Graduate Diversity Outreach -
Writing Sample
In the humanities, the writing sample is just as crucial, if not more crucial, than the Statement of Purpose. Therefore,
an applicant should place considerable importance, consequently, a great amount of effort into producing a writing sample.
In general, admission committees evaluate an applicant's ability to synthesize ideas, concepts or theories, and logically
take a stand and argue them. Faculty would like to admit potential graduate students whose intellectual abilities and
curiosity are highly advanced and are evident in the writing sample. That is, the student has mastered a foundation of the
discipline, is able to intelligently query new areas of scholarly opportunity or has contributed to the scholarly foundation
with new research. Please consider the following items when contemplating your writing sample.
- Identify the criteria you must follow for each program to which you will apply. Whatever
the criteria, follow them exactly. That is, if the length can be no longer than 15 double-spaced pages, then
do not submit more than 15 pages.
- Do not lift a chapter from a senior or master's thesis or a previously written
paper without reworking it. You must rework a paper or chapter to conform to the
requirements of the program to which you are applying. Be sure that your writing sample is
self-contained, that is, it has an introduction, body and summary, and is not dependent upon
other work to be fully understood.
- Do not submit multiple writing samples unless it is allowed.
- Consider your topic. Although many programs indicate that the topic
is not important, too often students submit writing samples on "tired" topics.
If you plan to submit a writing sample on a subject, such as Shakespeare, be sure that
it is a really new, fresh approach, or that it incorporates cutting edge research or criticism.
- Submit your writing sample in English, unless another language is permitted. For some
disciplines, such as Italian studies or German, a writing sample in one of these languages may be very
acceptable, but you must follow the guidelines of the department.
