Writing Sample and SOP

[skeletonkeys]

As I agonize over what to use as my writing sample (I've changed my mind 3 times and I know it's getting late) I go back to the question: Does it hurt you to use a sample that is different from you stated research goals? My case is that my strongest papers are on 1)Chester Himes and zoot suit riots (more interdisciplinary) and 2) The Beats and disgust. (My SOP talks about race but focuses on technology and literature).

However, neither of these about what I want to pursue at the phd level, and I don't want to craft a complete lie (though admittedly not from ethical reservations but time constraints and fear of coming across as insincere).

What is your experience using a writing sample not completely aligned with you SOP focus? Has anyone told you this is a bad thing? I've heard both that it's fine and that it will hurt me, so I'm hoping there's some kind of consensus. Maybe I'm over thinking this.

Thanks!

[woolfie]

Feel free to disagree with me, but from reading that, I didn't think those papers sounded diametrically opposed. It sounds like you are interested in 20th century American and maybe Cultural Studies, no? (can't tell exactly just from your two sentences on it). Maybe you are looking for your interests it to be too specifically identical to your sample, which I don't think it has be. Though what do I know, I haven't been accepted anywhere yet.

Also, race and technology and literature are not at all different subjects, see posthumanism and the like. I think you just have to write your SoP really well so the dots are connected and give a holistic image of a project you would do well on that is bolstered by the work you've done in the sample.

[woolfie]

Though, then again, don't listen to me because I'm having the same problem, just even bigger. For instance, my writing sample is on neo-slave narratives, historical memory, and narrative theory. I realized, after spending so much time on this paper, that early American religious writing and narrative theory are what I want my next project to be on. But that's so different, way more different than your two samples suggest, which is why I gave the above advice. I know that I want to do American lit, though I'm toying with focusing on the narrative theory as the link between the two. But I really don't know what to do either.

[skeletonkeys]

Thanks for the response. I think part of my concern is that my 2 strongest papers are so interdisciplinary I feel like I have to do significant revisions to make them work, so maybe that's worrying me more than the alignment between SOP and sample. I think in your case the overarching concern with narrative theory will give your app coherence...are you mentioning early American lit in your SOP?

[woolfie]

That's kind of my crossroads right now and I haven't decided. I wrote one focusing on 18th century Am lit, but when I reread my writing sample I realized it might be a bad idea. It's honestly what I what to do, but I'm considering making my SoP focus on antebellum Af Am literature instead to give a clear coherence to my application, though it feels dishonest. As many other people have said, though, you don't have to follow through with your exact project as outlined in the SoP.

[skeletonkeys]

I don't think it would be necessarily dishonest to focus on antebellum AfAm lit if you really want to do early American...wouldn't the antebellum mark the end of the early period? Of course you could also mention looking at the tradition of XYZ as it transforms throughout the early and antebellum period.

If you want to trade sops let me know!

[anonacademic]

Like you've said, I don't think it's necessary that your SOP and writing sample directly link up. It sounds like, for both of you, there's some sort of evolution in your interests/knowledge that's leading you from writing sample to other interests. I'd hone in on that trajectory, talk about the awesomeness that is your writing sample, and how you hope to expand and complicate these ideas and/or related ideas/areas/authors/&c. in your further research.

Of course you could also mention looking at the tradition of XYZ as it transforms throughout the early and antebellum period.

^ This, more or less.

I believe I wasn't as successful in my first round of applications not because my writing sample and SOP didn't completely align (they did, as much as I had a defined research goal!), but because neither was up to par. (And, oh boy, I just recently glanced through that old SOP - yikes!) I have the feeling that the quality of the writing and ideas is what counts, not whether they directly dovetail.

Good luck! I'm starting to get some serious anxiety about this whole process with t-minus one month to the first deadlines

[skeletonkeys]

Thanks, chumlee! I also look at my SOP from 3 years ago, right out of undergrad, and I'm surprised I was even accepted to an MA program. I just cringed looking at it. Good luck to you too!

[augustquail]

Like you've said, I don't think it's necessary that your SOP and writing sample directly link up. It sounds like, for both of you, there's some sort of evolution in your interests/knowledge that's leading you from writing sample to other interests. I'd hone in on that trajectory, talk about the awesomeness that is your writing sample, and how you hope to expand and complicate these ideas and/or related ideas/areas/authors/&c. in your further research.

^ This, more or less.

I believe I wasn't as successful in my first round of applications not because my writing sample and SOP didn't completely align (they did, as much as I had a defined research goal!), but because neither was up to par. (And, oh boy, I just recently glanced through that old SOP - yikes!) I have the feeling that the quality of the writing and ideas is what counts, not whether they directly dovetail.

Good luck! I'm starting to get some serious anxiety about this whole process with t-minus one month to the first deadlines

I'm just restating this information that I've heard from many previous applicants and current students:

It is best if your sop and writing sample align. If they do not align, it makes you much harder to evaluate (as a candidate). That being said, if you only have a BA, then there is a lot more leeway with regard to interests/how well the sop matches the writing sample. However, if you have an MA your writing sample should represent a contribution to your proposed field of studies--one that is ideally aware of recent criticism and work in the area.

[skeletonkeys]

I'm just restating this information that I've heard from many previous applicants and current students:

It is best if your sop and writing sample align. If they do not align, it makes you much harder to evaluate (as a candidate). That being said, if you only have a BA, then there is a lot more leeway with regard to interests/how well the sop matches the writing sample. However, if you have an MA your writing sample should represent a contribution to your proposed field of studies--one that is ideally aware of recent criticism and work in the area.

Augustquail: Thanks for the input...that is what my gut is saying-- that it would be best to have a coherent "aligned" app and since i have an MA I need a clear focus of how I'll contribute to my field. Sadly I think I'm going in another direction though! Most of my MA work focused on AfAm lit and Black cultural studies/interdisciplinary race theory, but I've recently become interested in technology and ideas of the city (space). Reconcilable with ideas of race, of course, but I'm still nervous. Anyway, I digress. Back to writing.

[augustquail]

Augustquail: Thanks for the input...that is what my gut is saying-- that it would be best to have a coherent "aligned" app and since i have an MA I need a clear focus of how I'll contribute to my field. Sadly I think I'm going in another direction though! Most of my MA work focused on AfAm lit and Black cultural studies/interdisciplinary race theory, but I've recently become interested in technology and ideas of the city (space). Reconcilable with ideas of race, of course, but I'm still nervous. Anyway, I digress. Back to writing.

Strangely, I am interested in theories of space and race, also; i wrote my MA thesis around those ideas. So it definately is reconcilable:) Remember, your writing sample doesn't necessarily have to contain an example for every kind of methodology/theory you're interested. You could say you want to approach african american lit with questions about the 'city'/'place' in your sop,' and have still have a paper that is focused on african american lit or race theory. Maybe you could explain what made you become interested in city/space? If it was writing your MA thesis or a grad class, or reading a specific work, it might be worth mentioning in your 'future' paragraph.

What time period are you interested in?

Edited November 13, 2010 by augustquail

[skeletonkeys]

Strangely, I am interested in theories of space and race, also; i wrote my MA thesis around those ideas. So it definately is reconcilable:) Remember, your writing sample doesn't necessarily have to contain an example for every kind of methodology/theory you're interested. You could say you want to approach african american lit with questions about the 'city'/'place' in your sop,' and have still have a paper that is focused on african american lit or race theory. Maybe you could explain what made you become interested in city/space? If it was writing your MA thesis or a grad class, or reading a specific work, it might be worth mentioning in your 'future' paragraph.

What time period are you interested in?

I'm interested in the 20th century, although recently I've found myself going back into the mid-late 19th cent. What about yourself?

[ecritdansleau]

Although I'm not an expert, professors I have asked about choosing a writing sample unanimously stated that you want to show them your BEST writing in your writing sample. While the interests you outline in an SOP will certainly transform throughout your studies, establishing yourself as a writer with a strong, distinctive voice with a coherent argument in the writing sample is something that should be cemented right then and there, and it is perhaps the single most important indicator of you "performing" what you ideally hope to do for a lifetime. I'm not trying to suggest that the SOP is not significant, but from I've been told by my professors, you would not by any means want to sideline your best possible writing sample because it does not perfectly match your future research interests. My advice is to reread drafts of an SOP and the papers, give yourself some time to think about them, perhaps read up on related research if it would help, and figure out the most logical way to present the two as not being quite so disparate (You could argue that your writing sample shows the way you explore Questions a,b, and c in regard to the content of those works and how this led you to the development of questions X, Y, and Z, etc)

[skeletonkeys]

Although I'm not an expert, professors I have asked about choosing a writing sample unanimously stated that you want to show them your BEST writing in your writing sample. While the interests you outline in an SOP will certainly transform throughout your studies, establishing yourself as a writer with a strong, distinctive voice with a coherent argument in the writing sample is something that should be cemented right then and there, and it is perhaps the single most important indicator of you "performing" what you ideally hope to do for a lifetime. I'm not trying to suggest that the SOP is not significant, but from I've been told by my professors, you would not by any means want to sideline your best possible writing sample because it does not perfectly match your future research interests. My advice is to reread drafts of an SOP and the papers, give yourself some time to think about them, perhaps read up on related research if it would help, and figure out the most logical way to present the two as not being quite so disparate (You could argue that your writing sample shows the way you explore Questions a,b, and c in regard to the content of those works and how this led you to the development of questions X, Y, and Z, etc)

So do you think if my SOP focuses on technology, critical theory and American lit a writing sample about the Beats and queer theory would be too far removed, since I don't talk about technology? Or would you suggest revising my SOP? I'm so torn!

Thanks to everyone for all the feedback.

[anonacademic]

So do you think if my SOP focuses on technology, critical theory and American lit a writing sample about the Beats and queer theory would be too far removed, since I don't talk about technology? Or would you suggest revising my SOP? I'm so torn!

Thanks to everyone for all the feedback.

I'd ask a professor who knows your work well - s/he will be able to say, "Yes, this is an awesome piece of work that does [not] tie into your SOP [but] [and] that's fantastic."

But in the meantime, is there a way to take this writing sample as a baseline for the project you outline in your SOP? In other words, can you say, "After talking about the Beats and queer theory in my paper X, I realized that technology impacts my assertions" (or a more coherent variation thereof!)? Even if the two aren't directly linked to the outside observer, I think there's something to be said for revealing your thought process.

[augustquail]

Although I'm not an expert, professors I have asked about choosing a writing sample unanimously stated that you want to show them your BEST writing in your writing sample. While the interests you outline in an SOP will certainly transform throughout your studies, establishing yourself as a writer with a strong, distinctive voice with a coherent argument in the writing sample is something that should be cemented right then and there, and it is perhaps the single most important indicator of you "performing" what you ideally hope to do for a lifetime. I'm not trying to suggest that the SOP is not significant, but from I've been told by my professors, you would not by any means want to sideline your best possible writing sample because it does not perfectly match your future research interests. My advice is to reread drafts of an SOP and the papers, give yourself some time to think about them, perhaps read up on related research if it would help, and figure out the most logical way to present the two as not being quite so disparate (You could argue that your writing sample shows the way you explore Questions a,b, and c in regard to the content of those works and how this led you to the development of questions X, Y, and Z, etc)

As someone who is possibly "sidelining" my best work in order to maintain a nice fit--let me say I am extremely confused about what to do. I already have an MA, and my thesis--specifically my 2nd chapter--is undoutedbly my best work. That being said, this chapter is over 30 pages long, and presents quite a few difficulties in downsizing to 15 pages. For schools that allow a significant amount of writing to be sent, and allow moe than one sample, I will be sending a small excerpt of this chapter if I can manage it.

The advice i've gotten is that if you already have an MA, your sample should be work IN your field--and as original as possible. The sample that i've been planning to use was originally a 12 pg paper written for a grad seminar (for a class that solidified my interest in 18th/19th transatlantic studies). My advisor thinks it's an excellent writing sample, so I trust her judgement. That being said, not submitting my thesis is still scary to me. It's not that there aren't similarities between my thesis and my field--I am interested in theories of space, race, and capitalism, and both address that. But the thesis is a very specific analysis of a contemporary event, whereas my writing sample examines one of the canonized texts of transatlantic studies. I could make an argument about why my thesis is connected, and get rid of my other writing sample--but i've read on so many application faq's that if your sample and your sop interests don't match, you are much more difficult to evaluate.

Maybe i'll ask my advisor again...it's just getting down to the deadline and I still have so much more to do with my writing sample, let along chop down a 35 pg chapter to 15 pages. Yargh

[anonacademic]

As someone who is possibly "sidelining" my best work in order to maintain a nice fit--let me say I am extremely confused about what to do. I already have an MA, and my thesis--specifically my 2nd chapter--is undoutedbly my best work. That being said, this chapter is over 30 pages long, and presents quite a few difficulties in downsizing to 15 pages. For schools that allow a significant amount of writing to be sent, and allow moe than one sample, I will be sending a small excerpt of this chapter if I can manage it.

The advice i've gotten is that if you already have an MA, your sample should be work IN your field--and as original as possible. The sample that i've been planning to use was originally a 12 pg paper written for a grad seminar (for a class that solidified my interest in 18th/19th transatlantic studies). My advisor thinks it's an excellent writing sample, so I trust her judgement. That being said, not submitting my thesis is still scary to me. It's not that there aren't similarities between my thesis and my field--I am interested in theories of space, race, and capitalism, and both address that. But the thesis is a very specific analysis of a contemporary event, whereas my writing sample examines one of the canonized texts of transatlantic studies. I could make an argument about why my thesis is connected, and get rid of my other writing sample--but i've read on so many application faq's that if your sample and your sop interests don't match, you are much more difficult to evaluate.

Maybe i'll ask my advisor again...it's just getting down to the deadline and I still have so much more to do with my writing sample, let along chop down a 35 pg chapter to 15 pages. Yargh

Maybe you can ask your (thesis) adviser to discuss your thesis with specific care and attention, given that you consider it your best work but won't, for the sensible reasons you give here, send it out to schools? I mean, yes, as someone who's writing a LOR for you, she will talk about your writing, but it might be a good idea to make a larger issue of it, given the situation. But I really don't know! I'm very thankful my writing sample and purposed project are directly related.

[augustquail]

Maybe you can ask your (thesis) adviser to discuss your thesis with specific care and attention, given that you consider it your best work but won't, for the sensible reasons you give here, send it out to schools? I mean, yes, as someone who's writing a LOR for you, she will talk about your writing, but it might be a good idea to make a larger issue of it, given the situation. But I really don't know! I'm very thankful my writing sample and purposed project are directly related.

This is probably a good way to go about it. I assume she'll talk about my thesis (she was my thesis director), but I'll ask her more directly and she what she thinks about it. Thanks!

[skeletonkeys]

This is probably a good way to go about it. I assume she'll talk about my thesis (she was my thesis director), but I'll ask her more directly and she what she thinks about it. Thanks!

I would second Chumlee's advice. I wish I wrote a thesis for my MA (it wasn't an option even, oddly enough). Since it is your strongest piece, you want to discuss as much as possible. Can you tell us more about your thesis? Is it that far removed from your outlined interests? I would guess a more "traditional" (canonical) writing sample is not *always* the best way to go.

[Pamphilia]

Forgive me if I seem like a jerk, and know that I realize this advice is not universal, but perhaps it can apply to a wide range of applicants--

The answer is, of course, you should send your best work. I am seeing a lot of people lamenting that their best work is not the most fitting for their proposed project of study. If this is the case, you fix it! If your best work is not the piece that best fits your application, make it work anyway. Revise, revise, revise, so that your best work fits in some way (methodology, etc). Or, take your not-best but better-fitting work and revise it until it is your best work (that was my approach). You should be revising the pants off of your writing sample, anyway (even your best ever A+ paper can be wildly improved, I promise), and making it into something better than what was previously your best work.

[Capo]

take your not-best but better-fitting work and revise it until it is your best work (that was my approach). You should be revising the pants off of your writing sample, anyway (even your best ever A+ paper can be wildly improved, I promise), and making it into something better than what was previously your best work.

I can't stress how much I agree with this. My field of interest is primarily queer theory in high modernist and postmodernist Anglo-American and French literature, but the article that I've had published and the paper that I'm going to be presenting are both outside of my time-period (one medieval, the other Early Modern) and not necessarily engaged with the specific methodologies that I'm planning on highlighting in my SOP. So instead of using one of those, I decided to completely revamp a 7 page paper that I wrote for a class and had the kernel of a good idea into what is now 21 pages that I'm super proud of and that's engaged with both my time period and my methodologies. I think the moral of the story is: you want to sell the graduate programs on the idea that you are absolutely passionate about your time period and theoretical framework, and the best way to do this (at least in my mind) is to give them a knock-your-socks-off writing sample that's engaged with both of these things.

[skeletonkeys]

Forgive me if I seem like a jerk, and know that I realize this advice is not universal, but perhaps it can apply to a wide range of applicants--

The answer is, of course, you should send your best work. I am seeing a lot of people lamenting that their best work is not the most fitting for their proposed project of study. If this is the case, you fix it! If your best work is not the piece that best fits your application, make it work anyway. Revise, revise, revise, so that your best work fits in some way (methodology, etc). Or, take your not-best but better-fitting work and revise it until it is your best work (that was my approach). You should be revising the pants off of your writing sample, anyway (even your best ever A+ paper can be wildly improved, I promise), and making it into something better than what was previously your best work.

Pamphilia, you don't sound like a jerk at all! That is sound advice. I've pretty much accepted the fact I'll be revising my "fit" sample to *hopefully* become my best work in a few short weeks. I'm still worried it won't be as strong as it could be, but of course short of a lifetime project any piece could always be stronger. I appreciate your input!

[fj20]

A related question is: just how much do the writing sample and SOP have to align? The writing sample I'd like to use (because it's my best work) is on Milton, and in my SOP I discuss my (growing) interest in early modern lit., but also say that my primary focus is on Romanticism (although I'm considering tweaking this to suggest that I'm equally interested in both). So this presents two problems: 1) Is it a problem that my writing sample does not discuss Romanticism, when it is my stated area of interest; and, perhaps more seriously, 2) Is it problematic to claim that you have two distinct subjects of interest (while at the same time being quite specific about your interest in at least one of those subjects). Any thoughts?

[GK Chesterton]

A related question is: just how much do the writing sample and SOP have to align? The writing sample I'd like to use (because it's my best work) is on Milton, and in my SOP I discuss my (growing) interest in early modern lit., but also say that my primary focus is on Romanticism (although I'm considering tweaking this to suggest that I'm equally interested in both). So this presents two problems: 1) Is it a problem that my writing sample does not discuss Romanticism, when it is my stated area of interest; and, perhaps more seriously, 2) Is it problematic to claim that you have two distinct subjects of interest (while at the same time being quite specific about your interest in at least one of those subjects). Any thoughts?

By related question, did you mean "exactly the same question"? Read the thread, man.

[woolfie]

By related question, did you mean "exactly the same question"? Read the thread, man.

"Just how much do they need to align" and "What if they don't align" don't seem like the same question.