I need to send in a 15-30 page writing sample for a grad school Im trying to get into? Does this sound cheesy?

Question

I have to send in a 15-30 pp writing sample to get into a History grad program at a pretty good school. My only paper that's close to that length is 16pgs long and is about the contributions of a rapper. It seemed like a laid back cute sounding paper then but now Im worried that it will come off as silly. Should I make some of my 10 pagers longer or do you think if I tweak this one it will work? Please be honest

Answer 1

When grad schools ask for a 15-30 page writing sample, they are asking for evidence that you are competent in solid research, and conversant with current methodologies.

Your writing sample should be carefully selected, and should represent your best work. I am surprised that you do not have many research papers of this length from which to choose, since most undergraduate programs in history routinely require 15-25 page papers. Since you do not have a suitable paper, I would strongly suggest that you judiciously select from your past work, research your topic further, and revise and extend that paper to about 20 pages.

Here are some helpful hints as you revise:

Articulate a strong, contestible thesis statement
Marshal your evidence from an array of reputable sources (books, journal articles, and primary souce materials)
Employ current methods/theories
Make sure your argument is well-supported and sustained throughout the paper
Compose a compelling conclusion

Best wishes to you!

Answer 2

I'd say go ahead and send it if it was a good paper. Remember, they are asking for a writing sample, not a research sample. Historians have to write a great deal of things--papers, books, grants--and I'm guessing they want to see how well you write. And I think they also want to see that you have the ability to handle a topic in more than just five pages. I had to submit a writing sample for grad school too. It wasn't a big deal.

You can always call Admissions at the school and ask the purpose of the sample so you have a better idea.

Answer 3

Listen to Professor X. He's right about this.

~Tia~
Yahoo Brainiac
http://advision.webevents.yahoo.com/asktheplanet/brain.html

Answer 4

tweaking it should work. Extending it won't matter unless you have something worth extending it they don't want to read worthless crap that was put in just for length.best of luck