Writing Sample for Rochester?

[ekonomiks]

What would be considered an appropriate writing sample? What should I submit if I've never written a political science paper?

[PostModern]

Perhaps Rochester would be fine with an Econ paper, because it's Rochester... but I guess that some other departments will clearly want a paper that deals with some sort of political science-related issue. It's still early in the year and you have plenty of time to write one.

Some departments also just ask for a summary of a research paper you have written (e.g. of a senior thesis). Rochester apparently wants the original piece of work, here is what the website says:

Send a writing sample directly to the Department of Political Science at the address below. This must be a sample of your own original academic writing in English. (Translations are acceptable, provided the translation is your own work.) This material will not be returned. Send hard copies by mail; we will not accept e-mail attachments. Please indicate the original purpose of the writing sample, and when and to whom it was submitted.

I strongly presume that the Rochester adcom will honor it if your paper contains a formal model and/or econometric work rather than a post-positivist sociology-of-knowledge-style theory discussion.

But I think the main points people care about in a writing sample are:
- your ability to write concisely
- originality of the topic
- a sound methodological approach, and
- demonstrated knowledge of the relevant literature

[ekonomiks]

Will it be okay if I submit a list of research ideas as my writing sample? If yes, how detailed should the presentation of those ideas be? As detailed as an article's abstract, a research proposal, or what?