How Long Should a Research Paper Be? I'm at 15 Pages and Only Halfway Done!

[WillMo]

I need someone to talk me off the ledge here! My professor assigned a 10-12 page research paper on climate policy, and I'm currently on page 15... and I still haven't gotten to my third main argument! How did this happen?! I thought I was being thorough, but now I'm worried I've gone completely off track. The thing is, everything I'm including feels important. Every study, every statistic, every counterargument – it all seems relevant to building my case. But now I'm panicking about the word count. How long should a research paper actually be when you have a lot to say? Is there such a thing as "too thorough"?

I've heard some people say that professors secretly appreciate when you go a bit over because it shows engagement with the material. Others say strict page limits exist for a reason and going over just shows you can't edit yourself. Which is it?! I'm considering two approaches: 1) Trim ruthlessly and cut some of my favorite sections, or 2) Keep everything and hope the professor appreciates my passion. What would you do? Has anyone here gone over the limit and still gotten an A? I need success stories (or reality checks)! Please help!

 

[AlmaBust]

I've been there. Here's what you need to do right now: stop writing and re-read your thesis statement. Is your third main argument actually a separate point, or is it supporting evidence for one of the first two? Sometimes when we're deep in research, we create new categories for things that could just be subsections. Also, check your intro and conclusion—are they longer than they need to be? I've shaved off two pages just by tightening those. Worst case? Email your professor and ask. Say "I'm deeply engaged with the material and worried about cutting crucial analysis—would you prefer a focused 12 pages or a thorough 15?" Their answer will guide you. Professors actually love when you ask clarifying questions!