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Should the Why X paper be comparable in length to the general essay or shorter?

One page, double-spaced, 11 or 12 point font, and 1 inch margins.

heptune wrote:Should the Why X paper be comparable in length to the general essay or shorter?

Some schools require a specific word limit. University of Illinois says 200.

Either way, the shorter the better - as long as you have enough room to be coherent.

One page is as long as it should ever be. I suggest one paragraph or two short paragraphs.

A good rule: definitely more than 200, definitely less than 500.

I'm so sick of trying to read these ad comms' minds. If Michigan says "about one page" and Duke gives no word or length limit, is it really going to be so terrible if each has 3-4 lines on page 2?

addy11 wrote:I'm so sick of trying to read these ad comms' minds. If Michigan says "about one page" and Duke gives no word or length limit, is it really going to be so terrible if each has 3-4 lines on page 2?

If the instructions say "about one page" or no length limit at all, then 3-4 lines on page 2 will be fine. The key is to make sure your writing has substance.