Writing Sample Question

[Big Rome]

Basic Question Here.

I fall into the category of someone with a publications that are not one of my specialty areas for which I am applying.

So here's the question: if my published research is not in the area that they are looking for, is it best to send the published work or an unpublished manuscript that better reflects the work I've done in that area?

Thanks very much for any information you can share.

[2 cents]

I would think the unpublished manuscript that more directly relates to the position. As long as it's polished enough to be representative of your potential.

Just my two cents.

Is anyone else tired of the Chevy Sonic?

[sorta]

Nov 3, 2011 16:33:45 GMT -5 @2 cents said:

Is anyone else tired of the Chevy Sonic?

Not as much as the Chevy Volt...

[best work]

DO NOT send a sample that has not been vetted. You want to demonstrate your talents as a writer and researcher, and the best way to do this is by showing the committee something that has already been through the wringer and has come out all the better for it. Your research statement will speak to the directions that you want to go in with your research, and a committee is more likely to be convinced that a strong researcher who shifts interests will be able to deliver if given time than that a researcher of modest talent will become an exceptional one just because he or she has attempted to do work in a given area. There is no such thing as a "polished" paper that hasn't been put to a test.

[rrr]

^ This advice is not very helpful for people who have done book format dissertations.

As with all things, I would suggest that you use your best judgment.

[wrong question]

Nov 4, 2011 14:21:48 GMT -5 rrr said:

^ This advice is not very helpful for people who have done book format dissertations.

As with all things, I would suggest that you use your best judgment.

Your comment is not pertinent to the original question, but does fit for cases in which someone has no pubs. The OP commented on having published in areas that do not match up with specialties and asked whether it is better to send something that has not been through any type of peer review. In that scenario, the obvious choice should be to send the published article, as I said. Now, if the only thing you have to show for your time in grad school is a partially-written dissertation, then it almost doesn't matter what is sent to the committee at that point; many places want to see someone who has engaged the publication process already.