How long should you have to write a paper?

<p>I was just curious how much time is generally considered reasonable for a research paper. Our Geology professor assigned us a 5 page paper with the first draft due a week later. Normally I wouldn't think that was a big deal, but it was right in the middle of midterms and the paper was based on a fieldtrip that we took only two days before the paper was assigned (so impossible to start early on it). The fieldtrip required us to burn off a full day of study/homework time (again in the middle of midterms). So we had one weekend for it, with being behind in midterm study because of the fieldtrip. Doesn't that seem a little unreasonable? The draft is being graded and worth almost as much as a lab assignment.</p>