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Last 6 mos.
All-time
Feedback:
none
(5.00)
3 feedbacks
Hours:
0
20
Assignments:
0
3
See all Work History & Feedback
Location:
Rockwood, United States (GMT-05:00)
English Skills:
(self-assessed)
5.0
Member Since:
May 30, 2008
Last Worked:
July 20, 2008
oDesk Ready:
Yes
Related links:
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Technical Writers
Zach Scruggs
-
"
Seasoned Journalist, Technical Writer, and Photoshop CS3 Artist
-
Freelance
Technical Writer
,
United States
"
Permalink :
$16.67
/hr
Overview
Résumé
Work History & Feedback (3)
Tests (7)
Portfolio (5)
Through my tenure at Maryville College, I have honed my business, techinial and creative writing skills through coursework and campus opportunities. I've worked as a journalist, an editor, produced works of creative fiction and non-fiction and learned graphical arts skills in the process from working with these various publications on Campus. Currently, I am seeking opportunity in both writing and graphic arts fields in order to put my degree to good use. I chose to market my skills...
Through my tenure at Maryville College, I have honed my business, techinial and creative writing skills through coursework and campus opportunities. I've worked as a journalist, an editor, produced works of creative fiction and non-fiction and learned graphical arts skills in the process from working with these various publications on Campus.
Currently, I am seeking opportunity in both writing and graphic arts fields in order to put my degree to good use. I chose to market my skills on the internet because of geographic location. Living in the rural southeastern United States, technical opportunities just don't come along as oftern as in more urban areas. Since I feel it is part of my identity, these mountains and this town, I am looking for an opportunity to be happy in both my career while not sacrificing my love of this community.
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See All Work History & Feedback
(3 items, with Feedback)
Recent Work History & Feedback
Buyer ID
From/To
Job Title
Paid
Feedback
50143
07/2008 - 07/2008
Research & Development
$242 (20 hrs @ $12.00/hr)
5.0 Very happy with Zach, over delivered on everything, very impressed!!A+++
L
Provider-to-Buyer Feedback:
No feedback given
40309
06/2008 - 07/2008
Encyclopedia Articles and Product descriptions:
$150 (fixed-price)
5.0 Zach is Great!
L
Provider-to-Buyer Feedback:
5.0
40309
06/2008 - 06/2008
Rewrite of Encyclopedia
$190 (fixed-price)
5.0 Zach is Awesome! Great writer and researcher, very highly recommended!
L
Provider-to-Buyer Feedback:
No feedback given
See All Tests Taken
(7 items)
oDesk Tests Taken
Name of Test
Score
Percentile
Date Taken
Duration
Technical Writing Skills Certification
4.00
94%
TOP 10%
06/01/2008
22 min
Adobe Photoshop CS4 Test
3.10
91%
TOP 10%
10/05/2009
13 min
U.S. English Basic Skills Test
4.60
88%
TOP 20%
05/30/2008
10 min
Adobe Photoshop CS3 Test
2.90
71%
05/30/2008
27 min
U.S. English Chicago Style Editing Skills Test (For Writing Professionals)
3.60
61%
05/30/2008
20 min
Recent Candidacies
Job Opening Title
Initiated By
Date
Journalist that submit article in popular newspaper
Buyer
November 13, 2009
Job Category Interests
Writing & Translation
Technical Writing
Website Content
Blog & Article Writing
Copywriting
Other - Writing & Translation
Translation
Sales & Marketing
Business Plans & Marketing Strategy
Administrative Support
Web Research
Design & Multimedia
Graphic Design
Logo Design
Illustration
Print Design
Other - Design & Multimedia
Skills
Skill
Experience
Level
Last Used
Description
Photoshop CS3
2 yrs
5.0
2008
http://www.jtv.com
Photoshop CS3 - 2 years - 2006-2008
Digital Imaging Specialist- Jewelry Television
Using the latest in Adobe's image editing software, I worked daily withing Photoshop to produce images suitable for website publication. After the picture was taken using a Nikon D2, it was to be edited according to JTV style guidelines.
The editing process included:
- A precision cutout with the pen tool and quickmasking
- Contrast and color adjustment
- Brightening
- Sharpening
- Dust and scratch removal
- Resizing
- Compositing where necessary
Certifications
Date Earned
Name
Score
Percentile
Organization
Description
No Certifications
Employment History
From
To
Company
Title/Role
Description
06/2008
06/2008
KidsGo! Travel
Graphic Design Contractor / Independent Contributor
KidsGo! Travel, LLC
Knoxville, TN
Lynne Le Cren
Graphic design of children's activity pamphlet.
Worked in Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator to illustrate and edit images
Designed layout for activities based on maximum page space
Developed instructional Origami Templates designed for use by children
Communicated with Lynne about printing capabilities and ensured maximum printing resolution with specified hardware
08/2005
05/2008
Maryville College
Staff Writer / Independent Contributor
The Highland Echo is the campus news paper of Maryville College. As a staffwriter, I helped generate newsworty articles and story ideas.
Responsibilities
- Produced copy suitable for news publication according to AP style guidelines
- Proofread articles for grammar, punctuation, clarity, and conciseness.
- Developed familiarity with nuanced difference between hardnews, features, and briefs.
- Edited images for print on CKMY standards.
- Produced webcomics for section called "Bitmap Backside"
Please see my portfolio under "Maryville College Highland Echo Newspaper" for relevant writing samples.
08/2005
05/2008
Maryville College
Writing Center Conslultant / Independent Contributor
Maryville College's writing center is designed to aid students with essay composition and grammatical constructions. I worked as a lead consultant in the writing center after being selected for outstanding academic writing ability after my freshman composition classes in May of 2004.
Responsibilities:
- Proofread essays and theses for coherence, style, and diction
- Aided ESL/ELL students in grasping the intracacies of the English Language
- Offered suggestion for improvement in sentence structure and academic style as appropriated by the most current MLA style guide
- Maintained professionalism toward fellow students and those seeking assistance
02/2008
05/2008
Jewelry Televison, LLC
Digital Image Specialist / Independent Contributor
Jewlery Television,
http://www.jtv.com/
is one of America's premier Jewlery distributors. Located in Knoxville, Tennessee, JTV offers a wide range of jewelry, gemstones, and jewlery paraphernalia. I worked as a digital imaging specalist, specializing in shooting gemstones under .25 carats.
Responsibilities:
- Proficient operation of a Nikon D2 camera and telephoto lens extension
- Highly Proficient Photoshop CS3 editing skills including:
- Precision Cutouts
- 800x600 resizing for website production
- Multishot composite imaging
- Color correction, sharpening, and contrasting for optimal image quality
- Quota of at least 40 skus shot and imaged per day/ 200 per week
Portfolio to be uploaded soon**
For an idea of the image quality of the work at JTV, please see the website
http://www.jtv.com
as all images were sent through quality control to ensure company standards.
04/2005
12/2007
Cotton Eyed Joes
Security Personnel / Team Lead
Cotton Eyed Joes,
http://www.cottoneyedjoes.com
, is Knoxville's longest nightclub and bar. I worked as a floor security guard during my college career at CEJ.
Responsibilites:
- Maintained order among crowds of 1500+ people
- Developed problems solving skills that stressed nonviolent dispute resolution
- Developed health and wellness regimen to maintain physical conditioning
- Communicated with 8-12 other security persons about infractions and
- Maintained incident reports journal nightly
08/2006
04/2007
Maryville College
Co-Editor / Independent Contributor
"Impressions," is the annual student contributed literary magazine produced at Maryville College. As co-editor, I was responsible for helping with magazine layout and reading submissions for literary quality.
Resposibilities:
- Read student submissions for literary merit on the bases of literary form, creativeness, originality, and style.
- Emailed contributors about suggested editorial changes and compiled these changes in MS office documents.
- Helped with magazine layout and design using Adobe InCopy CS3 and Acrobat Pro 8 (CS3).
- Submitted personal written work for inclusion in the magazine.
Please see my portfolio under "Maryville College 'Impressions' Literary Magazine" for relevant samples
Other Experience
College Football
Maryville College- Fighting Scots Football
During my college career, on top of all my other responsibilities, I also played football as an offensive lineman. I feel that this deserves a place of its own, as to play the game one must have as much passion about it as any other serious endeavor in life.
It taught me valuable skills that translated over into the others spheres of life, those when the cleats and shoulderpads are off. I learned selflessness and self-control, learned how to appreciate the team mentality, to work as a part of something that was much bigger than the individual.
I played with motivation knowing that if everyone on that field did their part, we could emerge victorious...even when the odds were stacked against us.
Really, playing on a football team, or any sports team for that matter prepares a person for the business world more than any classwork could do. See, classwork is an individual thing, something you do on your own. But rarely are we given those opportunites in the job market, instead we are part of a larger team, and knowing how to work within that team, to me, makes all the difference.
Education
From
To
School
Degree
Area of Study
Description
08/2004
05/2008
Maryville College
Bachelors
Writing and Communications
08/2004 - 05/2008 Maryville College - Bachelors - Writing and Communications
Studies Writing and Communications with a focus on Journalism and Creative Writing. Liberal Arts curriculum included all areas of study including history, world cultures, statistics, sociology, and biological sciences.
Writing Classes Included: Academic Composition and Speech Presentation, Creative Non-Fiction/Literary Journalism, Creative Fiction, Journalism, Poetry, Business and Techincal Writing, Legal Writing, Senior Thesis
Member of Presidential Scholars Enrichment Program
Deans List 5 consecutive semsters
Member of Student Government Association
Staff Member, Highland Echo, Newspaper
Contributor, Impressions, Literary Review Magazine
3.25 GPA
Top 20% of Class
08/2004
05/2008
Maryville College
Bachelors
English Literature
08/2004 - 05/2008 Maryville College - Bachelors - English Literature Interpretation
Studies English Literature with focus on ancient and medieval British Literature. Some course work also in Ancient Western literature, contemporary american literature, post-modernism, and focused classes in Chaucer and Shakespeare.
3.25 GPA
Top 20% of Class
08/2000
05/2004
Rockwood High School
High School
General Studies
A colorful and varied Highschool Career:
Finished 3rd in Class with a GPA of 98.98
Honors English and Composition, 2004
Beta Club
American Legion Boys' State Delegate, 2003
Football Captain, 2003, 2004
Highest possible score on State Writing Competency test, 6 out of 6
95th Percentile ACT score 31 composite- 34 English, 32 Reading
Jr. Civitan Club, 2003
Bernard-Grief Outstanding Scholar Athlete Scholarship
Maryville College Presidential Scholarship Recipient
- 1 of 7 out of 300 applicants for full tuition.
[+] enlarge
Project Title:
Larson Vitamins - Vitamin and Supplement Encyclopedia
Attachment:
none
Completed:
06/30/2008
Category:
Writing & Translation > Website Content
URL:
http://www.larsonvitamins.com/Learning%20Center/Encyclopedia/tableofcontents.php
Description:
I compiled an encyclopedia of vitamins, supplements, and herbs for publication on the web. It was desgined to be a learning center type of project, for users of the website to read and become elementarily educted on a vareity of health products.
It was expected to be original content, and as such all material was composed fully by me. It consists of approximately 85 articles and is growing as the company adds more products to its inventory.
Project time: 3 weeks
Ross was a pleasure to work with.
See Below for a URL to my work. It will lead to the table of contents. You can click on a link to see a sample of my writing.
[+] enlarge
Project Title:
Kids Go Travel, LLC - Pamphlet Design
Attachment:
KidsGoTravel.pdf - 2082.187KB
Completed:
06/27/2008
Category:
Design & Multimedia > Print Design
URL:
http://lueniverse.blogspot.com/2008/07/kidsgotravel-portfolio-pics.html
Description:
This Graphic Design job involved developing an activity page geared toward kids, using Photoshop and Adobe Illustrator. The activity page was front and back and all layout, illustration, and design was preformed by me.
It also included formatting three origami instuction pages, with a kid based theme in the text, graphics, and composition style.
You can see a sample of the title page in attached file.
Lynne La Cren of KidsGo! Travel was a pleasure to work with.
[+] enlarge
Project Title:
Maryville College "Impressions" Literary Magazine
Attachment:
Impressions Portfolio.doc - 143.5KB
Completed:
06/01/2008
Category:
Writing & Translation > Other - Writing & Translation
URL:
none
Description:
"Impressions" is annual literary magazine published by the Maryville College humanities department. Solely student produced, "Impressions," offers the best of the creative talent in the MC community.
Herein is contained my published submissions to the magazine including 3 short stories and several poems
The short stories vary from complete fiction to creative non-fiction and literary journalism.
The poetry explores the post-modernist conception of art as well as some haiku and sonnet work.
I also served as co-editor for layout and design for the 2007 iteration of "Impressions."
[+] enlarge
Project Title:
Maryville College Highland Echo Newspaper
Attachment:
Journalism Portfolio.doc - 3660KB
Completed:
06/01/2008
Category:
Writing & Translation > Other - Writing & Translation
URL:
none
Description:
The Highland Echo is Maryville College's campus magazine. I worked as a staff writer for three of four years during my college career. Contained herein is my undertaking of various topics ranging from MC Sports, campus news, feature articles, national political and social issues, and some images I submitted for the political cartoon section.
16 articles including 1 brief and 4 features
2 photographs
This document is intended to prove my writing credentials in the art of journalism.
[+] enlarge
Project Title:
JTV Imaging Sample
Attachment:
none
Completed:
05/31/2008
Category:
Design & Multimedia > Graphic Design
URL:
none
Description:
The image sample enclosed is based off of Jewelry Television editing Guidelines for commercial distribution. Work includes cutout, sharpening, brightening, color correction and re-positioning. The photo is one of my own used for Craigslist.
Hourly Assignment History
Buyer ID
From/To
Job Title
Paid
Feedback
50143
07/2008 - 07/2008
Research & Development
$242 (20 hrs @ $12.00/hr)
5.0 Very happy with Zach, over delivered on everything, very impressed!!A+++
L
Provider-to-Buyer Feedback:
No feedback given
Fixed-Price Assignment History
Buyer ID
From/To
Job Title
Paid
Feedback
40309
06/2008 - 07/2008
Encyclopedia Articles and Product descriptions:
$150
5.0 Zach is Great!
L
Provider-to-Buyer Feedback:
5.0
40309
06/2008 - 06/2008
Rewrite of Encyclopedia
$190
5.0 Zach is Awesome! Great writer and researcher, very highly recommended!
L
Provider-to-Buyer Feedback:
No feedback given
oDesk Tests Taken
Name of Test
Score
Percentile
Date Taken
Duration
Technical Writing Skills Certification
4.00
94%
TOP 10%
06/01/2008
22 min
Adobe Photoshop CS4 Test
3.10
91%
TOP 10%
10/05/2009
13 min
U.S. English Basic Skills Test
4.60
88%
TOP 20%
05/30/2008
10 min
Adobe Photoshop CS3 Test
2.90
71%
05/30/2008
27 min
U.S. English Chicago Style Editing Skills Test (For Writing Professionals)
3.60
61%
05/30/2008
20 min
Windows XP Test
3.50
55%
05/30/2008
11 min
oDesk Readiness Test for Independent Contractors and Company Managers
05/30/2008
4 min
