Questions about how to structure Writing Sample?

[applepie100]

Hi All!

 

I've been readings these boards for years, back from when I applied to programs a few years ago. Before starting at an MFA, I applied to primarily MFA programs and a number of PhD in literature programs. Although I had a few MFA offers, I was rejected by all the PhD programs.

 

I am planning to reapply to PhD programs this fall, with a focus on 20&21st C poetics / avant garde poetics. As I gear up to apply to PhD programs again this fall (both in CW & Lit) and I am planning on writing a new critical writing sample (among many others updates to my application). When I first applied, I used a critical essay on WB Yeats that I wrote in my undergrad (and did revise, etc. prior to submitting). A new paper, I think, would be stronger and would align more closely with my research interests (Yeats isn't quite right).

 

I am considering now writing a new critical essay on a more contemporary poet and this leads me to multiple questions:

 

1) Should a successful WS have a specific/rare critical approach? AKA would it be better to do an analysis of a poet with a feminist or postcolonial (two random examples) approach, rather than, for example, a formalist approach?

 

2) Related, does anyone have any suggestions on resources for WSs? It has been a number of years since I've written a paper like this & I need all the help I can get. Do you have any structural advice?

 

3) Perhaps a too specific question, but do you think I should pick a poet who is dead/already accepted into the cannon, or do you think it's fine to perhaps pick a living poet (but one with obvious acceptance, awards, 8+ books, etc.)

 

Sorry this got so long! Thanks for all your help!

[hj2012]

 It depends. How will you be describing yourself in your SOP? If you state that you're interested in studying avant garde poetics from a postcolonial perspective in your SOP, but your writing sample relies on, say, Harold Bloom as your major theoretical source, that'll probably raise some eyebrows. The same goes for the writer you choose to write on: pick someone that you think you'd be interested in studying in the future.

 

Hope this helps! Good luck!

[Academicat]

Above poster is right. You'll want your writing sample to reflect your research interests, so write about a poet and use an approach that closely aligns with whatever you talk about in your SOP.

Good luck. You'll be awesome!

[ProfLorax]

The best models, I believe, are going to be journal articles that speak to your style. There is much diversity in academic writing styles, so find a journal related specifically to your interests, and read, read, read until you find some articles that read like you would want to sound. In general, I think it's important that we all discover our own writing styles as academics, and reading a variety of models can help determine what writing choices you like and what writing choices you don't. Of course, know that most writing samples are not journal article level quality, so don't feel like you have to produce a sample with a bajillion footnotes or archival research or a whole new theoretical framework. Still, the articles can help you see how different people structure their arguments.

 

In my observation, there is typically two or three paragraphs of general introduction, perhaps a partition paragraph, a few pages outlining the theoretical framework, then the rest focuses on close reading and application of theory to support your initial claim. The conclusion usually points to the significance of your research and/or future trajectories of possibility within the realm of your research. 

 

And like hj2012 says, your writing sample should match your stated interests. I wouldn't necessarily start from scratch; perhaps look at some short writing assignments from undergrad that you think could be expanded into a writing sample. Lastly, I was a bit confused by your post. Are you at an MFA program now? If so, could you take a poetry class (lit focused) in the Summer or Fall with the purpose of producing a writing sample? Or an independent study with a professor you would want to write you a letter of rec, with, once again, the purpose of producing a writing sample?