What are you submitting as a WS?

[gatz]

Is anyone else prepping a writing sample by excerpting from a longer piece (like an undergraduate thesis)? I'm looking for advice on how best to locate and bring out the really compelling parts of my paper without losing too much context.

[guinevere29]

Is anyone else prepping a writing sample by excerpting from a longer piece (like an undergraduate thesis)? I'm looking for advice on how best to locate and bring out the really compelling parts of my paper without losing too much context.

Well I mentioned this in my post right above so I don't know if it wasn't what you were looking for, but I sought paragraphs that gave context and instead of including the entire paragraph I bracketed and gave a 1-2 sentence summary of the paragraph. (A professor recommended I do this, so it much be a somewhat accepted convention.) This left me with more room to keep the paragraphs in which my writing and analysis really shown.

 

Here is an example of a paragraph I bracketed if this helps:

[in this section of the paper, I discuss Abelard’s account of his relationship with Heloise in Historia Calamitatum. Abelard portrays himself as a hero and Heloise as a submissive figure and object of his lust. Heloise challenges this portrayal in her letters to Abelard, calling into question the morality of his motives and asserting her own opinion of the morality of love in a way that contradicts Abelard’s depiction of her.]

 

In the original version of my paper, I demonstrated these points through the primary source, but this paragraph is really just setting up the context for my reading of Heloise's letters. I don't mince words in my summary, I just state what the paragraph was about as blatantly as I can. I also included a note and the beginning of the paper explaining that the original version had been amended.  Hope this helps!

[id quid]

My writing sample will be the seminar paper I wrote for a grad course I took with one of my recommendation writers during my senior year. I'm really proud of that paper, and so was the professor, and I really think it showcases my ability as a scholar. And, to top it all off, it's very closely related to my intended area of study. Jackpot!

 

Only downside is that it's a bit short -- 15 pages, plus bibliography. I don't think I'm terribly worried about that, however, as it is a strong piece of writing that I'd probably break if I tried to stuff more paragraphs and pages into it. It's better to meet the requirement of content than the requirement of form, right?

[Postmoddities]

My writing sample will be the seminar paper I wrote for a grad course I took with one of my recommendation writers during my senior year. I'm really proud of that paper, and so was the professor, and I really think it showcases my ability as a scholar. And, to top it all off, it's very closely related to my intended area of study. Jackpot!

 

Only downside is that it's a bit short -- 15 pages, plus bibliography. I don't think I'm terribly worried about that, however, as it is a strong piece of writing that I'd probably break if I tried to stuff more paragraphs and pages into it. It's better to meet the requirement of content than the requirement of form, right?

Not sure what you mean by requirement of form? I think with 15 pages you are absolutely fine unless the school specifically asks for more. If you do need to expand it for certain schools, a good strategy is to extend your analysis and close reading sections.

[id quid]

That's what I mean: page count or word count. I spent a long time making that paper exactly what it needed to be, and while I could write more, I think it wouldn't help. 

 

I haven't verified yet, but I think it's a moot point for me as the schools to which I'm applying are expecting about 15 pages anyway.

[BunnyWantsaPhD]

I haven't been including the bibliography as part of the page count...is that wrong?

[id quid]

Most of the schools I've seen mention it at all say they do not count bibliography/works cited against the limit.

Edited September 11, 2013 by id quid