How to Get Writing Sample Feedback (Medieval/Early Modern Literature)

[premodernist]

Hello,

One question I have about writing samples is how to get a cold review of one.  I've done an MA thesis of five chapters, and I plan on using one to serve as a writing sample for doctoral studies.  Obviously, reviews from graduate peers and my thesis committee are essential.  However, is it so much as possible to get a review of a writing sample outside of one's home department?  I say this because I would really like to have someone review my sample with their own expectations of scholarship.  Those would likely be different from what my department would consider good work.  I don't say that because they're not smart people.  Writing samples need to appeal to a broad audience with a range of specializations, and I'm looking for advice outside my pond. 

Another angle here is that works one would submit for publication usually go through a ton of reviews, but I imagine most are done by people the author trusts.  I would imagine that putting a writing sample out to any audience is a problematic idea. 

Thoughts?  My area of interest is the Arthuriana and Spenser's Faerie Queene. 

Edited September 18, 2018 by premodernist

[Norse_Medievalist]

Hi! Not sure if this will help or not but I'm gonna take a stab at it. While I work with the Norse Sagas I'm kinda into everything medieval, including the Arthuriana, and I'm curious as to whether you're looking for aid outside of an English department or if you are currently in an English department? If you have a writing center on your campus I would honestly recommend going to them to have them look over a chapter or two so you can see if it makes sense to those that are not in your area of focus. If you're applying for a doctorate of English then you will likely have someone in admissions that is at least vaguely familiar with your subject matter. The trick would just be to make sure it translates well to those that might not know as much as you had to when writing your thesis. 

Does that help some? Did I make sense? If you want to bounce ideas off of me or to ask me to clarify something feel free.