Application Support: What Makes a Good Academic Writing Sample?

Applying to a CIIS program? Here’s what to know about submitting your academic writing sample as part of your application.

What Makes a Good Academic Writing Sample?

Your academic writing sample is an opportunity to show admissions committees how you think and engage with ideas. It doesn't need to be perfect—what matters is that it demonstrates your ability to take a position, support it with evidence, and engage thoughtfully with scholarly sources.

If you're feeling uncertain about which paper to submit, take a breath. You likely have work that will serve you well. 

Look for Work That Makes an Argument

Strong academic writing samples argue for a specific viewpoint. Look for a paper where you took a stance on a question, engaged with scholarly sources, and built a case for your perspective. It doesn't matter if your argument was groundbreaking—what matters is that you developed a thesis and supported it thoughtfully.

Descriptive papers that simply summarize information won't showcase your analytical abilities as effectively, but if that's what you have, don't panic. Focus on choosing the piece where you engaged most deeply with the material.

Citations Show You Can Engage With Scholarship

Your writing sample should include citations, whether APA, MLA, or another format. The key is consistency. Admissions committees want to see that you know how to work with scholarly sources and give credit where it's due.

A Note on AI Tools

While you're welcome to use generative AI tools to brainstorm ideas or gather initial thoughts, your writing sample must be written in your own voice and demonstrate your own expertise and thinking. Admissions committees are looking for your ability to analyze, argue, and communicate, not AI-generated text. Your writing sample should authentically represent your scholarly abilities.

This may feel difficult. If so, that’s not a bad thing. Academic programs are meant to challenge you in order to help you learn and grow. This is the first step in that process, and your genuine effort signals to an admissions committee that you’re ready to continue on the path.
 

Image

Relevance Helps, But It's Not Everything

Ideally, choose a writing sample related to your intended field of study. But if your strongest work is in a different area, submit it anyway. A well-argued paper on any subject shows critical thinking skills that transfer across disciplines.

The quality of your thinking matters more than the specific topic. Don't second-guess a strong paper just because it's not a perfect topical match.

Length and Format Guidelines

Most programs request writing samples around eight pages. If your best work is a bit shorter or longer, that's usually fine. You can also submit a strong chapter from a longer project, or two shorter pieces that together show your range.

Include a simple cover page with your name, the course context, and when you wrote it. Follow any specific formatting guidelines the program provides, but don't stress over minor details.

You Can Revise

Here's something many applicants don't realize: you can revise your writing sample before submitting it. If you've grown since writing the paper, it's perfectly appropriate to clarify arguments, strengthen evidence, or fix errors.

Just keep the revisions reasonable. The paper should still reflect work you actually produced. But if rereading your work makes you cringe at a few awkward sentences, go ahead and polish them. That's not cheating—it's showing good judgment.

You're Not Alone in This

Choosing a writing sample can feel overwhelming, especially if it's been a while since you've written an academic paper. That's completely normal, and we're here to help.

Our admissions team has supported thousands of applicants through this process. If you're unsure which paper to submit, or if you want a second opinion on whether your work is ready, reach out to your admissions counselor. They can talk through your options, answer questions, and help you feel confident about your choice. Seriously—this is what they're here for.

Academic Writing Sample Checklist:

✓ Makes a clear argument and takes a position supported by evidence and analysis
✓ Engages thoughtfully with scholarly sources, with citations formatted consistently
✓ Written in my own voice (not AI-generated)
✓ Topic relevant to my field, or demonstrates strong critical thinking
✓ Length around 8 pages (or a chapter / two shorter pieces)
✓ Cover page with name, course context, and date
✓ Follows program-specific formatting guidelines
✓ Revised for clarity and errors