Writing Sample Sample

[muteswann18]

Hello,

I am applying for English (and a few Comparative Literature) PhDs this fall. I've scoured the forums here to see if any generous souls ever posted or shared their writing samples and personal statements. I haven't been able to locate any, but It would be so helpful to see an example of a successful SOP and Writing Sample. I've actually been able to find a few SOP examples but no writing samples--and even so, the SOPs were for other fields (history, etc.). In any case, I wondered if anyone here who has been through the process and received admissions offers might be able to show me their SOP & writing sample. I won't use it as a model or anything, but I just want to take a look at the depth, level & caliber of a successful writing sample (and SOP, too, but especially a writing sample!). This may help me to stop feeling like I need to already have a polished MA thesis to submit as a sample--which, unfortunately, is my fear at present.

Links to posted samples that I somehow overlooked in my feverish googling would also be much appreciated.

Thank you!

-M

Edited October 23, 2015 by muteswann18

[mariannem]

I would also love to see some sample WS from some rhet/comp folks. I was originally planning on using a research paper I wrote for a tutor writing pedagogy course I took, but the writing/analysis is so much better in my honors thesis (which is on an unrelated topic; sexuality in 19th cent lit). I know you're supposed to submit WS on a topic related to your field of interest, but I'm also stuck in the revision process and fear the quality of my WS won't be as good as the thesis I spent most of my senior year revising vs. a few months for a class.