Applying to a doctoral program requires more than transcripts and recommendations. As an integral part of the application process, the writing sample is a crucial element that reveals your capacity for graduate-level scholarship and critical thinking.
For prospective students considering the University of Louisiana Monroe’s Doctor of Education in Curriculum and Instruction online program, understanding how to craft a compelling writing sample can make the difference between acceptance and rejection. Through the process of writing, applicants will reflect on their journey and the goals they have for the future.
What Your Writing Sample Actually Needs to Be (and What It Does Not)
Many applicants assume their writing sample must focus on education or mirror a thesis in scope and complexity. The writing sample does not need to be education-related at all. You can write about any topic that allows you to demonstrate strong research, organization and argumentation skills. The required length is 700-800 words, excluding your cover page and references. Citations do not count toward this limit either.
This is not a thesis or dissertation. Your topic can be anything you feel comfortable writing about, and you do not need teaching experience to succeed. Evaluators want to see how well you present an idea, develop your argument and support it with evidence. You are demonstrating the foundational skills that doctoral work demands, not defending an extensive evidence-based claim.
Understanding What Evaluators Actually Look For
Your writing sample will be reviewed by a team of qualified evaluators who use a specific rubric with ratings from 0 to 3 for each criterion. To move forward in the admissions process, you need an average rating of 2 or higher from the majority of reviewers.
Students should aim for a thoughtful, well-developed writing sample, but steer clear of overthinking every sentence in order to maintain a natural flow. Your goal is to produce a clear, well-organized paper that meets the rubric requirements without losing your authentic voice.
The Nine Core Elements That Make or Break Your Sample
When composing such an important piece of writing, it is important to consider its purpose. Your submission will be evaluated across nine specific criteria:
- Content knowledge: Demonstrate understanding of both current and classical research related to your topic.
- Connection/Support: Show clear connections among sources that support your claims and arguments.
- Theory-based: Connect your content to appropriate theoretical perspectives or frameworks.
- Perspectives: Provide insight from multiple perspectives regarding assumptions, values and social identity.
- Organization: Use effective organization with smooth flow throughout the text.
- Voice: Articulate your voice clearly with differentiation between your positions and the references you cite.
- Language: Demonstrate appropriate use of vocabulary, grammar, spelling and sentence structures.
- Formatting: Apply consistent and accurate formatting style throughout.
- Citation: Use credible sources that are accurately cited and referenced.
These elements demonstrate your ability to present ideas clearly and support arguments with evidence. Using them to guide your writing will ensure a clear reflection of your skills. Evaluators need to see competence across all nine areas.
Working With Existing Papers and Excerpts, Proving Originality and Meeting Submission Standards
You do not need to write an entirely new paper from scratch. Many successful applicants submit excerpts from their master’s thesis or other graduate-level assignments. The key is to stay within the 700-800-word limit while addressing all rubric requirements. Your submission should not exceed 10 pages, not including references.
When you use material from your own previously published work or thesis, you must cite yourself just as you would any other source. If your paper was part of a publication or graduate course submission, include the specifics, such as the journal reference or the university and course information.
Every applicant must submit proof of originality with their writing sample. A Grammarly originality report satisfies this requirement. Submissions that arrive without this proof will not be evaluated, regardless of the quality of the writing itself. This requirement protects both you and the program by ensuring all work represents your authentic scholarship.
Moving From Competent to Accomplished
The rubric distinguishes between competent work (a rating of 2) and accomplished work (a rating of 3). Competent writing includes all components of the criteria and meets the basic expectations for doctoral-level work. Accomplished writing goes further by featuring excellent diction and sentence skills alongside substantial, specific or illustrative content that demonstrates strong development and sophisticated ideas.
While you need an average of 2 or higher to advance in admissions, aiming for 3s in multiple categories strengthens your application. Demonstrating advanced writing signals your readiness for the rigorous scholarship that doctoral programs demand.
Preparing for Doctoral-level Work
The writing requirements reflect the scholarly work you will produce throughout the online Ed.D. program at ULM. This nationally recognized program provides practical opportunities to relate theoretical foundations to real-world curricular and instructional issues.
Faculty members are accomplished global researchers who prepare graduates for leadership roles as education administrators, superintendents, instructional coordinators and university professors. Your writing sample is the first step in demonstrating you are ready for this level of academic rigor and professional advancement.
Learn more about the University of Louisiana Monroe’s online Ed.D. program.