Writing Sample processes!

[asleepawake]

I think any footnotes/endnotes that are integral to your sample should stay, but you don't want to be David Foster Wallace... not yet.

[rems]

Haha -- excellent point! Thanks!

[practical cat]

What's the word on end notes and footnotes in writing samples? Should we include them because it demonstrates how we're able to utilize them, or is it a useless waste of precious page space that would be better suited to the paper itself? Or do they not count in the page-count? I suppose this is a case-by-case thing, but I was just wondering if anyone had any experience with this..?

Yeah, keep what's necessary. I wouldn't keep them JUST to be demonstrative of your abilities but I wouldn't worry too much about the effect on page counts.

I'm totally quoting though because this question completely blew my mind on the first read. I'm currently in the process of converting my sample from Chicago to MLA (I don't even want to talk about the horrors I have inflicted upon myself) and couldn't figure out why there'd be superfluous footnotes in the first place.

[rems]

I've been reading over my end notes in between student conferences today (for those who haven't taught freshmen comp, conferences week is the WORST week of your life and it happens three times a semester), and I think sometimes they're useful and sometimes they're, well, kind of bragging about how much I know. I like the use of end notes because I think it reflects the genre (think articles), and shows I can write on that level. OH WELL. I guess that answer is cut anything that sounds like "fluff" -- like the SOP, I guess.

I'm really really bored right now and stuck in my office. Sorry for kind of "wasting" space here.

[asleepawake]

I've been reading over my end notes in between student conferences today (for those who haven't taught freshmen comp, conferences week is the WORST week of your life and it happens three times a semester)

Oh, you poor thing. We only do conferences once per semester, and that's... plenty.

[skybythelight]

I just revisited all of my programs' requirements: only one asks for something shorter than 20 pages. Damn you, Colorado. I've already sent an e-mail to the DGS asking if it's okay to send something over 15.

[rems]

Oh, you poor thing. We only do conferences once per semester, and that's... plenty.

We recently "remodeled" the composition program, and now we do one for each paper -- 3 a semester! It is quite awful.

[asleepawake]

We recently "remodeled" the composition program, and now we do one for each paper -- 3 a semester! It is quite awful.

It sound good in theory, but I think it's too much. During peer review (just minutes ago! Now I'm on the grad cafe in an empty classroom...), I go around the room and talk to each small group about their thesis statements and answer their questions. This seems to get the benefits of working with them more closely without the formality (and cancelled regular classes) of too many conferences.

Ok, now I'm way off topic from this thread... I'll bring in back!

I just revisited all of my programs' requirements: only one asks for something shorter than 20 pages. Damn you, Colorado. I've already sent an e-mail to the DGS asking if it's okay to send something over 15.

How long is the writing sample you're sending elsewhere? Hopefully they will just okay a longer sample, because cutting it for one school sounds stressful (kind of like writing a teaching statement for one school). My most likely writing sample is currently at 22 pages. I can probably get it down to 15ish, but NYU asks for "10 to 12 pages." This is an impossible task!

Edited October 30, 2012 by asleepawake

[rems]

Wait a second, I hadn't really thought about this before: I've been making lists of what is needed by each school for application, and I've realized that every school just says "Writing Sample" and the length.

SO, are there certain unstated requirements of the logistics of the writing sample? What I mean by this is should it have a cover page? Should I have page numbers? Should I stick religiously to MLA format or APA for whatever or does it not really matter as long as it's consistent? Does anyone have any experience with this? Those of you who applied last year, did you contact depts. ahead of time to ask these questions or does the format of the sample not matter at all really as long as it's the right length, and it refers to the topic? What about font size? Can I make it size 11 to squeeze in a few more sentences per page, or will I get thrown out for that?

AHHHHH application melt down!

[Swagato]

The writing sample, to the best of my knowledge, should simply be a standard sample of your academic writing. It is your best argument for why you deserve a spot amongst the illustrious luminaries of the Department of Holy Ghosts at University of the Flying Cthulhu. You're in the humanities, and that means you likely use MLA or Chicago style. Make it consistent. If your target department prefers something, then consider changing to that, but if not, I don't think it will make a big difference. Cover page? No, I think it takes up one whole valuable page. Remember, your writing sample will at best be read with minimal thoroughness for the first 2-3 pages on the first pass. That's all you have to make your reader think, "Damn, I need to read this one fully." Page numbers? Of course. Why make it harder for the reader? Length? You're one of around 300 applicants--do you really want to distinguish yourself by being one of Those Morons who thought they had so much to gift the field that they couldn't stick to the suggested limits for their -admissions sample-?

Don't take anything I said personally; I think my ideas apply to all of us.

Edited October 31, 2012 by Swagato

[skybythelight]

How long is the writing sample you're sending elsewhere? Hopefully they will just okay a longer sample, because cutting it for one school sounds stressful (kind of like writing a teaching statement for one school). My most likely writing sample is currently at 22 pages. I can probably get it down to 15ish, but NYU asks for "10 to 12 pages." This is an impossible task!

It isn't finished yet, but it's looking like it'll shape up at around 20 pages. I already e-mailed the DGS in Colorado; he said it was fine. Phew. 10-12 seems ridiculously low to me. Eesh.

[anoveldave]

I have a question that sounds so simple but is confusing enough. What's the format for the writing sample? Regardless of whether it's a whole piece or just a portion, should the style guide (in my case MLA) be followed to the T, including the header above the title (name, professor, course, date)? More simply, Should there be anything in the writing sample document aside from the text itself, page numbers, references, and the title?

[sebastiansteddy]

NYU asks for "10 to 12 pages." This is an impossible task!

I am applying to NYU. For my writing sample, I am using a seminar paper that was originally 22 pages (which will also be a part of my thesis). At first the thought of cutting it down to 10-12 pages was horrifying. I managed to do it by cutting out a lot of theoretical background and sticking mostly to the textual analysis. Instead of paragraphs on the theoretical paradigms I was invoking, I explained them succinctly in a sentence and then moved to the application. I think this ended up making my paper much stronger. When I went to add back material to make it 20 pages, it really showed me that the textual analysis needs to be the meat of the paper. I guess what I am getting at is that forcing yourself to REALLY cut down a paper can reshape what you find to be the most important elements.

[thinkagain]

I managed to do it by cutting out a lot of theoretical background and sticking mostly to the textual analysis. Instead of paragraphs on the theoretical paradigms I was invoking, I explained them succinctly in a sentence and then moved to the application. I think this ended up making my paper much stronger. When I went to add back material to make it 20 pages, it really showed me that the textual analysis needs to be the meat of the paper. I guess what I am getting at is that forcing yourself to REALLY cut down a paper can reshape what you find to be the most important elements.

Seconded. My approach is similar. I cut down a 40 page paper to 13 pages. I think NYU's app is pretty interesting in that it is idea-oriented rather than development-oriented. Sort of like, "If you could describe yourself as a scholar in one word, what would it be?"

[sebastiansteddy]

I have multiple versions of my writing sample for the different lengths that various programs ask for. Right now I have a 12 page version, a 15 page version, and a 20 page version. My question is this: some schools ask for 15-20 pages and some ask for either 20-25 or 20-30. Is it ok to send a 20 page paper to a school that asks for 20-25 or 20-30? Or does it look like I am just doing the bare minimum?

Edited November 4, 2012 by sebastiansteddy

[waparys]

I have multiple versions of my writing sample for the different lengths that various programs ask for. Right now I have a 12 page version, a 15 page version, and a 20 page version. My question is this: some schools ask for 15-20 pages and some ask for either 20-25 or 20-30. Is it ok to send a 20 page paper to a school that asks for 20-25 or 20-30? Or does it look like I am just doing the bare minimum?

I just wrote to the grad chair at a school which asks for 20 pages and asked if 15 would be okay. He said yes; he'd rather have a tight, 15-page paper than a super-stretch version.