Writing Sample Selection

[littlewickedways]

The situation: my BA is in History and Literature (an interdisciplinary degree), and I wrote my thesis on historical philosophy. I'm currently applying to art history PhD programs. I've had a good deal of art history coursework, plus a hefty quantity of independent study (that is to say, I am not insecure about my ability to hold my own in graduate-level art history studies). 

 

The query: what to do for my writing sample. My thesis, which I am incredibly proud of and believe represents my best writing and scholarship, is over 100 pages, but my last chapter (given some editing) could probably stand on its own. As I said, I believe it represents my best work, but it's definitely not an art history paper. I have art history papers from courses I took, all of them good, but nothing as strong as my thesis. 

 

So, what's more important? Good writing and critical thinking, or topicality? 

 

Ready, go!

 

Thanks everyone! 

[Borden]

If you've been in touch with POIs at your schools, ask them for advice on what they would prefer to see as a demonstration. It may be that different schools want different samples.

[condivi]

You should probably submit something that shows you know how to analyze images and do art historical work, and in fact you should submit something that demonstrates your ability in your specific area of interest. Remember, committees don't have much to go to asses what kind of scholar you are: your writing sample is, in this regard, probably the most important part of your application. Your thesis may show that you're a good writer and that you can think critically, but if doesn't show that you know how to work with images, it won't be very useful to the committee in determining if you have the skills necessary for entering an art history program. If your thesis is extraordinary, your advisor – who should be one of your recommenders – will write about how wonderful it is. But otherwise submitting a chapter from a non-art history thesis won't help you make much of a case that you're right for the programs you're applying to, that you know your field, and that you have potential as an art historian. That said, I agree with Borden that you should ask your POIs if you can. You never know, but I would work from the assumption that it's best to submit a paper that deals with images.

[anonymousbequest]

Submit the best analytical writing you believe you have done.  If that was a lit topic, so be it.  You can learn object specific skills in the art history program, but POIs will want to see that you are bringing superior thinking to the party.  Nobody wants to read a 100 page undergrad thesis though, nor should they even exist IMO, so just send the chapter that can stand alone.

[condivi]

Submit the best analytical writing you believe you have done.  If that was a lit topic, so be it.  You can learn object specific skills in the art history program, but POIs will want to see that you are bringing superior thinking to the party.  Nobody wants to read a 100 page undergrad thesis though, nor should they even exist IMO, so just send the chapter that can stand alone.

Ha! Well, I'm sure things are much clearer for you now, littlewickedways. Best would probably be to ask what your POIs prefer, though I imagine you wouldn't want to submit different sample to different schools.

[Atlantis]

Another option to consider: Create an academia.edu account, and post your that brilliant chapter of yours there. You never know who may read that. You could always sneakily put a reference to the website on your CV where you list your previous academic career. I had listed all the titles and supervisors of major thesis. No harm in putting a short remark like " 'XXX and XXX in XX century: a study on YYY and ZZZ.' Available on my academia.edu profile." Or something like that.

And you'd submit a much improved art historical writing sample. I think that's always the better course of action, especially with more conservative places, which the Ivy etc tend to be. 

[acanthus]

Another option to consider: Create an academia.edu account, and post your that brilliant chapter of yours there. You never know who may read that. 

 

I would strongly recommend against this for too many reasons to get into here. By all means, make an account, but don't post papers there until it's representative of how you want to be seen as a scholar--in quality, subject matter, and methodology.