Conflicting Priorities: The Pursuit of Both Quantity and Quality in Limitations
Melissa Parnagian, Social Sciences Correspondent
In the world of academic research, page limits serve as a crucial guide for researchers. They signify a minimum and maximum for the amount of content, ensuring that papers remain concise yet comprehensive. However, the art of staying within these limits doesn't always come easily.
When you find yourself hovering close to the maximum page limit, it's often better to eliminate non-essential examples rather than sacrificing word choice. This approach, which balances detailed content and concise summaries, is particularly useful when dealing with search engine answer boxes or summarized text output.
But deciding what to cut can be challenging. Remember, the core message should always remain intact. Exceeding the maximum page limit indicates that the researcher has included essentials to reach their point. On the other hand, falling short of the minimum page limit may suggest a need for more research.
As you approach the final push on your independent work, it's essential to land safely between the minimum and maximum page limits. This reflects careful consideration of facts, figures, data, and analysis in your research.
Being emotionally attached to an argument after spending time constructing it is a common issue. If you find yourself below the minimum page limit, critically analysing your assumptions and proving the appropriateness of your argument's starting point is a better strategy than using longer synonyms.
It's also worth mentioning that the transformation of a paper into a presentation is another aspect to consider. This process requires a different approach, focusing on clarity, conciseness, and visual appeal.
Lastly, if you are particularly attached to your examples and find yourself needing to exceed the page limit slightly, it's okay to ask your professor for permission. After all, your research is a reflection of your hard work and dedication.
This article is part of the "Presenting and Publishing" section, aiming to provide valuable insights and tips for writing a history research paper.
