Essay Standards Before writing your response, copy the question in its entirety to the top of the page. In all your writing assignments, be clear and to the point. Each essay must be double-spaced and at least 400 but not more than 600 words. This does not include the question, title or sources. A quote exceeding 20 words in length will be counted as 20 words regardless of its actual length. An answer that falls short of the minimum requirement will be graded a D. Some questions may have multiple parts. Respond to all the parts. Show that you have given serious thought to the question(s). Your answer must demonstrate your thorough understanding of a particular topic of the course material. Always start with a meaningful title. It must reflect the content of the essay. You may want to save this until after you completed writing the essay. Next, write an introduction in which you identify the author(s) (if applicable), summarize the issue and announce your position.