But surely there is better advice than that. And how much leeway should a candidate have? I have seen job descriptions request writing samples of 15, 20, 25, and 30 pages.

Q: I frequently see ads that ask for writing samples, along with the résumé and cover letter. I have hesitated to respond to these job ads because I’m not sure what kinds of things I should submit.

They demand mastery of multiple types of academic writing within a single document. Students working on these complex projects may benefit from reviewing examples of well-structured work before ...

Interesting introductions—for any kind of writing—engage and draw readers in because they want to know more. Since narratives tell a story and involve events, the introduction of a narrative quite ...

Writing for a general audience means writing for educated adults who are not a part of your field. The first step is to recognize jargon within your writing and rewrite to avoid or clearly explain ...