But I always advise newbie not to post with the intention to earn merit because it doesn't work that way, merit will come when you least expect it, that is how funny it can be sometimes.
When I was a newbie, I earned merit fast. I registered on Bitcointalk, I knew nothing. I make some wrong posts and I was corrected but people knew that I was ready to learn and I accept corrections from established members. I study people and how they were posting, I read most posts than me posting. Later I make myself more useful by bringing useful topics and I continued to earn merits. There were some posts that I will make I will be expecting merit and many if them were given merits because I know how this forum is. See this forum like an organization, you get there and learn about them to become like them.