Writing Sample

[Ramuel]

Hi all,

Just a question about writing samples. I'm trying to decide whether to turn my Master's seminar paper into an essay, or to leave it as is. I'd love to know what others have done. None of my Honours papers are on the topic I'm currently researching.

Cheers!

[lyonessrampant]

Are you asking if you should revise it or not?  If that's what you're asking, really any paper can use a good revision and polish before submission.  I'd start with the professor's comments and go from there.  Are you engaging with recent (last year or two) scholarship?  If not, update that to make sure that your argument doesn't reproduce what other people have said.  

[Ramuel]

Cheers. I'm not too worried about reproducing existing scholarship -- I'm thinking mostly about the sample's form. Because it was for a seminar, it makes a little more allowance for those who aren't familiar with the novel than a more specialist essay would do. But I'm thinking this will probably be helpful anyway, since most people who read my sample probably won't have read the text I discuss. Hope this makes sense!

[lyonessrampant]

Ah!  I see.  I think having some exposition of the novel can't hurt, especially if it is not a well-known novel.  Good luck!

[academic/editor]

When I applied for my PhD, I used a chapter from my MA's thesis. The sample was about a relatively unknown memoir. It's fine because the committee is looking for a demonstration of your ability to do research and do rigorous analysis.