A Rant on Page Minimums Rachel Thomason | Executive
Director
Here is the assignment:
Write your response to exercise two from the course text. The paper must be
no less than six pages, excluding a cover sheet and source cited section. The
paper must be written in Times New Roman (font size 12), double spaced, and
must have one inch margins.
By now I am sure that the majority of Radford students are familiar with the
words "Times New Roman font" and "margins." I can still remember when it was
considered a legitimate practice to change your font to Courier New and move
your margins as far in as possible to make that six page minimum. Microsoft
and other word processing programmers had just come out with that famous "Fit
to Page" feature that would change various attributes of your document to make
it a specific size. We all thought we had it made. That was until teachers
and professors wised up and included font and page specifications in the
assignments.
On Monday morning, I sat down to write up my assignment due later that week. I
outlined the main points of my paper and made sure every question in the
exercise was addressed. I typed my paper, made some changes, ran spell check
and reread it. Then came the moment of truth. I moved my mouse over to the
Format menu, selected Paragraph, and scrolled to Double in the Line Spacing
menu. Just as I was about to email my well thought out paper, I noticed that
it just barely ran over onto the fifth page.
I reread my paper again, looking for any points I might have missed or could
elaborate on. I found none. Rather than bring the quality of my paper down by
adding mindless filler text, I submitted it and awaited my grade.
Well, the paper was returned to me on account of its length. I understand that
many professors set page maximums to avoid spending their whole semester
grading one project. I agree with that. What I don't understand, and teachers
please explain this one to me, why is there a minimum? College students
should know that if they submit a one-paragraph response to a lengthy topic,
their grade would reflect it. Why place a restriction on how much you have to
write if it can be done well with less words?
Please excuse me now while I "improve" my paper. I plan on changing all the
don'ts to do not's and adding the opinions of some expert that no one has ever
heard of.
What do you think?
Leave your comments below.
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Comments:
Damn Poo, that's the most articulate response I've ever heard. If the rest of the world was bright, intelligent and enlightening as you, we would be all set.
Name: Poo Burns Comments:
First off I don't spell my name with " "'s around it. And second if they don't post any type of name then how do I specify one nameless internet troll from another? And yes I am different than those who don't post a name. And here's how
My Butt Is Magic
You'll Get A Stinky Genie
If You Rub It Right
Name: Joel Year: Soph Comments:
"Poo Burns" do you realize that by posting under a fake name, you're really no different than those who don't post a name?
Name: Poo Burns Comments:
Actually mister "I won't post a name" I WOULD like that with fries, so scurry to the back and get me some. Be quick about it too!
Comments:
One thing is certain, Rachel is a hottie
Comments:
It's a little crazy in here, Jeff?
Comments:
comments!!!
Comments:
Hey Poo, excellent grammar. Did you learn that during your 5th year at McDonald's? Would you like fries with that?
Comments:
I'll comment whenever and however many times I wish.
Name:Joanna Year: Grad Major: English Comments:
I remember being an undergrad and only having to write six pages, those were the days ....
Name: Wintermute Comments:
Actually, this would be a waste of cyber space...
Comments:
yes it is.
It sure isn't analog.
Name: brandon Comments:
in all actuality...it's not exactly digital.
Comments:
I want the 2 minutes of my life back that Rachel stole with this pathetic waste of digital space.
Name: jen Comments:
i did that on one of my research papers once. we had to submit 5 page essays every week, and one week while writing it (about 20 minutes before it was due) i made the entire page five "bs bs bs bs bs bs bs bs bs bs bs bs bs bs bs bs bs bs bs bs bs bs bs bs bs..."
i got my grade the next day. he gave me extra points for making him laugh. so hey...it might work.
Name: Mr. Id Comments:
Like some cheese with the whine?
Name:Brian Korte Year: '00 Major: Adv. Comments:
Okay, settle down folks (posters below). There is a point to this article, and I promise that it has nothing to do with how you goons spell your cruel (and stupid) reactionary comments.
Be that as it may, Rachel, I recommend trying a little ballsy trick for professors who ask for the unnecessary--
Answer the question as you normally would, beginning with the intro, etc. Start spelling out your points in detail, but leave page four alone, and in the center of the page (making sure to use Times New Roman, as that was the assignment), leave a simple comment:
This page intentionally left blank
Then pick up where you left off on page 5 and conclude.
Who knows? You may get points for creativity--and no one has to know you heard this from me. I did something similar in high school (I just tossed in a completely blank page) and was given a "Clever, Brian..." comment in red ink. It didn't affect the grade, but nothing was said about it.
If that doesn't work, just toss in some bullshit like you mentioned. College is a big game anyway. Maybe your professor likes reading gibberish. Most of them enjoy speaking it! :)
Name:Poo Burns Comments:
Hey Whiny, learn to spell first, then comment second. Otherwise you just continue to look extremely foolish. Oh and the name of that resteraunt is McDonalds, there is no period after Mc let alone a space between the "Mc" and "Donalds".
Name: Whiny Bitch Comments:
Ye sI hate this whole college thing,,, I mean I came here to drink, fuck, and smoke. I obviously didn't coem here to learn anything.... um excuse me a 6 page paper,, I mean to vent abotu 20 pages yeah, but think of this your parents went to college.. um well maybe, and they had to do everything on type writers and free hand, and actually go to the library, six pages isn't that bad at all, hell write two, double space it, and put it in courier new, that almsot get you six pages and with a little bullshit( say as long as this vent article) you could be well on your way to a six page paper, write a whiny article on something with a bit more substance, or when you teacher gives you 45 page thesis.. buthten again with an attitude like yours, the only six page paper you will be doing is a application at Mc. Donalds.
Name: Shaun Year: Grad Major: English Comments:
Oh, six pages? Is that all? Bless your hearts you poor little overworked undergrads...
