defense paper 2

8/17/2019 Defense Paper 2

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Freeman 1

Ethan Freeman

Ms. Caruso

UWRT 1103

05 April 2016

Defense P paper

One of the most significant and under-addressed issues facing people tT oday, for

adolescents and adults alike, is sleep deprivation. In addition to keeping people from feeling

rested and functioning properly throughout the day, sleep deprivation can lead to serious

maladies. Prolonged periods of insufficient sleep can even lead to permanent damage. With this

in mind, I’ve created a parody song designed to be enticing enough to be watched, yet

informative enough to make a difference in the lives of sufferers.

Sleep deprivation is a snowball effect, continuing to get worse the longer you stay

awake(Sleepio). Some brain functions, including memory and cognitive speed, begin to

deteriorate after just 16 hours, and the condition is exacerbated with each passing hour(Web

Md). Sleep deprivation can hinder one’s ability to pay attention, create new memories, recall old

memories, make decisions, and lead to very dangerous conditions, especially when operating

motor vehicles or heavy machinery(Dove Medical Press). In order to deter people from pushing

their limits and putting their mental health in danger, my product displays someone saying no to

a potentially fun activity in favor of getting sleep instead. In order to convey my message, I’ve

chosen a very catchy, well-known song from High School Musical to parody. My hope is that the

increase in enjoyment for viewers will allow for more views, therefore having a greater influence

than an exhaustive list of harmful side effects that would bore and ward off potential viewers.


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In this parody song, I incorporate the use of several key terms, such as microsleeps and

napping, in order to inspire curiosity among viewers. I posted the lyrics in the description so that

viewers have a reference, and so that they can know how to spell terms and know which terms to

look up, if the video sparks their interest. Upon searching microsleeps, the viewers would find

out that these brief periods of altered consciousness can render you unresponsive for a short

period of time. Imagine driving on the highway or in a school zone and not being responsive to a

stimuli such as an incoming car or a child. Bad things happen when you suffer from

deprivation-induced microsleeps, especially since they can come without much warning, other

than a feeling of tiredness.

In order to make it believable, I messed up my hair for the video, and tried to make it seem as

though I had bags around my eyes. Sleep deprivation is a topic which hits close to home for

many college students, and I think the video, as well as the lyrics, are very relatable and

interesting. This is particularly important because my primary target audience, teens and young

adults, cannot often spare a great deal of time, so what I convey must be interesting and helpful

enough for them to want to allocate time to watch it.

The information in the video isn’t super specific, but this was on purpose, in order to

make it so people would actually watch it and not find it boring. Admittedly, the singing isn’t

very good, because I had bad allergies for an entire month and couldn’t get a break, but that

shouldn’t take away from the content’s relatability and helpfulness. In fact, I feel as though many

people around my age, and in a similar academic setting could sympathize with having to work

under less-than-perfect conditions. Inconveniences such as excessive homework from multiple


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classes, in addition to work or social obligations, can create a cocktail of obstacles in the way of

a student and sleeping.

Because sleep is so important, people have to treat it as such, and “sleep smart”. What I

mean by this is, how and when you sleep can be just as important as how long you sleep. There

is an enduring fallacy that napping is bad for you, and that napping will make it hard for you to

sleep at night. Napping for 10-20 minutes is actually very good for you, boosting brain function

and not contributing to grogginess or difficulty in falling asleep at night(How to sleep better,

2016). Problems occur when naps go beyond 20 minutes, and an individual begins to go into

deeper sleep. This can disrupt one’s circadian rhythm, which is a person’s day-night sleep cycle,

and lead to feelings of lethargy and fogginess. By understanding the importance of sleep, and

knowing when and how how and when to sleep effectively, one can maximize one’s own feeling

of restfulness and mental health.


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Works CitedReferences

"Sleep Deprivation Effects and How Much Sleep We Need: Babies, Teens, and Adults."

WebMD. WebMD. Web. 12 Apr. 2016.

"Sleepio." Sleepio. Web. 12 Apr. 2016.

"How to Sleep Better." : Tips for Getting a Good Night's Sleep. Web. 12 Apr. 2016.

Alhola, Paula, and Päivi Polo-Kantola. "Sleep Deprivation: Impact on Cognitive

Performance." Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment . Dove Medical Press. Web. 28 Apr.

2016.

defense paper 2

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