What did you use for your theological writing sample?

[Yetanotherdegree]

I'm feeling a little stuck. My last writing project was a thesis for another (relevant) degree. I'd like to just use a few pages from that, but am wondering if that would be too strange.

What did you use?

And do you think that a piece of a larger project is ok? Or should I come up with something that can stand alone?

Oh, and I'm applying for a ThM.

[HazelMotes]

What did you use?

And do you think that a piece of a larger project is ok? Or should I come up with something that can stand alone?

 

Well, I've applied for a PhD, so I am in a different position than you. The programs that I applied to had different requirements for page length (from 15 page maximum to 30+ page maximum). In addition to that, I had two papers that highlighted different aspects of my abilities. One essay demonstrates a close and careful reading of a thinker though specific narrow texts and then suggests how this is relevant to contemporary theology. The other essay was more synthetic. I drew upon a lot of different thinkers and theological movements to make suggestions about the directions problems and possibilites of contemporary theology. 

I ended up with a short version and a long version of both essays. So, I had four different essays that I used for eight programs. 

 

Okay, now on whether you should use a part of your thesis...

if you think that the topic of the chapter is directly connected with the type of work that you would like to be doing and you think that it is the best representation of your work in this area then I would probably say that you should use it. If you do use it, I would suggest having a footnote at the end of the first sentence explaining that it is a part of a larger project and how it relates to the whole. 

[sacklunch]

Both of my masters I submitted a part of a longer paper. I basically just cut it at 20pgs and wrote at the top something like "this paper has been cut at 20 pages." I don't think it's a big deal, especially for a masters (and a ThM for that matter, since admission rates are much higher for them, I think). 

[goodbye I]

Using a portion of your thesis is an excellent idea depending on the program and your paper's fit with said program. As HazelMotes mentioned, a footnote is probably helpful. When I used a chapter of my thesis in applications I included a paragraph in abstract form at the beginning of the chapter explaining the context of the chapter and the larger project. I also included a hyperlink to my thesis in its entirety.

[Therewillbeluke]

I second goodbye I (mewithoutyou fan?), I submitted part of my senior thesis with an abstract paragraph. I was also able to use a fairly concise section of the paper that dealt with one issue in particular.

[Body Politics]

Did anyone else slip in a few dirty words into theirs, just to make sure the admissions committee was actually reading, or...?