Preparing a Writing Sample
Many employers are now requesting writing samples from job/internship applicants. PLEN also requests a writing sample from Women and Public Policy Internship Semester applicants. Because writing samples are a potential employer's first look into your writing ability, as well as your thought process, organizational capability, and communication skills, it is important that time and effort go into preparing your sample.
Choosing a Sample
Topic:
- Submit something that is relevant to the organization.
- Employers want to see that you can write well given the work and mission of the organization. For example, when applying for a job in journalism you may want to submit an article you wrote for the campus newspaper. For a job that involves research, submit a research paper. For non-profits, you can submit a research paper relevant to the organization's mission.
- Avoid "creative" writing samples, even if the job will require creative ability. Employers want to see a concise, succinct sample.
- Choose a paper that contains fresh, original and interesting ideas.
- Look for a paper that incorporates research but also emphasizes your voice and thoughts.
- Avoid sensitive or controversial subject matter.
Length:
- The sample should be 2-5 pages in length, unless the organization specifies a certain length. If the paper you want to submit is longer, cut out non-essential paragraphs and edit the piece so it flows properly.
- Do not submit a sample that has significantly more or less pages than requested.
- Do not try any font or margin tricks to make a 2-page paper into a 5-page paper.
Questions to ask yourself about your sample:
- Is there a clear thesis that I have articulated well?
- Is the sample clear, concise and to the point?
- Does the sample follow a logical structure?
- Can a reader understand the writing?
Other Tips:
- Provide something recent, preferably written within the past two years. If you do not have anything relevant and recent to submit, write a new piece, and make sure you have someone review and edit it.
- Provide your own work; if it was a collaborative piece, make sure you state so and indicate which part was your responsibility.
- Consider papers that earned high grades, but do not necessarily rule out your "B" papers. Some "B" papers may have potential if you revise them extensively.
Preparing the Sample
- Put your name on it!
- Double and triple check for errors. If you wrote the paper for a class, incorporate any suggestions from your professor or peers.
- Submit a clean copy without a professor's grades or marks.
- If you cited works in the sample, include the bibliography.
- Include a brief note about the context of the sample. For example:
"This writing sample is an excerpt from an essay I wrote for my Women's Studies class 'Gender and American Society.' I worked with a partner on this assignment, so I have included only the section of the paper on 'Gender and the Family,' which represents my individual work."
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