Writing Prompts

Directions: Type your responses to the items below.

1		On average, how many hours do you sleep each night? Explain why you think the amount of sleep you get is adequate or inadequate. Would the authors of the selection agree with your assessment? Why or why not?
2		If, like most colleges students (in fact, like most Americans) you are sleep deprived, which of the effects mentioned in the selection do you experience?
3		If you are sleep deprived, to what causes do you attribute it? What changes could you make to address this problem?
4		According to one survey, one reason children are not getting enough sleep is that they have computers and TVs in their bedrooms. It is estimated that two-thirds of children are not getting enough sleep. By one estimate, the average child will have missed as much as 4,500 hours of sleep--by his or her seventh birthday! Do you lose sleep to computer games, Internet use, or TV? If so, was that your experience as a child (did you have a computer or TV in your bedroom then)? Do you have a computer or TV in your bedroom now? If you are missing out on sleep because of the computer or TV, what steps would you be willing to take to change the situation?

To the Web

Consult one or more of the following websites that pertain to the topic of the reading selection. Then answer the questions based on information obtained from the websites.

http://www.globalserve.net/~megensr/wellness/physical/overall.htm

This Canadian website is called "Physical Wellness." Once at the website, click on the link for "Sleep."

5		List at least six purposes or benefits of sleep that are mentioned in this article.
6		The author says, "Humans are designed for two sleeps a day--the main one at night and a nap in the afternoon." Do you agree? Do you take naps in the afternoon? If not, would you take a nap if you could?

http://www.coedu.usf.edu/zalaquett/sleep/Sleep.htm

This website lists sleep tips for college students.

7		Pick three tips that would be useful to you. Tell what they are and explain your reason for choosing each of them.

http://www.pbs.org/teachersource/whats_new/health/may01.shtm

Although aimed at teachers, this website article, "Getting Enough Sleep: You've got to Be Dreaming!" contains a wealth of useful and interesting information.

8		Explain why teenagers (including college freshmen) are such a sleepy group.
9		What does the author cite as possible solutions to adolescents' sleep deprivation?

http://www.stanford.edu/group/bbeam/sleep.html

This website is sponsored by Stanford University.

10		The article mentions "synchrony," knowing when your biological clock is alerting you or making you sleepy. How can you apply knowledge of your biological clock to help you get adequate rest and be most effective?
11		According to the article, it is more important to get up at the same time every day than to go to sleep at the same time every night. Do you follow this principle? Do you think it helps you (or that it would help you if you did)? Why or why not?
12		Besides insomnia, what are two sleep disorders mentioned in this article? Describe each of the disorders.