Choosing a Writing Sample

Not all organizations will request a writing sample along with your other application materials, however, if they do, you can be prepared by reviewing the below information.

Writing samples are a potential employer’s first look into your writing ability, thought process, organizational capability, communication skills, and ability to support an argument from beginning to end.

Unless you are given a specific topic to write on for the application or the organization provides specific instructions on what sort of sample to submit, keep the following guidelines in mind to help you pick a writing sample:

  • Use a paper that you’ve already written for a college class
  • Submit a clean copy with no grades or marks

Major Areas of Importance

Style

  • Consider the type of internship you are applying to and what type of writing they will require you to do.
    • For example, don’t submit a lengthy research paper for an internship that would require you to write briefs and memos.
  • Unless specifically requested, do not submit any creative writing samples.

Content

  • If possible, submit a writing sample with content that is relevant to the internship.
  • However, content is secondary to quality – always pick the stronger piece even if you feel that the content is less relevant.

Length

  • Most organizations requesting writing samples will specify the length they would like you to submit. If they do not, 2-5 pages is customary.
  • You can use a sample from a longer paper – just pull out the section of the paper that represents you best work.
    • If you decide to do this, be sure that you select excerpts that keep a sense of the argument’s flow through the beginning, middle and end of the original piece (this may require some level of editing).
  • Start the sample with a brief paragraph about the topic of the paper and the class it was written for. This will give the reader a sense of the context necessary to understand your sample with minimal effort on their part.

Spelling and Grammar

  • Be sure to double-check for spelling and grammar mistakes!
  • The Washington Program does not review writing samples for students. For assistance, we recommend contacting the UC Davis Writing Center. Other possible resources are professors, colleagues, and/or friends/family.