<p>I've looked at a lot of sample statements of purpose, and it seems that they vary a lot in style and organization. It also seems that a lot of people take a loosely autobiographical approach. But some of my programs have said explicitly that they don't want a lot of personal anecdotes. (I'm applying as a Ph.D. candidate in English lit.)</p>
<p>I could arrange it in essentially chronological order: past research, present intentions, future goals.</p>
<p>Or, I could arrange it by topic: planned specialty, teaching interests, favorite research areas, favorite research methodology. </p>
<p>Or something else. Thoughts? </p>
<p>Finally, what should be the ratio of past:future in the essay? Obviously, you need to connect your past work to your future intentions, but how much time on each?</p>
<p>Opinions, unfounded prejudices, well-informed remarks...anything you've got to offer, I'll take. Obviously, though, I'd be especially grateful for feedback from someone experienced with the process.</p>
<p>Either plan would be fine, as long as you include your intended area of focus, and your methodologies of preference. Also, be sure to explain WHY each program would be of benefit to you, by identifying faculty with whom you wish to study. Future goals should be briefly and generally stated. For instance, you will have next to no control over whether you eventually teach in a LAC or an R1. It would be crazy to mention anything of the sort. </p>
<p>I would strongly advise against mentioning teaching interests as well. You'd really be jumping the gun by projecting so far into a future over which you do not have complete control.</p>
<p>Thanks, Professor X, I appreciate your taking the time to reply. Do you have time to answer a follow-up question about the teaching? </p>
<p>The only reason that I would consider mentioning it is that a) some of the programs to which I'm applying explicitly mention that teaching experience is valued, and b) for the last five years, I've been leading an ESL program, and I have a strong reputation as an instructor and curriculum planner. I'm applying as an Anglo-Saxonist (I know: God help me), so I thought that my background in the pedagogy of second language acquisition might be relevant. I just don't know where to include it: just a brief mention on the CV? </p>
<p>Both ESL and Old English both combine the teaching/study of literature with a fairly rigorous approach to the teaching/study of a foreign language, and that's a major reason I enjoy them both. I like literature, but I really like language and linguistics, too. I'd like to include at least a sentence somewhere making that connection, if only to explain what I did with my mid-twenties. Is there a way to incorporate something about my teaching without allowing it to dominate the app? </p>
<p>I do have significant research experience as well, and four solid letters from graduate faculty at a research institution. </p>
<p>You should certainly describe your background in your SoP. Connecting literature and linguistics and mentioning your pedagogical experience is also a fine idea for the SoP. English programs often want to know about an applicant's teaching experience because they expect their TAs to teach sections of their introductory composition classes.</p>
<p>Given your personal interests and situation,this may be a good reason for you to choose a chronological schema for your SoP. That way, your experience is described as part of your background, and you can focus on your research interests for the present and future.</p>