<p>My S is applying to a college that asks for a "graded piece of writing from 11th or 12th grade," in addition to the common app essay. It can be a photocopy, but they want to see the teacher's comments and grade.</p>
<p>S has two writing assignments that he is deciding between:</p>
<p>A) 5 page paper on Ronald Reagan and the Conservative Movement of the 1980's, for US History 2 Honors, received a 95.</p>
<p>B) 10 page paper on themes in Grapes of Wrath and All Quiet on the Western Front, for Honors English 11, received an 84.</p>
<p>He thinks the English paper is better written, but that teacher was a much harder grader than his history teacher.</p>
<p>If the english paper really is that good, and he got an 80 something on it, it might show that his english class was really tough. Seeing the teacher's harsh grading might give him some leniancy if he did poorly (by CC standards) in that english class</p>
<p>I'd let him choose the paper, for whatever reason. If he takes your suggestion over his, and he doesn't get in, do you really want him to blame you? It's his life and his choice. (And an 80 isn't bad.)</p>
<p>If you want an outside opinion, can his guidance counselor read them and advise? Or his English or History teacher?</p>
<p>Good point about it being his decision. I don't think either of the papers would be a "bad" choice. I was just surprised that he wanted to turn in a paper that got an 84, but if he really thinks its a better paper that's up to him.</p>
<p>I'd send in the English paper, especially if he ended up with an A- in the class. Also hopefully the admissions people will be able to see that the teacher was a difficult grader.</p>
<p>Does the school specify a preferred length? If it were me, I would go for the shorter paper -- easier on the college folks who have to look at it and the better grade to boot.</p>
<p>Of my two kids, only one ran across a similar requirement and only at one school. This school specified that it wanted the piece to be short. (I know it can't be the same school your son is dealing with, though, because it was Bryn Mawr.) </p>
<p>Since the college wants a graded sample, I think they will be looking at the grade and the comments primarily. They aren't set up to evaluate the quality of the writing themselves. (At least one school told me this, in urging me not to send any unevaluated work -- my daughter was homeschooled, which is why I asked.) So I don't know that they would second guess the teacher's evaluation.</p>
<p>What about the comments made on the two possibilities? My daughter went for a sample that had no stylistic or substantive corrections offered and was positively gushing. </p>
<p>Is one of the papers more relevant to what your son wants to study? A prospective English major should probably be sending in an English paper; a history major, a history major. If the history paper is more of a research paper, it could be more telling for any major that involves an ability to research.</p>
<p>Of course, as Chedva said, the final decision has to be his. You can offer your advice and share with him what we've said and tell him to talk to his GC to see if s/he has experience with this particular school. </p>
<p>He could also call the school and see if it has a preference in terms of length. It seems like it would be very difficult for a college to cope with applications that included 10 page writing assignments in addition to everything else. At least if I were an adcomm, I would probably just look at the grade and read the comments on something that long ;)</p>