“R” is capitalized,
but “h” is not.
Page number is also in
Times New Roman size 12.
Running head: OOPS, I GOT DISTRACTED
The words “Running head” appear only
on the title page, not on other pages.
A colon ( : ) goes right after “head.”
The running head itself is in ALL CAPS. It should not be longer
than 50 characters (letters plus punctuation and spaces between
the letters). If the paper’s title is longer than 50 characters, the
running head should use a shortened version of the title.
Oops, I Got Distracted
All text is
double-spaced.
Susan Lee
Zane State College
Zane State College is
three separate words!
Position the text no
lower than halfway
down the page.
1
The title should contain no more than 12 words.
The title here is in title case (capitalize the first
word, last word, and all words in between except
articles, conjunctions, and short prepositions).
On all pages after the title page,
the header does not include the
words “Running head.”
The running head should be the
same as on the title page even if it
is a shortened version of the title.
OOPS, I GOT DISTRACTED
Center the full title in
the first line of page 2.
2
Oops, I Got Distracted
If I had a dollar for every time I got distracted . . . I wish I had a puppy. Although we may
not experience it quite to this extent, distraction is something we composition students all fight
against in our efforts to get started with our essays, do the final revisions, and turn in those
assignments before the deadlines. While we know that focus and concentrated effort are essential
to any serious accomplishment, this doesn’t make us less susceptible to the charm of the
numerous distractions which seem determined to draw us in every time we sit down to write. Our
greatest dilemma may be that we are drawn to distraction like bees to honey. We enjoy being
diverted from the often difficult task of putting our thoughts and feelings into words. One author
In-text citations
include the author,
year, and page
number.
Use “pp.” for more
than one page and
“para.” to count
paragraphs if the
source has no page
numbers.
If the source has no
author, use a short
version of the title
(or the whole title
if it is already
short). For short
works, put the title
in quotation marks.
For long works,
italicize the title.
admits, “Writers have always secretly welcomed distractions, though we never had so many to
choose from as now” (Berger, 2014, p. 60). Although we often face the distraction of physical
discomfort, the call of the to-do list, the appeal of social media, and interferences from our
surroundings, there are strategies we can use that can help us to say no to these challenging
disruptions when they arise, and to find the focus we need.
First of all, attempting to write while being physically uncomfortable can create a
distraction difficult to ignore. Whether the cause of our discomfort is hunger, thirst, sleepiness,
or needing the restroom, it greatly reduces our ability to focus and can derail the efforts of even
the most diligent composition student. I confess that my recurring distraction is hunger. The
mere thought of revising an essay is enough to make me start craving popcorn, Reese’s peanut
butter cups, or tortilla chips with guacamole. If those particular snacks aren’t available, I’ll settle
for anything edible to be found in the refrigerator! Writing well, while battling hunger pains or
experiencing physical discomfort for any other reason, is nearly impossible. However, we could
If the source has no
date, use “n.d.”
very likely avoid distractions of this nature by grabbing a bottle of water, eating a quick snack,
OOPS, I GOT DISTRACTED
3
and making a quick jaunt to the restroom before we get settled in to begin. If we find sleepiness
to be a problem and aren’t able to get a good night’s sleep before working on our composition
assignments, a little caffeine-induced energy may be just the thing. Though it may take a few
extra moments to ensure that we are comfortable before we get started on our essays, doing this
will make the possibility of getting distracted later much less likely.
Secondly, a distraction we often face as we sit down to invest some much needed time
into our waiting essays is that parade of thoughts marching through our minds of all the things
we could be doing instead. When our minds are filled with worry that we will forget an
important task or with stress about the things waiting to be done, our ability to focus
disintegrates rapidly. Before we know it, we have given in to procrastination and fallen into the
less-than-productive cycle of flitting from one unfinished task to the next in an effort to distract
ourselves from the thing we most need to accomplish. Usually, when I know that an essay is
waiting for my attention, I become convinced that reorganizing my closet would be a delightful
task and that the home decor project I began last year simply must be done today. Heck, even
cleaning that cluttered basement sounds like a great idea! Whenever we find that our mental todo lists are high-jacking our writing or revising efforts, it might help us to keep our focus if we
would grab a piece of paper and jot down the ideas so that they can be done later. (Later being
the key word!) Often, after we have the jobs in a neat list in front of us, we are able to turn and
give our full attention to our composition assignments once again, without worrying that we will
forget an important task or idea.
Furthermore, social media can be a powerful distraction and can quickly undermine our
productivity. It doesn’t take much to cause our attention to stray to the last thing we posted on
Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram and to wonder how many likes or retweets we have gotten since
OOPS, I GOT DISTRACTED
4
we checked it ten minutes ago. What makes this distraction so difficult to avoid is the fact that
we have the common social media outlets so readily available on our phones and our personal
computers, both of which we often use when working on composition assignments. For me, it
usually happens just as I’m getting an assignment underway. I open my laptop, pull up my essay,
and immediately one of those oh-so-alluring Facebook notifications pops up and begs for my
attention. I see that it’s a funny comment on my latest post. I have the perfect comeback and
know it will only take one moment to reply, so before I know it I’ve pulled up the app. Forty-five
minutes later, I am jolted back to the present and to the realization that I’ve just wasted valuable
study time looking at photos of the chicken salad sandwich Fred had for lunch, laughing at
Minion memes, and watching videos of someone else’s cat! Pinterest can be even more difficult
to ignore because time spent on Pinterest doesn’t really feel like wasted time. Often, after an hour
or more, I’ve collected several creative ideas for my next project as well as pinned several dozen
mouthwatering recipes. The only drawback is that I have not gotten any further on that wretched
essay revision! It is clear that social media can be a serious distraction. However, silencing our
ring tones, turning off our notifications, or even turning our phones and computers to airplane
mode for an hour or so should decrease the chances of our composing efforts being disrupted by
social media.
Lastly, a challenge we often face when attempting to spend any amount of time in
focused writing is the distraction of our surroundings. This one can come in as many forms as
there are locations in which to write. We may be distracted by an attention-loving pet, a fellow
student, a television blaring across the room, or even the friendly stranger at the next table who
just won’t stop talking. When we have the option of choosing a solitary writing nook, it is wise
to do so. Wyrick (2014) suggests,
Refer to authors by their last names.
The year always goes with the author’s
name if the author is mentioned in the
sentence. Put the year in parentheses.
OOPS, I GOT DISTRACTED
If a quotation is longer
than 40 words, it must
be formatted as a
block quote: indent
0.5-inch and do not
use quotation marks.
5
Find a suitable place to work, one that is comfortable but not too cozy or near
distractions. Although it may be tempting to write as you flop on a couch or prop up in
bed, the time-to-begin function in your brain will probably turn on quicker if you are
sitting upright at a desk or table, squarely facing the task at hand. (p. 99)
In a block quote, the
page number goes
after the period.
This means that it is important to select a comfy, quiet spot where we’re unlikely to be
interrupted and lose our concentration. Sometimes, however, we do not have the luxury of a
personal writing space. For example, I have four younger siblings who all love to spend time
with me, so when I am working on an essay at home, no matter where I am, they eventually find
me. It’s hard to say no to these interruptions because listening to my little brother tell about his
day’s adventures is usually more interesting than revising the sentence structure in my essay or
attempting to find punctuation errors. In those times when we find ourselves writing in larger,
more public places, it can be helpful to block ourselves off from the people around us in some
way. Newman (2014) proposes strategically setting up our own barriers with books, plants, or
screens. When that isn’t possible, even wearing earbuds can give the “Don’t interrupt” signal to
any would-be conversationalists (p. 139).
Put the period after the citation when it is not a block quote.
Although encountering some form of disruption while attempting to give focused
attention to our writing or revising efforts is a part of reality for each of us, distraction doesn’t
need to dominate our writing time. Whether we frequently battle the distraction of physical
discomfort, that worrisome to-do list, social media, or our surroundings, responding proactively
can help us eliminate these distractions and maintain our concentration. The answer may be as
simple as taking a break, eating a snack, silencing the phone, or moving to a different study
location. So, the next time we feel as if our brains are being pulled in a thousand directions
OOPS, I GOT DISTRACTED
despite all our exertions to the contrary, we don’t need to panic. If we stop, take a deep breath,
and look around, we may discover that the solution we need is right in front of us.
6
Continue the page
numbering.
Citations have the
last name first and
do not include the
full first name.
Put “References,”
centered, in the first line.
OOPS, I GOT DISTRACTED
7
References
Berger, W. (2014, January 20). Writers unplugged. Publishers Weekly, 261(3), 60.
For journal articles, italicize
the volume number but
not the issue number.
Newman, J. (2014). How not to be (huh? what? where was I?) distracted. Real Simple, 15(12),
139.
Wyrick, J. (2014). Steps to writing well with additional readings (9th ed.). Boston, MA:
Wadsworth, Cengage Learning.
Alphabetize
sources by the
first word in
the citation.
If a source has
no author, put
the title first.
Titles of articles and books are in
sentence case (capitalize only the
first word and any proper nouns).
Sources are double-spaced and use a
hanging indent (each line after the first
line is indented.)
Italicize titles of long
works like books,
magazines, and
academic journals.