lemon_drop

Thank you, truckbasket. That's kind of what I was hoping to hear So I shouldn't worry too much about admission committees looking for a direct correlation in my sample? I mean, again, there IS a correlation in terms of method, I'm just applying it to a different body of literature than what I'm proposing to study long term.

Long time lurker here breaking my silence to ask you kind people of the Grad Cafe a question: Am I committing an unpardonable sin if I submit a writing sample that's not totally related to the topics I discuss in my personal statement? I want to study narratology and contemporary American literature and film, and I said exactly that in my statement, buuuuttttt...my writing sample is a Barthesian study of Lolita. Right method, wrong time period and nationality. It's a strong paper and that's why I'm submitting it but how will admissions committees view it? Will I look like an incompetent applicant not fit for graduate study? Should I *gulp* write a new paper in the next 2 months or so? (I'm only applying to Masters programs so my deadlines are all mid Jan to late Feb.) I need your advice!