: Do I need a complete collection of essays with which to approach an agent or a sampling? I haven't the foggiest notion of what is being asked of me here. To elaborate on my question, can

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You said

I haven't the foggiest notion of what is being asked of me here.

i'll assume that you mean "in order to get an agent"

This isn’t Hollywood where you need to have a reel, or an art school, or gallery, where you need to present a portfolio, or a university where you need to present sample essays.

You need to already have sealable product before you approach an agent. He won’t take you in and groom you on the strenght of some sample writings…

(Most likely he won’t groom you to become a better writer even if you have great manuscripts and potential "best-seller" stamped in ink on your forehead)

Like @what said, you need a polished finished product before you approach an agent. It is extremely unlikely that the agent will take you on based on some un-commercial essays, or essay collection.

Either develop these essays into a novel or chuck them away and start to develop a novel lenght book.

also do some basic searches like reading Q/A like:
How can I make a collection of essays / arguments more attractive to publishers?

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