Tyrone Said:

When applying with firms, do I need to send a transcript and writing sample with the resume and cover letter?

We Answered:

How refreshing it is to read a question such as yours!

Not knowing the direct answer, I'd recommend contacting the appropriate office and ask if a transcript and a writing sample would be advantageous to your submission.

Be prepared to send them; the more ammunition, the better your acceptance.

Rachel Said:

what should I submit as a writing sample for my first internship?

We Answered:

depends what kind of writing you have done over your schooling years. Something that shows you are unbiased towards a specific religion or culture. this is important when your purpose to to objectively analyse and interpret the relationships between the cultures and find a solution or remedy. It needs to show that you have control over grammar, punctuation and have a grasp of both simple and complex writing styles. You need to have an extensive vernacular but you need to show that you don't rely on these confusing words and drawn-out sentances to solidify your arguments. Last but not least you need to show that your writing has STRUCTURE. Every paragraph, every sentance and every word needs to make your writing seem as though each has been put there deliberately for a concrete purpose and it makes your writing flow.

So basically what I am saying is that you need to make yourself look like a well-trained and very experienced Journalist. good luck!

Howard Said:

What kind of writing sample should I submit?

We Answered:

Usually they give you an idea of what they want to see. I had an interview to be a personal assistant to a chef, and they asked for a writing sample in the form of a letter to the mayor. Yeah, go figure. Since this is for a legal aid organization, it's probably not a bad thing to try. Think of an issue that concerns you with regard to social welfare, and compose a letter to a mayor or city council. Nothing too controversial, though. I suspect they want to see how well you can write correspondence, so make it correspondence.

Lewis Said:

I need help writing a sample resume on two founding fathers..... any websites or thoughts or ideas????

We Answered:

The big guys are no-brainers and you can find plenty of info on any of them.
You might try John Marshall for the "little." He was also a chief justice of the US. A little searching will turn up plenty on him.

Bryan Said:

What makes for a good writing sample?

We Answered:

It depends on the kind of job. If you know what kinds of writing you would have to do for the job, submit something as close as you can to that sort of document.

If you aren't sure, choose something that you've written that is your best example of clear communication. Precision is much more impressive than fancy vocabulary - many of my students (college-level) throw around big words that they hope will make them sound smart. But their best essays are the ones founded on well-reasoned ideas backed by solid evidence, expressed in a clear, concise way.

How old are you, and what kinds of writing experience do you have? Do you have a strong paper from school that you can submit? If you already have some work experience, a grant application, project proposal, or project summary might be a good choice. A document where you make a case for a possible solution to a problem.

And it goes without saying that whatever you submit should be flawless: no spelling or grammatical errors. No annoying fonts, no decorative stationary, no unusual formatting. Shoot for something in the 2-5 page range, unless otherwise specified.