Stop off at another floor, on the way back and visit with your friend from class. If your friend has not started the paper yet either, you can both walk to McDonalds and buy a hamburger to help you concentrate. If your friend shows you her paper, typed, double-spaced, and bound in one of those irritating see-thru plastic folders, drop her.

  When you get back to your room, sit in a straight, comfortable chair in a clean, well-lighted place with plenty of freshly sharpened pencils. Read over the assignment again to make absolutely certain you understand it.

Check your email.

You know, you have not written to that kid you met at camp since fourth grade. You had better write that letter now and get it out of the way so you can concentrate.

Look at your teeth in the bathroom mirror.

Listen to one side of your favorite tape and that is it, I mean it, as soon as it is over you are going to start that paper.

Listen to the other side.

Check your email.

Rearrange all of your CDs into alphabetical order.

Phone your friend on the other floor and ask if she has started writing yet. Exchange derogatory remarks about your teacher, the course, the college, the world at large.

Sit in a straight, comfortable chair in a clean, well lighted place with plenty of freshly sharpened pencils.