HOW TO WRITE A PAPER...

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

2. Read over the assignment carefully, to make certain you understand it.

3. Walk down to the vending machines and buy some coffee to help you
    concentrate.

4. Stop off at the third floor, on the way back and visit with your
    friend from class. If your friend hasn't started the paper yet
    either, you can both walk to McDonald's and buy a hamburger to help
    you concentrate. If your friend shows you his paper, typed,
    double-spaced, and bound in one of those irritating see-thru plastic
    folders, drop him.

5. 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.

6. Read over the assignment again to make absolutely certain you
    understand it.

7. You know, you haven't written to that kid you met at camp since
    fourth grade. You'd better write that letter now and get it our of
    the way so you can concentrate.

8. Go look at your teeth in the bathroom mirror.

9. Listen to one side of your favorite cd and that's it, I mean it,
    as soon as it's over you are going to start that paper.

10. Listen to the other side.

11. Rearrange all of your CDs into alphabetical order.

12. Phone your friend on the third floor and ask if he's started
    writing yet. Exchange derogatory remarks about your teacher, the
    course, the university, the world at large.

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

14. Read over the assignment again; roll the words across your
    tongue; savor its special flavor.

15. Check the newspaper listings to make sure you aren't missing
    something truly worthwhile on TV. NOTE: When you have a paper due in
    less than 12 hours, anything on TV from Masterpiece Theater to Sgt.
    Preston of the Yukon, is truly worthwhile, with these exceptions: a)
    Pro Bowler's Tour b) movie starring Don Ameche.

16. Catch the last hour of Soul Brother of Kung Fu on channel 26.

17. Phone your friend on the third floor to see if he was watching.
    Discuss the finer points of the plot.

18. Go look at your tongue in the bathroom mirror.

18.5. Look through your roommate's book of pictures from home. Ask
    who everyone is.

19. Sit down and do some serious thinking about your plans for the future.

20. Open your door and check to see if there are any mysterious
    trench-coated strangers lurking in the hall.

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

22. Read over the assignment one more time, just for the hell of it.

23. Scoot your chair across the room to the window and watch the sunrise.

24. Lie face down on the floor and moan.

25. Leap up and write the paper.