As I'm writing a 5 page essay I'm left wondering what's the point of setting a minimum page requirement? Obviously a one page essay is going to be unacceptable, but there times when 3 pages is all you need to sufficiently answer a prompt. Personally I've run into situations where I end up needlessly adding fluff to my papers in order to meet a lousy requirement. Isn't that just counterproductive? Of course 5 page essays are a small task as one moves higher up the level of education, but the same rule applies! Why do professors set a minimum?