Graduate Application Checklist: The Ph.D. Academic writing sample

Applicants for the PhD in the Department of Special Education at University of Kansas are asked to submit one scholarly writing sample. The purpose of this part of the application is to demonstrate for the review committee your potential area(s) of professional interest and current writing skills. To fulfill this requirement, you may select one option from the following three:

  1. You may submit a research or practitioner paper that you have authored related to any topic or issue regarding the education of students and youth with disabilities. If you have published one or more articles in professional journals, you may select one of those articles to submit. All papers or articles must be in English and must represent your scholarly work. Thus, you should not submit a paper or article on which there are multiple authors and for which you were involved in a secondary manner.
  2. If you completed an original thesis or capstone project as a requirement of your master's degree, you may submit a copy of the approved document. While you may have had feedback during its preparation, it should reflect your independent thought, writing skills, and be the final document.
  3. Follow the guidance below to create a scholarly product. 

First, identify your field of professional interest in special education (e.g., early childhood, secondary transition, instructional technology/AI, interventions for students with complex support needs). 

Next, within your field of professional interest(s), pick a related educational issue that is of particular interest. It can be any educational issue that is related to your professional interests. Some examples might be found in (names of journals/websites: send to Alison and Greg). Do not feel limited by these examples; they are solely provided to spark your ideas.

Then, write a paper where you take a position. Also, present and defend at least one counterargument within the paper. The purpose is to evaluate your writing and argumentation; we will not evaluate your opinions.

You should use and cite the ideas of others from at least two sources to support your argument using APA 7th edition formatting (https://apastyle.apa.org/). Length: 1000-1500 words, not including your reference list.

Suggested resources: local library, Google Scholar, and the following links:

We permit the use of AI to refine, research, and practice their writing; but we expect the content and ideas in the writing sample to be the applicant’s and not generated by AI.