Writing sample -- sources?

[anthroflea]

I'm sorry if this has been discussed already. I couldn't find anything though. I still have two PhD applications to finish up. One of them asks for a relatively short writing sample. The paricular POI does research in a similar area as I did for my MA thesis. So I am planning on submiting a few pages of my thesis. On the bottom of the last page I put down my thesis itself as the source (it's been published by the university). 

 

Unfortunately though, there are a looooot of people I am citing just in the short little excerpt. Now I wonder whether I need to add a works cited page? The thing is that the works cited page might end up being pretty long.So it would cut down on the space I have for actual text. 

 

I am tempted to just leave out the works cited. My reasoning is that it is just an excerpt from my thesis which I am citing. 

 

I am nervous about it though. Since this is a writing sample, I also don't want to "undercite" and seem like I don't know what I'm doing. Has anybody else run into a similar problem? Any suggestions? 

[jellyfish1]

I would definitely include the works cited, but I don't think that it needs to count toward the page count. I tend to assume that page counts refer to pages of text and that additional appendices such as catalogs of images or works cited pages aren't included in the count.

[anthroflea]

Good point. Thanks archaeostudent!

[mesoarch]

I've been using a chapter from my MA thesis and haven't included a works cited section.  Hopefully that wasn't a mistake - something new to worry about now!

[anthroflea]

 I know the feeling mesoarch. My initial gut feeling was not to include one since I technically have a source with all the sources lol.  Archaeostudent has a good point  though. Lets just hope there is not really a  right or wrong! 

Edited January 5, 2014 by anthroflea

[jellyfish1]

I'm sure it doesn't really matter, honestly. I included in part because I wanted them to have a quick reference to the type of theory I used in my paper. Also because I quoted some of my POIs and so I thought if they quickly skimmed the paper they would be more likely to see their name in the works cited list. But I wouldn't stress about not adding one. I'm sure it's fine.

[Canis]

I also included works cited in writing sample (thesis excerpt). The whole thing actually, because it's a great way for them to assess fit.

[mesoarch]

I also included works cited in writing sample (thesis excerpt). The whole thing actually, because it's a great way for them to assess fit.

 

Ugh, that's such a good point.  Oh well, nothing to be done about it now.  At least there's plenty of in-text citations if anyone bothers to read the darn thing.

[Canis]

For Archaeology, in my view, the in-text are just as good - you have names and years and you're talking about tenured faculty. I'm sure they'll know what you're referring to!

[iphi]

I've been using a chapter from my MA thesis and haven't included a works cited section.  Hopefully that wasn't a mistake - something new to worry about now!

 

Same, shoot. I didn't even think about it!

[NoSleepTilBreuckelen]

I've been using a chapter from my MA thesis and haven't included a works cited section.  Hopefully that wasn't a mistake - something new to worry about now!

 

Me three….

 

I don't think it's a problem not to have them (i.e. the adcoms know your original thesis had citations), but there have been some good points out there about why to include them. 

[Canis]

What about in your SOPs? Did you all do in text citations in your SOP but without a bibliography? Or how did you handle that?

[NOWAYNOHOW]

I included the full works cited for my thesis alongside the excerpt I used as a writing sample.  I didn't feel right not including full citations, and I thought that anyone interested in learning more about my research could get a better idea just by going through the (very long) works cited at the end of the submitted chapters.  I also didn't include those pages in the word count, because otherwise it would leave barely any room for anything else!

[mesoarch]

What about in your SOPs? Did you all do in text citations in your SOP but without a bibliography? Or how did you handle that?

 

I didn't have any citations in my SOP, but I only spoke of the research done by a couple of archaeologists very broadly, and most people in the field would know their work.  If I'd used more obscure examples I'd probably include a short bibliography at the end.