. I am already working on my generals for
a 2-year degree, so the switch to studying stenography or court reporting would not be so bad.
Passing a test with 70% from the National Court Reporting Association (NCRA) is the next step.

13

I would be a little more stressed with this part of the process. I am a great test-taker though so
Im sure with studying I would be just fine.
I do love to type and the thought of being able to type 225 words per minute fascinates
me. Although I would be using a different keyboard to type, I think it would be fun. Typing on a
stenograph keyboard would require classes and practice on using the new equipment. I am
nervous about learning how to use a stenograph keyboard, as I am still a little confused on how
they work. They are very complex machines if you do not know much about it. I would have to
study, learn and remember quite a lot of chords to make words and phrases. It would be so cool
to learn how to use a stenograph, but also a little scary too.
I do like the aspect of basically being my own boss. I would be able to choose my own
schedule, for the most part, and who would not want that? There is a lot of ones own time that
has to be allotted to edit and turn typed words into a final transcript. I might get to pick my own
schedule but would I choose that over my nights and weekends with friends and family? This
doesnt sound too appealing but I would love to be able to pick days I want to take a
deposition/court hearing or if I want a personal day. That sounds really nice.
I am very glad I got the chance to do this report and look more into the world of court
reporting. If it were not for this, I probably never would have looked this far into it. I would have
never realized how nice this career field seems. After doing this research, I am still interested in
this profession and plan to look further into the classes I need to take to become a reporter. I will
also talk to reporters I work with to get any information and help along the way.

14

References
CourtReporterEDU.org. (2016). Court Reporter Jobs and Training Opportunities in Utah.
Retrieved from http://www.courtreporteredu.org/utah/

Houseman J. (2013). How does a stenograph work. The legal intrigue journal.
Retrieved from http://www.acrdepos.com/wordpress/how-does-a-stenograph-work/

15

Courtney Adams
Professor Rachele Dalton
English 1010 Proposal Paper
April 23, 2016
Abortion
Are you Pro-Life or Pro-Choice? No matter which way you see abortion, it is and
continues to be a big debate in the U.S. There are some who think that abortion is escaping
responsibility, escaping the consequences of your actions while others think it is a womans
choice with what she does with her own body. There are many reasons on both ends on the
argument of abortion, some reasonable.
Abortion is removing a fetus or embryo before it has the ability to sustain life outside of
the womb. A fetus can be removed either by surgery or with an abortion medication in the first
two trimesters. With the medical technology and modern methods used in abortions, they are
known to be one of the safest procedures when done correctly and legally. Abortion is a safe
medical procedure. The vast majority of women - 88% - who have an abortion do so in their
first trimester. Medical abortions have less than 0.5% risk of serious complications and do not
affect a woman's health or future ability to become pregnant or give birth. (About)
Abortion is controlled at the state level. The states get to pick and choose their
regulations when it comes to abortion. There are currently 43 states that prohibit abortion
except in the case that it is needed to protect the womans life or health. One of the big
debates of abortion is funding, how abortions are paid for. 17 states use tax money to cover the
costs of abortions and many who are anti-abortion have a huge problem with that. They dont

16

want to be paying for something they dont support without a choice. However, 32 states and
the District of Columbia prohibit the use of state money to fun abortions unless medically
needed. Some states dont even allow private insurance companies to pay for a patients
abortion.
Those against abortion compare it with murder. Some believe that an embryo is alive
once a seed is fertilized. Being alive means that its a human being with feelings, its own body
and a life to live. These people see abortion as taking away a life and making choices for a
person who didnt even get a chance. Since life begins at conception, abortion is akin to
murder as it is the act of taking human life. Abortion is in direct defiance of the commonly
accepted idea of the sanctity of human life. No civilized society permits one human to
intentionally harm or take the life of another human without punishment, and abortion is no
different. (About) In the same article it was argued that if an abortion is considered murder
by some then why is vitro fertilization seen as okay? The concept of personhood is different
from the concept of human life. Human life occurs at conception, but fertilized eggs used for in
vitro fertilization are also human lives and those not implanted are routinely thrown away. Is
this murder, and if not, then how is abortion murder?
Adoption is commonly argued to be a good alternative to abortion. Sure, there are many
people out there looking to adopt a child because they may have infertility issues or some other
reason. However, if a woman mistakenly gets pregnant and knows she doesnt want the child,
why would she want to go through the pregnancy and have the possibility of suffering from
post-partum? Yes, there are some out there that would go through the pregnancy and all issues

17

to be able to give a couple the child theyve been waiting for, but not all women would be
willing or even able to do that. It is the womans choice to give her baby up for adoption or to
abort the pregnancy. Adoption shouldnt be seen as an alternative, but rather just another
option.
Abortions are actually more common than most realize. 3 out of 10 women have an
abortion by the age of 45. Abortions happen for many reasons. Some of the top reasons include
rape, incest, adolescence, poverty and a threatening pregnancy to the woman. Other reasons
woman get abortions may be because they arent ready, or they dont want to be a single
parent. Women dont want to bring a child into the world when they know they cant give the
child the life it deserves, which is completely understandable.
Pro-lifers would argue that in the case of rape or incest, its the perpetrator who should
be punished not the unborn child who did no harm. There are medical procedures that can
prevent a woman from getting pregnant in these cases. In reality, most women who end up in
this situation are too scared to speak up and let someone know what happened until they find
out theyre pregnant and its too late.
Many are against abortion because they believe that it is mostly younger women, such
as teenagers, getting abortions. Teen pregnancy rates have been rising lately, which is what
leads many to believe that abortions are mostly teenagers. 60% of woman obtaining abortions
are already mothers. These are woman who already have at least 1 child and either her body
cant bear another pregnancy or she cant afford another child. There are teenagers who get
abortions, but with the world we live in today where abortions are shamed, many younger

18

woman are scared to get an abortion for the fear of being judged by peers. Thats how it would
have been for me if I happened to get pregnant while in High School.
I propose that people mind their own business. Abortion is between a woman, her fetus
and her doctor. If a woman decides to abort her child and end its life then so be it. ITS HER
LIFE. I can promise that what a woman decides to do with her body has absolutely no effect on
you. There are woman making choices concerning their bodies every second and I bet none of
these choices are affecting your life. Let woman make their choices and stop shaming them for
something you may not agree with. Every person is their own, unique person with their own
beliefs and views.
Funding wise, I think that abortions should be like any other medical procedure.
Insurances can choose to cover it, leaving the patient with either a co-pay or a co-insurance.
Tax dollars should not be going towards abortions or any medical procedures unless it is
absolutely needed for the safety of the woman/patient.
To get to the bottom of it, truthfully I dont think any states should prohibit abortion. I
think that abortion should be regulated federally. It should be legal in all 50 states to woman of
all ages. Minors would be required to have parental consent, of course. Those who want or
need an abortion should be able to get it without problems. I do, however, think that there
should be a time limit on abortions. They should only be done in the first 4 months or unless
medically necessary. Yes, a fetus is a human being and the further along it gets the more it
develops, including senses such as touch or pain.

19

Abortion can definitely be argued from either side. But I think its time that people
worry about themselves than what others are doing with their lives. Just tell me, how does a
woman getting an abortion 4 states away from you personally affect your life? Exactly, it
doesnt. You meet people every day and dont know their story. The girl that checked you out at
the grocery store today, the sweet cute one that seems like she has it all going on, well she got
an abortion last year. You never would have known if I didnt tell you, so why does it matter?
Abortion doesnt change who a person is. So, are you pro-life or pro-choice?

20

Works Cited

"Abortion." Guttmacher Institute. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Apr. 2016.

"Abortion Information | What Are Your Options?" Abortion | What Are Your Options? Planned
Parenthood, n.d. Web. 26 Apr. 2016.

"An Overview of Abortion Laws." Guttmacher Institute. N.p., 09 Mar. 2016. Web. 26 Apr. 2016.

Anderson, Carl A. "The Surprising New Normal in the Abortion Debate." National Review Online.
N.p., 01 Jan. 2016. Web. 26 Apr. 2016.

Lowen, Linda. "10 Common Arguments For and Against Abortion." About.com News & Issues.
About News, 06 Mar. 2016. Web. 26 Apr. 2016.

21

Courtney Adams
6387 Basin Ridge Dr., West Valley, Utah 84128
T: (385) 414-4290 E: cm.adams1995@gmail.com

Objective

I am an outgoing, happy, and friendly person who strives in fast paced environments
where I am expected to get duties done in a timely manner. I am a self-starter and love to
work alone as well as with others. I am hard-working, dedicated and responsible. I love
meeting new people and helping others with what is needed. My desire is to find a stable
yet challenging position in which to learn new technologies and skills while utilizing my
previous experiences to improve beyond my current abilities. Attending Salt Lake
Community College as a full-time student in 2016, I need a company that is willing to
work with my school schedule.

Experience

Reporters, Inc Office Manager

-

Bind Transcripts
Bundle Transcript Orders
Copy Transcripts

Dec 2015-Current
-

Hole-Punch Transcripts
Postage and Mail

C3/CustomerContactChannels Telesales for UHC

-

Dealt with Customers

Sold Heath Care Plans
Took Incoming Phone calls

NationWide Shelving - Accounting/H.R

-

Collections Calls
Conducted Interviews
Entered and Paid Bills

Nov 2014-Sept 2015

-

Quickbooks
Received Payments
Set-up New Employees

Dura-Tuff Wear Products - Administrative Assistant

-

Education

Sept 2015-Dec 2015

Answered Phones
Created Invoices

Hunter High School

Placed Orders
Scheduled shipments

2010-2013

High School Diploma

3.69 GPA
Varsity Cheerleading Captain 2011-2012
Junior Varsity Cheerleading Secretary 2010-2011

Salt Lake Community College

Aug 2013-Oct 2014

General Studies Associates Fall 2017

Humanities 1100 Concurrent Enrollment

2012-2017

22

Skills

References

Ability to work with Mac and Microsoft Operating Systems

Able to Prioritize Tasks
Answering Phones
Customer Service
Extremely Dedicated, Reliable, Organized, and Efficient
High Knowledge of QuickBooks
Mastery of Microsoft Office Programs
Office Duties
Oral and Written Communications
Team Player
Typing 50+ WPM

Angelina Helm
Cheer Coach/Friend
(801) 913-5651
Brad Skinner
Dura-Tuff General Manager
(801) 973-8900
James Gault
NationWide Shelving - CEO
(801) 328-8788