Typically, professors require a minimum number of words on papers or assignments for students to reach. Specific word counts are given because these teachers and professors believe the amount required is manageable. Many students dread reaching the number of words that are necessary to submit the paper. Although, minimum word requirements are essential to creating a better writer.
Even though word requirements can be a pain, they encourage students to answer the prompt more broadly and introduce more textual evidence. Minimum word counts promote students to fully unpack their thoughts into the assignment. Word requirements can act as a reminder that there needs to be more explanation or evidence in their argument.
On one hand, many argue that word requirements can cause students to become wordy and create run-on sentences, and on the other hand some argue that the number of words stops students from not fully explaining their argument. Word maximums are also a useful device to stop students from the same problem of unnecessary words and run-on sentences. Minimum word counts can also prevent students from procrastinating until the last night.
In our INTD class, Beth put a 1400 minimum word count on our essay about Octavia Butler’s short story Bloodchild. At first, I found this frustrating because as always, I procrastinated on the first draft. Trying to reach the word count when the paper is due in a couple hours seems impossible. I feel that word counts can be a wake-up call from professors to students, to show them that their argument needs to be supported and explained in detail. Minimum word requirements can allow professors to stop students from procrastinating as well.