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Sleep Quality: Argumentative Essays Examples

Type of paper: Argumentative Essay

Topic: Sleep , Students , Quality , Education , Psychology , College , Performance , Depression

Words: 3250

Published: 01/08/2021

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An Argumentative Paper on the Importance of Sleep Quality over Sleep Quantity among College Students

XXX ENGL 106 Sleep quality is extremely essential for both adolescents and young adults because the brain is still developing. In comparison to sleep quantity, sleep quality has a greater impact on the cognitive performance, vulnerability to depressive symptoms, and life satisfaction of college students. Getting quality sleep enhances processing of social experiences and other information. Sleep deprivation studies demonstrate that low sleep quality adversely affects mental concentration, memory, emotional control, and behavioral competence. All of these aspects are vital to the growth of fundamental social interaction abilities and to academic outcomes. Low sleep quality also raises health problems, like confusion, depression, and greater vulnerability to substance abuse. It is also linked to several other physical disorders such as cardiovascular illness, mood, low immunity, and metabolism. Some studies (e.g. Lowry, Dean, & Manders, 2010; Gikunda et al., 2014) have placed emphasis on the duration of sleep so as to evaluate the sleep quality of research subjects. Indeed, leep quantity also affects all these vital cognitive, physical, and social functions, but according to studies (e.g. Galambos, Howard, Maggs, 2010; Gilbert & Weaver, 2010; Hershner & Chervin, 2014; etc.) sleep quality has a greater impact. However, Gunnarsdottir (2014) proposed that researchers and experts must place greater importance on the quality of sleep rather than the quantity. Likewise, the study of Gunnarsdottir (2014), which explored whether lengthier sleep would result in improved life quality, revealed that sleep quality has a greater impact on psychological and physiological functioning. Therefore, in view of the aforementioned studies, the quality of sleep rather than sleep quantity requires greater attention from educators, social scientists, and health care professionals. All the same, both sleep quality and sleep quantity are essential. However, according to several studies (e.g. Gunnarsdottir, 2014; Liu, 2004), even students who manage to get sufficient amount of sleep (7-8 hours), but are wakeful or shallow sleepers and have a disrupted sleep-wake cycle exhibit more serious symptoms of reduced concentration and depression. When students are not able to get sufficient sleep during examinations or other important academic activities, they often make an attempt to sleep longer during their free time. Even though this generates some positive outcomes, the adjustment in the sleep-wake cycle or sleep quantity weakens sleep quality and leads to a steady deterioration of memory, focus, and concentration and higher susceptibility to depression (Pilcher, Ginter, & Sadowsky, 1997; Galambos et al., 2010). This alone substantiates the assumption that sleep quality has a greater impact on the behavioral, emotional, and cognitive performance of college students than sleep quantity. Sleep is an activity that every individual requires on a regular basis. However, even though sleep is exceptionally vital to human life, not all people sleep thoroughly or qualitatively well. One of the aspects that is significantly affected by sleep quality is cognitive performance. The quality of sleep has been reported to be a greater predictor of cognitive performance than sleep quantity. Studies on the general effects of poor sleep quality on the cognitive performance of college students suggest that low quality of sleep adversely influences cognitive outcomes. According to Galambos and colleagues (2010), higher quantity of sleep is related to lesser adverse cognitive impact, but greater quality of sleep is associated with greater positive cognitive performance and reduced stress. Basically, poor quality of sleep affects numerous aspects of college students’ cognitive performance. The study of Telzer and colleagues (2013) discovered that cognitive performance declines without quality sleep. Poor sleepers tend to produce poorer academic outcomes compared to college students who have a healthy sleep-wake cycle. Simply put, poor quality of sleep generate more inadvertent outcomes than insufficient amount of sleep, such as adverse effect on performance, memory, and learning skills. Unfortunately, as revealed by Gilbert and Weaver (2010), there is poor awareness of the importance of sleep quality in strengthening normal brain functioning, particularly memory. The ‘dual process’ model argues that specific forms of memory are significantly affected by particular sleep conditions; for instance, ‘procedural memory’ or the process of gaining knowledge of how to do things, such as driving a car or cooking, could be significantly rooted in rapid eye movement (REM). As further elaborated by Galambos and colleagues (2010), poor sleep quality may negatively affect the quality of REM that college students receive, which could in turn weaken memory and learning. During quality sleep, the brain effectively processes and categorizes all gathered information, and stores it away for eventual retrieval. When a person is unable to obtain a sufficient amount of sleep, the capability to transfer information from short-term to long-term memory deteriorates (Galambos et al., 2010). For instance, according to the study of Hershner and Chervin (2014), college students who are able to sleep without disruption prior to taking an exam perform better than those who are unable to obtain quality sleep. Besides memory, quality of sleep is also crucial in sustaining performance, learning, and concentration abilities. In both experimental and correlational research, college students who get poor sleep quality exhibit marginally lower academic performance than students who are able to get a good night sleep. Professors and parents largely admit that adolescents with poor sleeping habits appear absent-minded and have problems focusing or sustain a normal level of concentration (Hershner & Chervin, 2014). Likewise, the quantity of sleep also affect the ability of adolescents to focus and concentrate; for instance, Trockel and colleagues (2000) explained that insufficient quantity of sleep during weekends significantly affects the ability of first-year college students to sustain a longer attention span to classroom lectures and activities. Gilbert and Weaver (2010) substantiated this claim but further stated that quality of sleep can offset such adverse effects of inadequate sleep quantity. The findings of Telzer and colleagues (2013) confirm that sleep quality rather than sleep quantity is related to higher stimulation and cognitive control. These findings most probably arose due to the reduced arousal brought about by poor sleep quality. The interplay between weakened cognitive control, intensified arousal, and low sleep quality could produce a detrimental cycle through which sleep reduces control and intensifies arousal, which consequently drives adolescents towards greater sensitivity to stimuli and, as a result, lower quality of sleep. Correspondingly, similar to its impact on cognitive performance, sleep quality also has a greater influence on depression than sleep quantity. Poor quality of sleep is linked to anxiety and depression. Poor quality of sleep, not inadequate sleep, is one of the most widespread causes of depression. Sleep patterns are altered in depressed students, marked by the following symptoms (Edell-Gustafsson, 1999, 2): Poorer health, higher level of anxiety and increased difficulties maintaining sleep (DMS) were consistent with significantly longer sleep latency, increased fragmented sleep, and. REM sleep. Weakened quality and efficacy of sleep, as well as disrupted sleep-wake cycle, could shed light on the reason why students experiencing depression at times feel exhausted even though they seem to have received longer sleeps. Such defective sleep-wake cycle will have an impact on their performance on everyday tasks due to excessive tiredness (Pilcher et al., 1997). Collectively, students with sleep disruptions were more prone to experience depression, tiredness, weight loss, and grief than students who are able to sleep soundly at night. Excessive arousal has also been shown in other physical, cognitive, mental circumstances, leading to an unhealthy cycle of sleeplessness. Edell-Gustafsson and colleagues (2006) describes the unhealthy sleeplessness cycle “as cognitive activities, intrusion worries, frustration, and negative expectation producing depressive reactions of sleeping difficulties, which maintain or aggravate sleeplessness, in relation to one’s sense of helplessness and self-efficacy in this regard” (as cited in Johansson, 2012, 13). College students who are unable to recover the quality of sleep they had skipped because of too much stimulation and other factors amass a ‘sleep debt’ that results in susceptibility to depression, cognitive disability, weight changes, physical and mental exhaustion, and heightened sleepiness. The development of sleep debt and disrupted sleep are primarily associated with depression, fatigue, sleep apnea, and other hyperactive neurophysiological functions. All of these reduce the life satisfaction of college students. Waking up because of emotional, physical, and psychological reasons brings about anxiety and tension, and can be categorized based on external or internal sources which consequently lead to greater sleep disruptions. For instance, college students who are chronically bothered by family issues or other difficulties may experience more sleep disruptions than those who have a certain level of peace of mind. Too much physiological and psychological arousal throughout the day or before sleeping could considerably interrupt the inception of sleep and result in more recurrent nighttime arousals. It is stated from earlier studies that sleep disruption results in morning deficiency caused by sleepiness. Moreover, mood changes and different health problems have also been identified by various researchers among college students who have difficulties sleeping peacefully at night. Poor quality of sleep leads to intensified daytime emotional experiences that would eventually lead to health disorders like elevated blood pressure. Poor quality of sleep is also linked to lower immunity and abnormal metabolic functioning, which further weaken one’s life satisfaction. These findings support the idea that sleep quality has a greater impact than sleep quantity on the daily activities of college students, and that inefficient sleep could set off major depressive symptoms. Additionally, a number of researchers further highlight the clinical significance of sleep disruption in depression among college students. Bertocci and associates (2005 as cited in Gruber & Brouillette, 2006) made a comparison of subjective sleep evaluations in adolescents and children experiencing depression to correlate normal functioning with age and discovered considerably poorer quality of sleep, more problems sleeping at night, and trouble getting up in the morning in depressed individuals. In addition, as reported by Liu (2004), greater suicidal tendencies have been discovered among those college students with most distressed sleep. Earlier studies have also reported the correlation between psychological problems (e.g. anxiety and depression) and nightmares, and more recent studies have focused on the correlation between suicidal tendencies and nightmares among adolescents. More particularly, according to Liu (2004), sleeplessness is more widespread in students with higher suicidal tendency, and this pattern is usually attended by frequent nightmares. Nightmares are described as intense dreams characterized by heightened feelings of fear that rouses the person, which normally take place during REM sleep. In a research of individuals experiencing major depression, Agargun and associates (1998) (as cited in Liu, 2004) illustrated that recurrent nightmares are linked to heightened suicidal ideation. Current studies indicate that nightmares are more widespread than initially thought. Hershner and Chevin (2014) put forth another detrimental impact of sleep quality on psychological wellbeing. They reported that sleep disruption is an important factor which brings about poor sense of worth or self-image, which, in turn, could cause depression. They further conveyed that university experts are more inclined to handle depression as the greatest contributing factor to poor academic outcomes, neglecting the fact that a poor self-image caused by poor sleep quality is major root of depression. Thus, given these gaps in the literature, it is essential to identify the actual fundamental relationship between sleep quality and depression among college students. Nonetheless, despite the comprehensiveness and validity of the findings about the greater importance of sleep quality over sleep quantity, some researchers claim that proponents of sleep quality did not take into consideration other factors that could influence academic performance among college students. Without taking into account sleep quantity, these researchers argue that it is not possible to draw an accurate conclusion about the actual impact of sleep disorders on the academic performance of college students (Wolfson & Carskadon, 2003). The studies of educators, social scientists, and developmental psychologists in evaluating aspects that focus on disparities in academic performance have emphasized the significance of a more inclusive model than most sleep experts have adopted. Similarly, other social scientists currently argued that researchers that examine the cognitive, emotional, and behavioral performance of college students have to take into full account of the quantity of sleep on the psychological and physiological health of college students. They argue that sleep quality alone cannot account for the full aspect of the academic performance of college students. For instance, studies have reported that shorter duration of sleep affects the ability of college students to focus during classroom activities and examinations. Lawrence Epstein, a medical professor at Harvard University, argues for the importance of sleep quantity (American Academy of Sleep Medicine, 2007, para 3): Recent studies have shown that adequate sleep is essential to feeling awake and alert, maintaining good health and working at peak performance. After two weeks of sleeping six hours or less a night, students feel as bad and perform as poorly as someone who has gone without sleep for 48 hours. New research also highlights the importance of sleep in learning and memory. Students getting adequate amounts of sleep performed better on memory and motor tasks than did students deprived of sleep. Several researchers support lengthier sleep for students because brain functions are also dependent on the amount of sleep an individual receives. All of these contentions are valid and reasonable. It is true that both sleep quality and sleep quantity should be taken into account in the examination of the physical, cognitive, and behavioral performance of college students. Both sleep quality and sleep quantity affect the overall wellbeing of an individual. However, the primacy of sleep quality over sleep quantity has been supported by a fair number of studies. Stenzel (2015) firmly argues that college students should be trained in time management and taught about the importance of quality of sleep. He found out from his study of the impact of sleep quality on college students’ behavior that sleeping longer during weekends or free time does not compensate for the lack of efficient sleep. Deficient sleep quality is harder to recover than inadequate sleep quantity. Hence the argument of this paper stands—there should be a greater emphasis on sleep quality among college students. In conclusion, there is a certain level of confusion between sleep quality and sleep quantity. Many mistakenly interchange the two. Sleep quantity refers to the quantifiable aspect of sleep, such as duration and amount of sleep, whereas sleep quality refers to the intangible characteristic of sleep such as its efficiency and depth. It is the contention of this paper that sleep quality has a greater influence on the academic performance of college students than sleep quantity. There are three supporting premises for this argument: the greater impact of sleep quality on the cognitive performance of students; on the onset of depression; and, on life satisfaction. Poor quality of sleep adversely affects the learning, memory, and concentration skills of students, while nothing of the sort has been mentioned for sleep quantity. According to several studies, too much sleeping can even impair daytime activities, but there is no such thing as ‘excessive’ sleep quality that could detrimentally affect an individual’s psychological, emotional, and physiological performance. Depressive symptoms usually occur in individuals who are chronically deprived of quality sleep. Staying awake for a number of hours does not significantly contribute to the onset of depression among college students, but excessive stimulation or repetitive arousal during sleep can significantly affect the ability of an individual to cope with internal and external stressors. And, lastly, the wellbeing and quality of life of students is largely determined by the quality of sleep they obtain. The recuperating and invigorating impact of sleep is simply achieved through efficient sleep. However, not everyone is convinced that sleep quality is more important than sleep quantity. Several professionals from various disciplines still adhere to the idea that the duration and amount of sleep that students get significantly affects their ability to perform well academically. Some support a more balanced view of sleep quality and sleep quantity.

Primary References

American Academy of Sleep Medicine (2007, November 30). College students: getting enough sleep is vital to academic success. Retrieved from http://www.aasmnet.org/articles.aspx?id=659. Edell-Gustafsson, U. (1999). Sleep, psychological symptoms and quality of life in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting. Uppsala, Sweden: Linkoping University. https://www.google.com.ph/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CCEQFjAAahUKEwin5_Ok_PXGAhULSI4KHUqCAZA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.diva-portal.org%2Fsmash%2Fget%2Fdiva2%3A249227%2FFULLTEXT02.pdf&ei=J1ezVee3GIuQuQTKhIaACQ&usg=AFQjCNFTWpGghxcnvGlMBa3jnItZyM3_FA&sig2=bEsX_hMXMTqE9UfyC2lHdw&bvm=bv.98717601,d.c2E Galambos, N., Howard, A., & Maggs, J. (2010). Rise and fall of sleep quantity and quality with student experiences across the first year of university. Journal of Research on Adolescence, 21(2), 342-349. Gikunda, R. et al. (2014). The effect of sleep quantity on performance of students in public universities, Kenya. Merit Research Journal of Education and Review, 2(6), 113-118. https://www.google.com.ph/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CCAQFjAAahUKEwiR6rSX_PXGAhWJjo4KHdk2AmQ&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmeritresearchjournals.org%2Fer%2Fcontent%2F2014%2FJune%2FGikunda%2520et%2520al.pdf&ei=C1ezVdG4BomdugTZ7YigBg&usg=AFQjCNEUDQJxV-UTOTxn89xNx8eF8IYVog&sig2=6DMgKt4XXobK1l81KvX5xg&bvm=bv.98717601,d.c2E Gilbert, S., & Weaver, C. (2010). Sleep quality and academic performance in university students: a wake-up call for college psychologists. Journal of College Student Psychotherapy, 24, 295-306. Gruber, R. & Brouillette, R. (2006). Towards an understanding of sleep problems in childhood depression. Sleep, 29(3), 351-358. http://www.journalsleep.org/Articles/290401.pdf Gunnarsdottir, K. (2014). Effects of poor subjective sleep quality on symptoms of depression and anxiety among adolescents. Thesis Paper for the Department of Psychology, 2-16. Hershner, S., & Chervin, R. (2014). Causes and consequences of sleepiness among college students. Nature and Science of Sleep NSS, 6, 73-84. Johansson, A. (2012). Sleep-wake-activity and health-related quality of life in patients with coronary artery disease. Linkoping University Medical Dissertations, 1272, 3-107. Liu, X. (2004). Sleep and adolescent suicidal behavior. Sleep, 27(7), 1351-1358. Lowry, M., Dean, K., & Manders, K. (2010). The link between sleep quantity and academic performance for the college student. The University of Minnesota Undergraduate Journal of Psychology, 3, 16-19. http://faculty.oxy.edu/clint/physio/article/TheLinkBetweenSleepQuantityandAcademic.pdf Pilcher, J., Ginter, D., & Sadowsky, B. (1997). Sleep quality versus sleep quantity: relationships between sleep and measures of health, well-being and sleepiness in college students. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 42(6), 583-596. Stenzel, J. (2015). Sleep quality and negative associated behaviors of college students: A Cross-Sectional Study. The Spectrum: A Scholars Day Journal, 3(10), 1-11. Telzer, et al. (2013). The effects of poor quality sleep on brain function and risk taking in adolescence. NeuroImage, 71, 275-283. Trockel, M., Barnes, M., & Egget, D. (2000). Performance among first-year college students: implications for sleep and other behaviors. Journal of American College Health, 49, 125-131. Wolfson, A. & Carskadon, M. (2003). Understanding adolescents’ sleep patterns and school performance: a critical appraisal. Sleep Medicine Reviews, 7(6), 491-506.

Secondary References

Agargun, M.Y. et al. (1998). Repetitive and frightening dreams and suicidal behavior in patients with major depression. Comparative Psychiatry, 39, 198-202. Bertocci, M.A. et al. (2005). Subjective sleep complaints in pediatric depression. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 44(11), 1158-66.

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Why sleep is important

Sleep

Sleep is essential for a person’s health and wellbeing, according to the National Sleep Foundation (NSF). Yet millions of people do not get enough sleep and many suffer from lack of sleep. For example, surveys conducted by the NSF (1999-2004) reveal that at least 40 million Americans suffer from over 70 different sleep disorders and 60 percent of adults report having sleep problems a few nights a week or more. Most of those with these problems go undiagnosed and untreated. In addition, more than 40 percent of adults experience daytime sleepiness severe enough to interfere with their daily activities at least a few days each month — with 20 percent reporting problem sleepiness a few days a week or more. Furthermore, 69 percent of children experience one or more sleep problems a few nights or more during a week.

According to psychologist and sleep expert David F. Dinges, Ph.D., of the Division of Sleep and Chronobiology and Department of Psychiatry at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, irritability, moodiness and disinhibition are some of the first signs a person experiences from lack of sleep . If a sleep-deprived person doesn’t sleep after the initial signs, said Dinges, the person may then start to experience apathy, slowed speech and flattened emotional responses, impaired memory and an inability to be novel or multitask. As a person gets to the point of falling asleep, he or she will fall into micro sleeps (5-10 seconds) that cause lapses in attention, nod off while doing an activity like driving or reading and then finally experience hypnagogic hallucinations, the beginning of REM sleep. (Dinges, Sleep, Sleepiness and Performance , 1991)

Everyone’s individual sleep needs vary. In general, most healthy adults are built for 16 hours of wakefulness and need an average of eight hours of sleep a night. However, some individuals are able to function without sleepiness or drowsiness after as little as six hours of sleep. Others can't perform at their peak unless they've slept ten hours. And, contrary to common myth, the need for sleep doesn't decline with age but the ability to sleep for six to eight hours at one time may be reduced. (Van Dongen & Dinges, Principles & Practice of Sleep Medicine , 2000)

Psychologists and other scientists who study the causes of sleep disorders have shown that such problems can directly or indirectly be tied to abnormalities in the following systems:

Physiological systems

Brain and nervous system

Cardiovascular system

Metabolic functions

Immune system

Furthermore, unhealthy conditions, disorders and diseases can also cause sleep problems, including:

Pathological sleepiness, insomnia and accidents

Hypertension and elevated cardiovascular risks (MI, stroke)

Emotional disorders (depression, bipolar disorder)

Obesity; metabolic syndrome and diabetes

Alcohol and drug abuse (Dinges, 2004)

Groups that are at particular risk for sleep deprivation include night shift workers, physicians (average sleep = 6.5 hours a day; residents = 5 hours a day), truck drivers, parents and teenagers. (American Academy of Sleep Medicine and National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Working Group on Problem Sleepiness. 1997).

Stress is the number one cause of short-term sleeping difficulties , according to sleep experts. Common triggers include school- or job-related pressures, a family or marriage problem and a serious illness or death in the family. Usually the sleep problem disappears when the stressful situation passes. However, if short-term sleep problems such as insomnia aren't managed properly from the beginning, they can persist long after the original stress has passed.

Drinking alcohol or beverages containing caffeine in the afternoon or evening, exercising close to bedtime, following an irregular morning and nighttime schedule, and working or doing other mentally intense activities right before or after getting into bed can disrupt sleep.

If you are among the 20 percent of employees in the United States who are shift workers, sleep may be particularly elusive. Shift work forces you to try to sleep when activities around you — and your own "biological rhythms" — signal you to be awake. One study shows that shift workers are two to five times more likely than employees with regular, daytime hours to fall asleep on the job.

Traveling also disrupts sleep, especially jet lag and traveling across several time zones. This can upset your biological or “circadian” rhythms.

Environmental factors such as a room that's too hot or cold, too noisy or too brightly lit can be a barrier to sound sleep. And interruptions from children or other family members can also disrupt sleep. Other influences to pay attention to are the comfort and size of your bed and the habits of your sleep partner. If you have to lie beside someone who has different sleep preferences, snores, can't fall or stay asleep, or has other sleep difficulties, it often becomes your problem too!

Having a 24/7 lifestyle can also interrupt regular sleep patterns: the global economy that includes round the clock industries working to beat the competition; widespread use of nonstop automated systems to communicate and an increase in shift work makes for sleeping at regular times difficult.

A number of physical problems can interfere with your ability to fall or stay asleep. For example, arthritis and other conditions that cause pain, backache, or discomfort can make it difficult to sleep well.

Epidemiological studies suggest self-reported sleep complaints are associated with an increased relative risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. For women, pregnancy and hormonal shifts including those that cause premenstrual syndrome (PMS) or menopause and its accompanying hot flashes can also intrude on sleep.

Finally, certain medications such as decongestants, steroids and some medicines for high blood pressure, asthma, or depression can cause sleeping difficulties as a side effect.

It is a good idea to talk to a physician or mental health provider about any sleeping problem that recurs or persists for longer than a few weeks.

According to the DSM, some psychiatric disorders have fatigue as a major symptom. Included are: major depressive disorder (includes postpartum blues), minor depression , dysthymia, mixed anxiety-depression, seasonal affective disorder and bipolar disorder .

According to a long-term study published in the 2004 April issue of Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research , young teenagers whose preschool sleep habits were poor were more than twice as likely to use drugs, tobacco or alcohol. This finding was made by the University of Michigan Health System as part of a family health study that followed 257 boys and their parents for 10 years. The study found a significant connection between sleep problems in children and later drug use, even when other issues such as depression, aggression, attention problems and parental alcoholism were taken into account. Long-term data on girls isn't available yet. The researchers suggest that early sleep problems may be a "marker" for predicting later risk of early adolescent substance abuse — and that there may be a common biological factor underlying both traits. Although the relationship between sleep problems and the abuse of alcohol in adults is well known, this is the first study to look at the issue in children.

Nightmares are dreams with vivid and disturbing content. They are common in children during REM sleep. They usually involve an immediate awakening and good recall of the dream content.

Sleep terrors are often described as extreme nightmares. Like nightmares, they most often occur during childhood, however they typically take place during non-REM (NREM) sleep. Characteristics of a sleep terror include arousal, agitation, large pupils, sweating, and increased blood pressure. The child appears terrified, screams and is usually inconsolable for several minutes, after which he or she relaxes and returns to sleep. Sleep terrors usually take place early in the night and may be combined with sleepwalking. The child typically does not remember or has only a vague memory of the terrifying events.

In the August 2004 issue of the journal Sleep , Dr. Timothy Roehrs, the Director of research at the Sleep Disorders and Research Center at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit published one of the first studies to measure the effect of sleepiness on decision making and risk taking. He found that sleepiness does take a toll on effective decision making.

Cited in the October 12, New York Times Science section, Dr. Roehrs and his colleagues paid sleepy and fully alert subjects to complete a series of computer tasks. At random times, they were given a choice to take their money and stop. Or they could forge ahead with the potential of either earning more money or losing it all if their work was not completed within an unknown remainder of time.

Dr. Roehrs found that the alert people were very sensitive to the amount of work they needed to do to finish the tasks and understood the risk of losing their money if they didn't. But the sleepy subjects chose to quit the tasks prematurely or they risked losing everything by trying to finish the task for more money even when it was 100 percent likely that they would be unable to finish, said Dr. Roehrs.

According to the National Commission on Sleep Disorders Research (1998) and reports from the National Highway Safety Administration (NHSA)(2002), high-profile accidents can partly be attributed to people suffering from a severe lack of sleep.

Each year the cost of sleep disorders, sleep deprivation and sleepiness, according to the NCSDR, is estimated to be $15.9 million in direct costs and $50 to $100 billion a year in indirect and related costs. And according to the NHSA, falling asleep while driving is responsible for at least 100,000 crashes, 71,000 injuries and 1,550 deaths each year in the United States. Young people in their teens and twenties, who are particularly susceptible to the effects of chronic sleep loss, are involved in more than half of the fall-asleep crashes on the nation's highways each year. Sleep loss also interferes with the learning of young people in our nation's schools, with 60 percent of grade school and high school children reporting that they are tired during the daytime and 15 percent of them admitting to falling asleep in class.

According to the Department of Transportation (DOT), one to four percent of all highway crashes are due to sleepiness, especially in rural areas and four percent of these crashes are fatal.

Risk factors for drowsy driving crashes:

Late night/early morning driving

Patients with untreated excessive sleepiness

People who obtain six or fewer hours of sleep per day

Young adult males

Commercial truck drivers

Night shift workers

Medical residents after their shift

According to sleep researchers, a night's sleep is divided into five continually shifting stages, defined by types of brain waves that reflect either lighter or deeper sleep. Toward morning, there is an increase in rapid eye movement, or REM sleep, when the muscles are relaxed and dreaming occurs, and recent memories may be consolidated in the brain. The experts say that hitting a snooze alarm over and over again to wake up is not the best way to feel rested. “The restorative value of rest is diminished, especially when the increments are short,” said psychologist Edward Stepanski, PhD who has studied sleep fragmentation at the Rush University Medical Center in Chicago. This on and off again effect of dozing and waking causes shifts in the brain-wave patterns. Sleep-deprived snooze-button addicts are likely to shorten their quota of REM sleep, impairing their mental functioning during the day. ( New York Times , October 12, 2004)

Certain therapies, like cognitive behavioral therapy teach people how to recognize and change patterns of thought and behavior to solve their problems. Recently this type of therapy has been shown to be very effective in getting people to fall asleep and conquer insomnia.

According to a study published in the October 2004 issue of The Archives of Internal Medicine , cognitive behavior therapy is more effective and lasts longer than a widely used sleeping pill, Ambien, in reducing insomnia. The study involved 63 healthy people with insomnia who were randomly assigned to receive Ambien, the cognitive behavior therapy, both or a placebo. The patients in the therapy group received five 30-minute sessions over six weeks. They were given daily exercises to “recognize, challenge and change stress-inducing” thoughts and were taught techniques, like delaying bedtime or getting up to read if they were unable to fall asleep after 20 minutes. The patients taking Ambien were on a full dose for a month and then were weaned off the drug. At three weeks, 44 percent of the patients receiving the therapy and those receiving the combination therapy and pills fell asleep faster compared to 29 percent of the patients taking only the sleeping pills. Two weeks after all the treatment was over, the patients receiving the therapy fell asleep in half the time it took before the study and only 17 percent of the patients taking the sleeping pills fell asleep in half the time. (New York Times, October 5, 2004)

According to leading sleep researchers, there are techniques to combat common sleep problems:

Keep a regular sleep/wake schedule

Don’t drink or eat caffeine four to six hours before bed and minimize daytime use

Don’t smoke, especially near bedtime or if you awake in the night

Avoid alcohol and heavy meals before sleep

Get regular exercise

Minimize noise, light and excessive hot and cold temperatures where you sleep

Develop a regular bed time and go to bed at the same time each night

Try and wake up without an alarm clock

Attempt to go to bed earlier every night for certain period; this will ensure that you’re getting enough sleep

In clinical settings, cognitive-behavior therapy (CBT) has a 70-80 percent success rate for helping those who suffer from chronic insomnia. Almost one third of people with insomnia achieve normal sleep and most reduce their symptoms by 50 percent and sleep an extra 45-60 minutes a night. When insomnia exists along with other psychological disorders like depression, say the experts, the initial treatment should address the underlying condition.

But sometimes even after resolving the underlying condition, the insomnia still exists, says psychologist Jack Edinger, PhD, of the VA Medical Center in Durham, North Carolina and Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Duke University and cautions that treating the depression usually doesn’t resolve the sleep difficulties. From his clinical experience, he has found that most patients with insomnia should be examined for specific behaviors and thoughts that may perpetuate the sleep problems. When people develop insomnia, they try to compensate by engaging in activities to help them get more sleep. They sleep later in the mornings or spend excessive times in bed. These efforts usually backfire, said Edinger.

From his clinical work and research on sleep, psychologist Charles M. Morin, PhD, a Professor in the Psychology Department and Director of the Sleep Disorders Center at University Laval in Quebec, Canada says that ten percent of adults suffer from chronic insomnia. In a study released in the recent issue of Sleep Medicine Alert published by the NSF, Morin outlines how CBT helps people overcome insomnia. Clinicians use sleep diaries to get an accurate picture of someone’s sleep patterns. Bedtime, waking time, time to fall asleep, number and durations of awakening, actual sleep time and quality of sleep are documented by the person suffering from insomnia.

A person can develop poor sleep habits (i.e. watching TV in bed or eating too much before bedtime), irregular sleep patterns (sleeping too late, taking long naps during the day) to compensate for lost sleep at night. Some patients also develop a fear of not sleeping and a pattern of worrying about the consequences of not sleeping, said Morin. “Treatments that address the poor sleep habits and the faulty beliefs and attitudes about sleep work but sometimes,” said Morin, “medication may play a role in breaking the cycle of insomnia. But behavioral therapies are essential for patients to alter the conditions that perpetuate it.”

CBT attempts to change a patient’s dysfunctional beliefs and attitudes about sleep. “It restructure thoughts — like, ‘I’ve got to sleep eight hours tonight’ or ‘I’ve got to take medication to sleep’ or ‘I just can’t function or I’ll get sick if I don’t sleep.’ These thoughts focus too much on sleep, which can become something like performance anxiety — sleep will come around to you when you’re not chasing it,” said Edinger.

What works in many cases, said Morin and Edinger, is to standardize or restrict a person’s sleep to give a person more control over his or her sleep. A person can keep a sleep diary for a couple of weeks and a clinician can monitor the amount of time spent in bed to the actual amount of time sleeping. Then the clinician can instruct the patient to either go to bed later and get up earlier or visa versa. This procedure improves the length of sleeping time by imposing a mild sleep deprivation situation, which has the result of reducing the anxiety surrounding sleep. To keep from falling asleep during the day, patients are told not to restrict sleep to less than five hours.

Standardizing sleep actually helps a person adjust his or her homeostatic mechanism that balances sleep, said Edinger. “Therefore, if you lose sleep, your homeostatic mechanism will kick in and will work to increase the likelihood of sleeping longer and deeper to promote sleep recovery. This helps a person come back to their baseline and works for the majority.”

A person can also establish more stimulus control over his or her bedroom environment, said Morin. This could include: going to bed only when sleepy, getting out of bed when unable to sleep, prohibiting non-sleep activities in the bedroom, getting up at the same time every morning (including weekends) and avoiding daytime naps.

Finally, a person can incorporate relaxation techniques as part of his or her treatment. For example, a person can give herself or himself an extra hour before bed to relax and unwind and time to write down worries and plans for the following day.

In CBT, said Morin, breaking the thought process and anxiety over sleep is the goal. “After identifying the dysfunctional thought patterns, a clinician can offer alternative interpretations of what is getting the person anxious so a person can think about his or her insomnia in a different way.” Morin offers some techniques to restructure a person’s cognitions. “Keep realistic expectations, don’t blame insomnia for all daytime impairments, do not feel that losing a night’s sleep will bring horrible consequences, do not give too much importance to sleep and finally develop some tolerance to the effects of lost sleep.

According to Edinger, aging weakens a person’s homeostatic sleep drive after age 50. Interestingly, the length of the circadian cycle stays roughly the same over the lifespan but the amplitude of the circadian rhythm may decline somewhat with aging.

National Sleep Foundation http://www.thensf.org

American Academy of Sleep Medicine http://www.aasmnet.org/

American Insomnia Association http://www.americaninsomniaassociation.org/

Sleep Research Society http://www.sleepresearchsociety.org/

NIH National Center for Sleep Disorders Research http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/sleep

The MayoClinic.com Sleep Center

(Blake, et al, Psychological Reports, 1998; National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute Working Group on Insomnia, 1998)

David F. Dinges, PhD , Professor of Psychology in Psychiatry, Chief, Division of Sleep and Chronobiology, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine

Jack Edinger, PhD , of the VA Medical Center in Durham, North Carolina and Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Duke University

Charles M. Morin, PhD , a Professor in the Psychology Department and Director of the Sleep Disorders Center at University Laval in Quebec, Canada

Timothy Roehrs, PhD , the Director of Research, Sleep Disorders and Research Center at Henry Ford Hospital

Edward Stepanski, PhD , who has studied sleep fragmentation at the Rush University Medical Center in Chicago

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135 Sleep Research Topics & Essay Ideas

Sleep, a fundamental yet mysterious aspect of human life, has captivated the curiosity of scientists, researchers, and health enthusiasts for decades. Sleep research topics in this article will take you on a journey through the fascinating realm of sleep. Discover a list of sleep deprivation and disorder topics that cover various dimensions of this physiological phenomenon.

🔝 Top 7 Research Questions About Sleep

🏆 best sleep topics to write about, 💡 controversial sleep research topics, 👍 good sleep research topics & essay examples, 🎓 most interesting research topics about sleep, ❓ sleep research questions.

  • Why Do We Need Sleep?: InFormative Speech
  • The Purpose of Dreaming and Personal Sleep Habits
  • The Effect of Sleep Deprivation on Academic Achievement
  • The Importance of a Healthy Sleep Routine
  • Sleep and Exercise Effectiveness
  • Phone Use and the Quality of Sleep in Young Adults
  • SIDS and Safe Sleep Practices
  • Sleep Paralysis: Causes and Consequences Sleep paralysis is a condition in which an individual is awake but unable to move or talk either awakening or taking a nap.
  • Gwen Dewar’s Research of the Electronic Media Impact on the Sleeping Gwen Dewar is an anthropologist with a big experience in studying issues related to parenting, psychology, biology, and many other topics.
  • Sleep Disorders: Medical Analysis This essays aim at providing a brief yet a comprehensive review on the types, causes, and common treatments of sleep disorders.
  • Healthy Sleep Analysis and Recommendations Changes in sleep quality and its duration have inevitable repercussions connected with health’s psychological and physical aspects.
  • Sleep Disorders Analysis: Reasons and Effects In this paper, the topic of sleep health will be explored in great detail, with particular attention placed on the needs of the target population
  • Healthy Sleeping Habits from Biopsychosocial Perspective From a biopsychosocial perspective, sleep is very important for the health of the nervous system. During sleep, the body recovers the strength spent on daytime activity.
  • Sleep Deprivation Effects on Adolescents A decrease in the quantity and quality of sleep entails a decrease in efficiency, rapid fatigue, and the inability to perform logical operations.
  • Meditation, the Quality of Sleep, and the Role of Mental Separation The paper discusses the association between meditation and the quality of sleep and the role of mental separation as a moderator from a day-to-day viewpoint.
  • Study of Differences in Sleep Patterns Between Men and Women The paper investigates potential differences in sleep duration among male and female patients and uses the Independent Samples t-Test.
  • Sleep Deprivation The paper states that sleep deprivation causes health effects such as memory issues, risk of heart disease, weight gain, and risk of heart disease.
  • The Impact of Sleep Deprivation on Human Health The importance of sleep to one’s health cannot be overstated. Getting too little sleep has severe repercussions, including slower reaction times.
  • Influence of Sleep on Human Thinking Abilities, Emotional State, and Memory Sleep can be called one of the most critical conditions for maintaining brain performance, the violation of which can negatively affect human thinking abilities and mental state.
  • Scientific Investigation of Sleep: A Biology Lab According to the experiment, sleep is a critical component of human well-being. Adequate sleep refreshes a person’s mind, body, and heart, minimizing stress.
  • The Biological Effects of Sleep Stages The paper summarizes and provides basic information on sleep stages. It shows the biological effects and human behavior at each stage.
  • The Characteristics of Sleep Deprivation This paper explores sleep deprivation by addressing the causes, symptoms, the number of people affected, and ways to prevent the disorder.
  • Healthy Sleep and Its Importance Healthy sleep is physiologically necessary for humans and is an important factor in their physical and mental health. This paper discusses the importance of healthy sleep.
  • Two Main Phases of Sleep, and Results of Sleep Deprivation It is customary to divide sleep into two main phases: slow or NREM – non-rapid eye movement – and fast or REM – rapid eye movement.
  • Relation Between Sleep and Work Productivity In the work, the discussion regarding sleep will cover both the benefits and detriments of a healthy sleep, as well as some issues concerning people’s sleep patterns.
  • The Impact of a Regular Sleep Schedule on Responsibility A sense of responsibility can help people achieve their goals in any area of life. Compliance enables individuals to create value.
  • Sleep From the Angle of the Biological Process and Its Features During our recent studies, particular attention has been paid to the necessity for a healthful schedule and a decent amount of sleep for a productive and wholesome life.
  • Discussion of Sleep and Its Influence The paper argues sleep is a basic human need alongside eating or drinking because the human body needs restorative sleep in order to function healthily.
  • Sleep Deprivation Effects on Adolescents Who Suffer From Obesity The academic literature on sleep deprivation argues that it has a number of adverse health effects on children and adolescents, with obesity being one of them.
  • Autonomic Dysfunction Increases Cardiovascular Risk in the Presence of Sleep Apnea
  • Sleep Deprivation and Its Neurotransmitters
  • Memory Consolidation Requires Both Rem and Non-rem Sleep
  • Sleep Deprivation Causes Immune System Failure
  • Bed Rest and Hypoxic Exposure Affect Sleep Architecture and Breathing Stability
  • Anxiety and Sleep Disorders in Children and Adolescents
  • Mechanisms Underlying Memory Consolidation by Adult-born Neurons During Sleep
  • Acupressure Improves Sleep Quality of Psychogeriatric
  • Association Between Sleep Patterns and Health in Families With Exceptional Longevity
  • Sleep Disorders Affecting People of People Across the Globe
  • Preventing Sleep Impaired Mental Function
  • Sleep Promotes Lasting Changes in Selective Memory for Emotional Scenes
  • Relationship Between the Sleep Amount and Its Effect on One‘s Memory
  • Chronic Sleep Disorder: Narcolepsy
  • Anxiety and Sleep Problems of College Students During the Outbreak of COVID-19
  • The Causes and Treatment of Insomnia, a Sleep Disorder
  • Chronic Sleep Deprivation Can Affect Your Overall Health
  • Novel Mechanisms, Treatments, and Outcome Measures in Childhood Sleep
  • Post-stroke Sleep-disordered Breathingpathophysiology and Therapy Options
  • Sleep State Modulates Resting-state Functional Connectivity in Neonates
  • Distractions That Cause Sleep Disturbance
  • Natural Rhythms and Sleep Regulation Correlation
  • Correlation Between Sleep Deprivation and Depression
  • Relationship Between Sleep Quality, Stress, and Academic Performance
  • Cognitive Behaviors That Intrude a Person’s Sleep Cycle
  • Sleep: Non-REM and REM Phases Sleep has great general biological significance, playing an important role in the function of the brain. The sleep period consists of two phases: non-REM and REM.
  • Factors Influencing Sleep Quality Among Female Staff Nurses The number of confirmed cases and deaths from COVID-19 is growing daily, overwhelming healthcare institutions with a shortage of staff.
  • Good Night’s Sleep for Brain Function and Waste Disposal The paper concerns the connection between sleep, the brain, and waste disposal. The body’s biological system processes create the problem of waste disposal.
  • “Sleep, Health, and Wellness at Work”: Article Analysis The source under analysis is a scholarly article that focuses on how sleep impacts individual health and wellness titled “Sleep, health, and wellness at work: A scoping review”.
  • ICU Sleep Quality Improvement Case Report This case report will discuss patient sleep difficulties in intensive care units and how they may be addressed.
  • Understanding and Treating Sleep Disorders When a person finds themselves having difficulty sleeping, they are known to suffer from insomnia. When a person sleeps excessively, then they are known to suffer from hypersomnia.
  • Sleep Deficite: Sleep Deprived Society Implications Good sleep plays a vital role in an individual’s state of health and wellbeing overall. It impacts people’s quality of life, their performance, and even relationships.
  • Insomnia and Sleep Disorders Analysis Insomnia diagnosis requires a deep and comprehensive examination of the patient, taking into account the characteristics of sleep, somatic, and psychological characteristics.
  • Sleep, Experiences and Podcast Sleep Through Week The podcast interview with Matthew Walker discussed how not getting enough sleep severely affects people’s health and well-being.
  • “Sleep, Hunger, and Caloric Intake in Adolescents” by Landis The critique reveals a clear identification of the significance of the study “Sleep, hunger, satiety, food cravings, and caloric intake in adolescents” to the nursing profession.
  • The Effects of Sleep Deprivation The effects of sleep deprivation are well-studied, however, they are often ignored by the majority during schedule planning.
  • Sleep Deprivation: Article Review and Reaction The primary purpose of the article by the American Heart Association is to examine the causes, dangers, risk factors, and possible treatment of sleep deprivation.
  • Sleep Stages, Brain Waves, and the Neural Mechanisms of Sleep The paper reviews information on sleep stages and neurons operating sleep inside the human body, and the relationship between brain waves and dream structure.
  • Research on Stress Levels During Scheduled Sleep Behavior Different studies have revealed that there are several strategies used to reduce stress. Most scholars agree that there is a relationship between sleep and stress.
  • Sleep Disturbance and Neuropsychological Function Within ADHD Sleep disruption is an inherent behavioral feature in childhood attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, known as ADHD.
  • Hyperactivity Disorder Symptoms and Sleep Issues The document to be analyzed is “The moderating roles of bedtime activities and anxiety/depression in the relationship between attention-deficit/hyperactivity” by Tong
  • Insomnia and Sleep Disorders Prevention and Management Insomnia and sleep disorders are one of the chief complaints among women who go through or are at the beginning of their menopause.
  • Insomnia and Sleep Disorders Insomnia and sleep disorders are one of the chief complaints among women who go through or are at the beginning of their menopause.
  • Sleep Health: Community and Website Resources The Sleep Disorder Center is a highly specialized facility that has been operational since 1977. It has competent staff and innovative 21st-century medical technology.
  • Hypersomnia Subtypes, Sleep and Relapse in Bipolar Disorder Kaplan et al.’s “Hypersomnia subtypes, sleep and relapse in bipolar disorder” identifies subtypes of the disease, which promotes the clarification of its definition.
  • Healthy People 2020: Sleep Health While the requirements for healthy sleep vary from one person to another, considering sleep health in the context of a Healthy People 2020 objective is essential for addressing several limitations.
  • Circadian Rhythm Sleep-Wake Disorder Circadian Rhythm Sleep-Wake Disorder is a sleep disorder caused by a disrupted biological sleep-wake cycle or a mismatch among environmental demands and a person’s internal clock.
  • Sleep Apnea and Nursing Management The article discusses obstructive sleep apnea characterized by the obstruction of the upper airways resulting in sleep disruption leading to fatigue during the day.
  • Sleep Apnea Types, Diagnosis and Treatment Sleep apnea is characterized by shallow breaths or infrequent pauses in breathing while a person is asleep. The paper reviews its types, diagnosis and treatment.
  • Learning, Memory and Sleep Connections There are numerous variables mediating the relationship between learning and memory. This paper will discuss the underlying connections between learning, memory and sleep.
  • Health Sleep for Low-Income Youth Model The nursing care specialty related to Healthy Sleep for Low-Income Youth Model is community health nursing. The model implementation is planned in Colorado County, Texas.
  • Sleep Deprivation and Behavioral Issues in Children
  • Caffeine and Sleep Deprivation: Pros and Cons for Tired Students
  • Feeding Time and Its Effect on Sleep Quality
  • Hypnagogic Hallucinations and Sleep Paralysis
  • Rapid Eye Movement Sleep Behavior Disorder
  • Sleep Deprivation and Aggression Among College Students
  • Surgical and Medical Patients and the Value of Sleep
  • Starting Times Sleep Teenagers School
  • Non-Rem Sleep Enhances Memory Consolidation
  • Sleep Deprivation and False Memories
  • Sleep Deprivation the Effects It Has on Adolescent Obesity
  • Are the Brain’s Motor Function Affected by Sleep Deprivation
  • Local Sleep and Alzheimer’s Disease Pathophysiology
  • Relationship Between Sleep Duration and Risk Factors for Stroke
  • The Correlation Between Napping, Late Naps, and Sleep-Deprivation
  • Sleep Deprivation and Postpartum Depression
  • Common Sleep Disorders and Treatments
  • Sleep Microstructure and Memory Function
  • Neural and Homeostatic Regulation of Rem Sleep
  • Sleep Deprivation Alters the Pituitary Stress Transcriptome in Male and Female Mice
  • Circadian Sleep Cycle and Insomnia for a While
  • What Are Negative Effects of Sleep Deprivation on Risk of Accidents?
  • Sleep Training Your Baby – Methods, Tips and When to Try It
  • Sleep Disordered Breathing and Cardiac Autonomic Modulation in Children
  • Factors That Affect Sleep During African American College
  • Can Food Influence Our Thinking and Ability to Sleep?
  • What Are the Physical and Psychological Effects of Chronic Sleep Deprivation?
  • How Does Autism Affect Sleep in Children?
  • What Are the Causes of Not Getting Enough Sleep?
  • Does Increased Daytime Sleep Correlate to Obesity?
  • How Can Counselors Help Clients With Sleep Problems?
  • What Role Does Sleep Play on Memory Formation?
  • Does Music Affect the Quality of Sleep?
  • Why Do Humans Need Sleep to Be Able to Function Effectively?
  • How Does Sleep Affect Memory Consolidation?
  • Should College Students Get Enough Sleep?
  • Does Sleep Deprivation Affect College Students’ Academic Performance?
  • How Does Sleep Really Work for Us?
  • What Are the Effects of Sleep Deprivation on Paramedics?
  • Why Don’t Humans Get Enough Sleep?
  • Does Sleep Deprivation Significantly Interfere With Driving?
  • How Does Wakefulness Influence Sleep?
  • What Are the Most Common Sleep Disorders?
  • Does Sleep Help Prevent Forgetting Rewarded Memory Representations in Children and Adults?
  • Why Should Teens Get More Sleep?
  • How Does Sleep Affect Human Health and Increase the Risk of Diseases?
  • What Are the Symptoms of Sleep Apnea?
  • Does Sleep Improve Memory Organization?
  • How Does Sleep Deprivation Lead to Cardiovascular Disease?
  • What Happens During the Sleep Cycle?
  • Does Sleep Partially Mediate the Effect of Everyday Discrimination on Future Mental and Physical Health?
  • How Do Sleep Disorders Change a Day and Night?
  • What Impact Does Lack Sleep Have on Our Physical, Emotional, and Mental Health?
  • Does Too Much Homework Cause Sleep Deprivation?
  • Why Is Specialized Care for Sleep Apnea Important?

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StudyCorgi. (2022, June 5). 135 Sleep Research Topics & Essay Ideas. https://studycorgi.com/ideas/sleep-essay-topics/

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StudyCorgi . "135 Sleep Research Topics & Essay Ideas." June 5, 2022. https://studycorgi.com/ideas/sleep-essay-topics/.

StudyCorgi . 2022. "135 Sleep Research Topics & Essay Ideas." June 5, 2022. https://studycorgi.com/ideas/sleep-essay-topics/.

These essay examples and topics on Sleep were carefully selected by the StudyCorgi editorial team. They meet our highest standards in terms of grammar, punctuation, style, and fact accuracy. Please ensure you properly reference the materials if you’re using them to write your assignment.

This essay topic collection was updated on June 24, 2024 .

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argumentative essay topics about sleep

Sleep Essay Topic Ideas & Examples

  • Sleep Improves Memory
  • Using Depressants During Sleep Time
  • A Day in the Sleep Clinic: Culture and Health
  • Effects of Sleeping Disorders on Human
  • Sleep Process Research
  • Sleep Stages and Disorders
  • Sleep and Its Implication on Animals
  • Psychology of Sleep: Article Study
  • Sleepwalking Through Life
  • Sleep Disorders with Children and Adolescences
  • Sleep and Dreams: How Do They Work?
  • The Biological Basis of Sleep
  • The Phantom Menace of Sleep-Deprived Doctors
  • The Role of Melatonin in Determining the Sleep-Wake Cycle
  • Effects of Sleep Deprivation
  • Sleep Habits and Its Impact on Human Mind Activity
  • The Consequences of Poor Sleep
  • Underlying Issues Associated with Sleep Disorders and Stress
  • Infant Sleep Disturbance (ISD)
  • The Eight-Hour Dilemma: Sleeping Time Reduction. When a Single Hour Makes a Difference
  • Insomnia: A Sleeping Disorder Type
  • Problem of Sleep Deprivation
  • How Sleep Deprivation Affects College Students’ Academic Performance
  • Ethical Issues in Treating Obstructive Sleep Apnea with Exercise Independently
  • Relationship between Sleep and Depression in Adolescence

Good Essay Topics on Sleep

  • Sleep Deprivation Impacts on College Students
  • Changes of Sleep in the Course of One Night
  • Dream and Sleep Cycle
  • Importance of Sleep – Psychology
  • Sleep Disorder Consequences on the Immune System
  • Sleep and Psychopathology Relationships – Psychology
  • Relationship between Depression and Sleep Disturbance
  • Sleep Disturbance, Depression, Anxiety Correlation
  • Sleep Deprivation and Specific Emotions
  • Emotions Clusters and Sleep Failure
  • Prevalence of Sleep Disorders Among Medical Students
  • Sleep Patterns’ Impact on Academic Performance
  • Insomnia and Narcolepsy: Sleeping Disorders
  • Sleep-Disordered Breathing and Acute Ischemic Stroke
  • Physical Activity and Sleep Health in Adults
  • Sleep May Be Nature’s Time Management Tool by Carey
  • Sleep Disruptions in Healthcare Professionals
  • Coffee Effects on Sleeping Patterns: Experiment
  • Sleep Deprivation: Research Methods
  • Sleeping Patterns Within Infants
  • Adolescent Sleep and the Impact of Technology Use
  • Co-Sleeping Impact on Child Development
  • Sleep Helps to Repair Damaged DNA in Neurons
  • The Role of Sleep in Humans’ Well-Being
  • Electronic Devices Use and Sleep in Us Adolescents

Interesting Topics to Write About Sleep

  • Blue Light Effect on Human Sleep
  • Sleeping Sickness Transmission and Control Measures
  • Sleep Disorders: Narcolepsy, Obstructive Sleep Apnea, Insomnia
  • Memory Consolidation and Reconsolidation After Sleep
  • Main Information About Sleeping Disorders
  • Non- and Rapid Eye Movement Sleep
  • Adolescent Sleep Pattern
  • Sleep Patterns and Memory Performance of Children
  • Sleep Deprivation: Personal Experiment
  • Cross-Cultural Sleeping Arrangements in Children
  • Sleep vs. Social Demands in Students
  • Sleep, Satisfaction with Life and Cognitive Function
  • Sleep Disorders: Sleep Deprivation of the Public Safety Officers
  • Study of the Sleeping Process
  • Sleep Deprivation: Biopsychology and Health Psychology
  • “The Effect of Nursing Quality Improvement and Mobile Health Interventions on Infant Sleep Practices” by Moon
  • Sleep Is a Vital Stage of a Day Cycle in Humans
  • Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Heart Diseases
  • Communication between Sleep, Behaviour and Obesity
  • Sleep Deprivation and Learning at University
  • The Use of Sleep Hormone in Children with Neuro-Developmental Disorders
  • African Sleeping Sickness
  • “Childbirth Fear and Sleep Deprivation in Pregnant Women” by Hall
  • Evolutionary Biology: Sleep Patterns in Mammals
  • Sleepiness Level and Degree: Research Instruments
  • Sleep Apnea, the Heart and the Brain in the Elderly
  • Neurocognitive Consequences of Sleep Deprivation
  • Excessive Sleepiness May Be Cause of Learning, Attention, and School Problems

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160 Good Argumentative Essay Topics for Students in 2024

April 3, 2024

The skill of writing an excellent argumentative essay is a crucial one for every high school or college student to master. In sum, argumentative essays teach students how to organize their thoughts logically and present them in a convincing way. This skill is helpful not only for those pursuing degrees in law , international relations , or public policy , but for any student who wishes to develop their critical thinking faculties. In this article, we’ll cover what makes a good argument essay and offer several argumentative essay topics for high school and college students. Let’s begin!

What is an Argumentative Essay?

An argumentative essay is an essay that uses research to present a reasoned argument on a particular subject . As with the persuasive essay , the purpose of an argumentative essay is to sway the reader to the writer’s position. However, a strong persuasive essay makes its point through diligent research and emotion while a strong argumentative essay should be based solely on facts, not feelings.

Moreover, each fact should be supported by clear evidence from credible sources . Furthermore, a good argumentative essay will have an easy-to-follow structure. When organizing your argumentative essay, use this format as a guide:

  • Introduction
  • Supporting body paragraphs
  • Paragraph(s) addressing common counterarguments

Argumentative Essay Format

In the introduction , the writer presents their position and thesis statement —a sentence that summarizes the paper’s main points. The body paragraphs then draw upon supporting evidence to back up this initial statement, with each paragraph focusing on its own point. The length of your paper will determine the amount of examples you need. In general, you’ll likely need at least two to three. Additionally, your examples should be as detailed as possible, citing specific research, case studies, statistics, or anecdotes.

In the counterargument paragraph , the writer acknowledges and refutes opposing viewpoints. Finally, in the conclusion , the writer restates the main argument made in the thesis statement and summarizes the points of the essay. Additionally, the conclusion may offer a final proposal to persuade the reader of the essay’s position.

How to Write an Effective Argumentative Essay, Step by Step

  • Choose your topic. Use the list below to help you pick a topic. Ideally, a good argumentative essay topic will be meaningful to you—writing is always stronger when you are interested in the subject matter. In addition, the topic should be complex with plenty of “pro” and “con” arguments. Avoid choosing a topic that is either widely accepted as fact or too narrow. For example, “Is the earth round?” would not be a solid choice.
  • Research. Use the library, the web, and any other resources to gather information about your argumentative essay topic. Research widely but smartly. As you go, take organized notes, marking the source of every quote and where it may fit in the scheme of your larger essay. Moreover, remember to look for (and research) possible counterarguments.
  • Outline . Using the argument essay format above, create an outline for your essay. Then, brainstorm a thesis statement covering your argument’s main points, and begin to put your examples in order, focusing on logical flow. It’s often best to place your strongest example last.
  • Write . Draw on your research and outline to create a first draft. Remember, your first draft doesn’t need to be perfect. (As Voltaire says, “Perfect is the enemy of good.”) Accordingly, just focus on getting the words down on paper.
  • Does my thesis statement need to be adjusted?
  • Which examples feel strongest? Weakest?
  • Do the transitions flow smoothly?
  • Do I have a strong opening paragraph?
  • Does the conclusion reinforce my argument?

Tips for Revising an Argument Essay

Evaluating your own work can be difficult, so you might consider the following strategies:

  • Read your work aloud to yourself.
  • Record yourself reading your paper, and listen to the recording.
  • Reverse outline your paper. Firstly, next to each paragraph, write a short summary of that paragraph’s main points/idea. Then, read through your reverse outline. Does it have a logical flow? If not, where should you adjust?
  • Print out your paper and cut it into paragraphs. What happens when you rearrange the paragraphs?

Good Argumentative Essay Topics for Middle School, High School, and College Students

Family argumentative essay topics.

  • Should the government provide financial incentives for families to have children to address the declining birth rate?
  • Should we require parents to provide their children with a certain level of nutrition and physical activity to prevent childhood obesity?
  • Should parents implement limits on how much time their children spend playing video games?
  • Should cell phones be banned from family/holiday gatherings?
  • Should we hold parents legally responsible for their children’s actions?
  • Should children have the right to sue their parents for neglect?
  • Should parents have the right to choose their child’s religion?
  • Are spanking and other forms of physical punishment an effective method of discipline?
  • Should courts allow children to choose where they live in cases of divorce?
  • Should parents have the right to monitor teens’ activity on social media?
  • Should parents control their child’s medical treatment, even if it goes against the child’s wishes?
  • Should parents be allowed to post pictures of their children on social media without their consent?
  • Should fathers have a legal say in whether their partners do or do not receive an abortion?
  • Can television have positive developmental benefits on children?
  • Should the driving age be raised to prevent teen car accidents?
  • Should adult children be legally required to care for their aging parents?

Education Argument Essay Topics

  • Should schools ban the use of technology like ChatGPT?
  • Are zoos unethical, or necessary for conservation and education?
  • To what degree should we hold parents responsible in the event of a school shooting?
  • Should schools offer students a set number of mental health days?
  • Should school science curriculums offer a course on combating climate change?
  • Should public libraries be allowed to ban certain books? If so, what types?
  • What role, if any, should prayer play in public schools?
  • Should schools push to abolish homework?
  • Are gifted and talented programs in schools more harmful than beneficial due to their exclusionary nature?
  • Should universities do away with Greek life?
  • Should schools remove artwork, such as murals, that some perceive as offensive?
  • Should the government grant parents the right to choose alternative education options for their children and use taxpayer funds to support these options?
  • Is homeschooling better than traditional schooling for children’s academic and social development?
  • Should we require schools to teach sex education to reduce teen pregnancy rates?
  • Should we require schools to provide sex education that includes information about both homosexual and heterosexual relationships?
  • Should colleges use affirmative action and other race-conscious policies to address diversity on campus?
  • Should public schools remove the line “under God” from the Pledge of Allegiance?
  • Should college admissions officers be allowed to look at students’ social media accounts?
  • Should schools abolish their dress codes, many of which unfairly target girls, LGBTQ students, and students of color?
  • Should schools be required to stock free period products in bathrooms?
  • Should legacy students receive preferential treatment during the college admissions process?
  • Are school “voluntourism” trips ethical?

Government Argumentative Essay Topics

  • Should the U.S. decriminalize prostitution?
  • Should the U.S. issue migration visas to all eligible applicants?
  • Should the federal government cancel all student loan debt?
  • Should we lower the minimum voting age? If so, to what?
  • Should the federal government abolish all laws penalizing drug production and use?
  • Should the U.S. use its military power to deter a Chinese invasion of Taiwan?
  • Should the U.S. supply Ukraine with further military intelligence and supplies?
  • Should the North and South of the U.S. split up into two regions?
  • Should Americans hold up nationalism as a critical value?
  • Should we permit Supreme Court justices to hold their positions indefinitely?
  • Should Supreme Court justices be democratically elected?
  • Is the Electoral College still a productive approach to electing the U.S. president?
  • Should the U.S. implement a national firearm registry?
  • Is it ethical for countries like China and Israel to mandate compulsory military service for all citizens?
  • Should the U.S. government implement a ranked-choice voting system?
  • Should institutions that benefited from slavery be required to provide reparations?
  • Based on the 1619 project, should history classes change how they teach about the founding of the U.S.?
  • Should term limits be imposed on Senators and Representatives? If so, how long?
  • Should women be allowed into special forces units?
  • Should the federal government implement stronger, universal firearm licensing laws?
  • Do public sex offender registries help prevent future sex crimes?
  • Should the government be allowed to regulate family size?
  • Should all adults legally be considered mandated reporters?
  • Should the government fund public universities to make higher education more accessible to low-income students?
  • Should the government fund universal preschool to improve children’s readiness for kindergarten?

Health/Bioethics Argumentative Essay Topics

  • Should the U.S. government offer its own healthcare plan?
  • In the case of highly infectious pandemics, should we focus on individual freedoms or public safety when implementing policies to control the spread?
  • Should we legally require parents to vaccinate their children to protect public health?
  • Is it ethical for parents to use genetic engineering to create “designer babies” with specific physical and intellectual traits?
  • Should the government fund research on embryonic stem cells for medical treatments?
  • Should the government legalize assisted suicide for terminally ill patients?
  • Should organ donation be mandatory?
  • Is cloning animals ethical?
  • Should cancer screenings start earlier? If so, what age?
  • Is surrogacy ethical?
  • Should birth control require a prescription?
  • Should minors have access to emergency contraception?
  • Should hospitals be for-profit or nonprofit institutions?

Good Argumentative Essay Topics — Continued

Social media argumentative essay topics.

  • Should the federal government increase its efforts to minimize the negative impact of social media?
  • Do social media and smartphones strengthen one’s relationships?
  • Should antitrust regulators take action to limit the size of big tech companies?
  • Should social media platforms ban political advertisements?
  • Should the federal government hold social media companies accountable for instances of hate speech discovered on their platforms?
  • Do apps such as TikTok and Instagram ultimately worsen the mental well-being of teenagers?
  • Should governments oversee how social media platforms manage their users’ data?
  • Should social media platforms like Facebook enforce a minimum age requirement for users?
  • Should social media companies be held responsible for cases of cyberbullying?
  • Should the United States ban TikTok?
  • Is social media harmful to children?
  • Should employers screen applicants’ social media accounts during the hiring process?

Religion Argument Essay Topics

  • Should religious institutions be tax-exempt?
  • Should religious symbols such as the hijab or crucifix be allowed in public spaces?
  • Should religious freedoms be protected, even when they conflict with secular laws?
  • Should the government regulate religious practices?
  • Should we allow churches to engage in political activities?
  • Religion: a force for good or evil in the world?
  • Should the government provide funding for religious schools?
  • Is it ethical for healthcare providers to deny abortions based on religious beliefs?
  • Should religious organizations be allowed to discriminate in their hiring practices?
  • Should we allow people to opt out of medical treatments based on their religious beliefs?
  • Should the U.S. government hold religious organizations accountable for cases of sexual abuse within their community?
  • Should religious beliefs be exempt from anti-discrimination laws?
  • Should religious individuals be allowed to refuse services to others based on their beliefs or lifestyles? (As in this famous case .)
  • Should the US ban religion-based federal holidays?
  • Should public schools be allowed to teach children about religious holidays?

Science Argument Essay Topics

  • Would the world be safer if we eliminated nuclear weapons?
  • Should scientists bring back extinct animals? If so, which ones?
  • Should we hold companies fiscally responsible for their carbon footprint?
  • Should we ban pesticides in favor of organic farming methods?
  • Should the federal government ban all fossil fuels, despite the potential economic impact on specific industries and communities?
  • What renewable energy source should the U.S. invest more money in?
  • Should the FDA outlaw GMOs?
  • Should we worry about artificial intelligence surpassing human intelligence?
  • Should the alternative medicine industry be more stringently regulated?
  • Is colonizing Mars a viable option?
  • Is the animal testing worth the potential to save human lives?

Sports Argument Essay Topics

  • Should colleges compensate student-athletes?
  • How should sports teams and leagues address the gender pay gap?
  • Should youth sports teams do away with scorekeeping?
  • Should we ban aggressive contact sports like boxing and MMA?
  • Should professional sports associations mandate that athletes stand during the national anthem?
  • Should high schools require their student-athletes to maintain a certain GPA?
  • Should transgender athletes compete in sports according to their gender identity?
  • Should schools ban football due to the inherent danger it poses to players?
  • Should performance-enhancing drugs be allowed in sports?
  • Do participation trophies foster entitlement and unrealistic expectations?
  • Should sports teams be divided by gender?
  • Should professional athletes be allowed to compete in the Olympics?
  • Should women be allowed on NFL teams?

Technology Argumentative Essay Topics

  • Should sites like DALL-E compensate the artists whose work it was trained on?
  • Should the federal government make human exploration of space a more significant priority?
  • Is it ethical for the government to use surveillance technology to monitor citizens?
  • Should websites require proof of age from their users? If so, what age?
  • Should we consider A.I.-generated images and text pieces of art?
  • Does the use of facial recognition technology violate individuals’ privacy?
  • Is online learning as effective as in-person learning?
  • Does computing harm the environment?
  • Should buying, sharing, and selling collected personal data be illegal?
  • Are electric cars really better for the environment?
  • Should car companies be held responsible for self-driving car accidents?
  • Should private jets be banned?
  • Do violent video games contribute to real-life violence?

Business Argument Essay Topics

  • Should the U.S. government phase out the use of paper money in favor of a fully digital currency system?
  • Should the federal government abolish its patent and copyright laws?
  • Should we replace the Federal Reserve with free-market institutions?
  • Is free-market ideology responsible for the U.S. economy’s poor performance over the past decade?
  • Will cryptocurrencies overtake natural resources like gold and silver?
  • Is capitalism the best economic system? What system would be better?
  • Should the U.S. government enact a universal basic income?
  • Should we require companies to provide paid parental leave to their employees?
  • Should the government raise the minimum wage? If so, to what?
  • Should antitrust regulators break up large companies to promote competition?
  • Is it ethical for companies to prioritize profits over social responsibility?
  • Should gig-economy workers like Uber and Lyft drivers be considered employees or independent contractors?
  • Should the federal government regulate the gig economy to ensure fair treatment of workers?
  • Should the government require companies to disclose the environmental impact of their products?
  • Should companies be allowed to fire employees based on political views or activities?
  • Should tipping practices be phased out?
  • Should employees who choose not to have children be given the same amount of paid leave as parents?
  • Should MLMs (multi-level marketing companies) be illegal?
  • Should employers be allowed to factor tattoos and personal appearance into hiring decisions?

In Conclusion – Argument Essay Topics

Using the tips above, you can effectively structure and pen a compelling argumentative essay that will wow your instructor and classmates. Remember to craft a thesis statement that offers readers a roadmap through your essay, draw on your sources wisely to back up any claims, and read through your paper several times before it’s due to catch any last-minute proofreading errors. With time, diligence, and patience, your essay will be the most outstanding assignment you’ve ever turned in…until the next one rolls around.

Looking for more fresh and engaging topics for use in the classroom? You might consider checking out the following:

  • 125 Good Debate Topics for High School Students
  • 150 Good Persuasive Speech Topics
  • 7 Best Places to Study
  • Guide to the IB Extended Essay
  • How to Write the AP Lang Rhetorical Analysis Essay
  • AP Lit Reading List
  • How to Write the AP Lang Synthesis Essay
  • 49 Most Interesting Biology Research Topics
  • High School Success

Lauren Green

With a Bachelor of Arts in Creative Writing from Columbia University and an MFA in Fiction from the Michener Center for Writers at the University of Texas at Austin, Lauren has been a professional writer for over a decade. She is the author of the chapbook  A Great Dark House  (Poetry Society of America, 2023) and a forthcoming novel (Viking/Penguin).

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Argumentative Essay : Sleep Deprivation

Less Homework Endless hours. Sleep deprivation. Deadlines, cutoff dates and time limits. Welcome to the life of every student who has ever lived. When a class is about to end and the teacher announces the homework requirements, everybody wants to flee. “When school’s out, it should be OUT.” Homework has historically been given to students to reinforce what they learn at school and ultimately help them learn the material better. However, too much homework is not helpful, and can be counterproductive. It can cause stress and usually does not help the student at all. The amount of homework a teacher can give out needs to be restricted, and only assigned due to necessity. Otherwise it will have a bad influence on their academics as well as the students’ social life. A typical school day might begin at 8:30am and conclude by 3:00pm. So piling on three hours of homework each night means students must endure seven hours at school (including lunch time) as well as three hours of homework. Most students spend five days a week at school for seven hours each then are expected to come home and complete homework for the next day. It may be important but that is a bit much to expect. “My life is a black hole of boredom and despair. So basically I 've been doing homework.”(Kierstin White). 30 percent of high school students say they spend between two and five hours per day studying and doing school work outside of class (Survey conducted by the Hautes-Rivières school board in

Should There Be a Limit on the Amount of Homework Teachers Give to Students’?

The quality of students’ homework is much more important than the quantity of students homework and data collected during recent studies has proven that homework is not making the grade. “. . . American students are entangled in the middle of international academic rankings: 17th in reading, 23rd in science, and 31st in math according to the most recent results from the Program for International Student Assessment (PISA)” (Murphy-Paul). Students should not be given an excessive amount of homework because the pressure of having to complete excessive amounts of homework every night is quite daunting for most students. Knowing how much homework is the right amount correlates with age and grade. An 8th grade student should not be given a myriad of homework that would keep her awake past midnight completing assignments. In any case, there should be a limit on the amount of homework all teachers give to students because an excessive amount of homework would eventually cause students to become uninterested in school and learning, which could result in poor test scores and low ranks in international academic rankings. In order for students to carry out daily activities throughout the day restfully, teachers must be able to provide homework that does not exceed the appropriate amount of time needed to complete it, which is based on grade level. If teachers are too clueless of a students health due to excessive amounts of homework, many students will develop cases of sleep

Why We Shouldn T Have Homework

By not giving out homework, students will work harder in class and have better grades. Teachers have to understand that if students are tired from late nights, they wouldn't be able to work efficiently during the day. In addition, students would be much more excited to come to school because they know they wouldn't have to worry about getting any homework. In 2010, a survey was taken and it showed that about 70% of teen ages 11 to 17 get less than 8 hours of sleep per day due to the amount of homework they have to do (Logos). According to Alfie Kohen, students feel forced to do their homework, therefore they aren't learning as much as they should (Ethos). Students lose interest in the topic and do not benefit from what they’re learning. In China, a cry for change by a mother who lost her thirteen year old daughter who committed suicide due to her inability to achieve in math, the mother considers homework is a huge negative factor toward her deceased daughter's tragic ending along with the pressure of society (Pathos). Such a story should leave us wondering, how many more children need to suffer the silent epidemic of school stress. Statistics prove the leading cause for the majority of physical and emotional complaints leading up to diagnosis of depression in middle and high school due to the amount of

Homework Myth Why Our Kids Get Too Much Of A Bad Thing

In The Battle 0ver Homework, Harris Cooper defines homework as, “tasks assigned to students by school teachers that are intended to be carried out during non-school hours” (27) Common homework assignments might include reading, writing, problems to solve, a school project, or other skills to be practiced. The purpose of homework is to assist in reinforcing what was taught in class. Sometimes the purpose is to gather extra information beyond what was taught that day. There are many teachers who don’t understand the meaning of homework and just give it as something to keep students busy. Homework should be given to students on a regular basis but only in reasonable amounts.

The Civil Defense Education Act Of The United States

After a long day of school, students are tired, stressed, and overworked. This is often something that is ignored when it comes to students of all ages. Homework provides a heavy load that can add additional stress and time on a student’s shoulders. Schools should be making sure that students are receiving enough work throughout the day, to make sure kids do not have the worry of homework when school is over. Students who receive lots of homework, may not have enough time in the evenings to be around family, friends and enjoy the rest of their day.

Homework Is Too Much Homework

The debate regarding exactly how much homework is too much homework has been an ongoing debate for years. As of right now, there seems to be no end in sight for this debate. Various adults believe that if children do not obtain homework, then they are not learning properly. However, numerous children are obtaining a substantial amount of homework per night, as well as per each class. Once a child exceeds a certain amount of homework, then it is no longer beneficial for the child’s education. An excessive amount of homework can essentially become harmful to the child’s education. As a result, teachers are struggling with finding the right amount of homework to assign to students. The National Education Association as well as the National Parent-Teacher Association endorse the “10-minute rule” for teachers to follow when assigning homework to students. If a child is assigned an excessive amount of homework, then the child might experience more harm than good when attempting to complete the assigned homework.

Why Do Homework Be Paid?

Wouldn’t it be nice if you could get home, study a little, and just relax? Well most students have to deal with hours of homework when they get home from school. When I get home, I would rather do a little homework, relax, and spend time with my family. Not spend the rest of the day doing homework, when you already have 7 hours of school. I believe that giving homework is crucial to students who want to have a life outside of school.

Why Is Homework Bad

When a student takes homework home they will spend less time bonding with her family and more time fretting over the busy work they are receiving. When students are overwhelmed with homework social development drops dramatically, this causes poor social skills in the future for the affected student. Roughly three hours of homework each night is the average (Parker). With this much homework students are going to have less time with their family. The typical school day ends at 3:00pm, when you take into account the average of homework received by students it becomes very clear, most of a student's day is being consumed with school and homework. This leaves very minimal time to be spent with their family, leading to a weakened bond between children and their parents. “Giving students more homework is detrimental, there is almost no benefit to homework until senior high” (Wolchover). This means that homework is not helping it actually harming students. A major problem arising from the increase in homework is the decrease in family time. It has already been proven that it today’s world families spend less time together, add the time students spend on homework and we begin to see that families are being ripped apart by busy

Get Rid Of Homework

The first reason that homework is not helpful is that it limits students’ free time. Students look forward to school ending and being able to relax and enjoy themselves. As the seven hours counts down, they have the afternoon and evening to wait for. However, if they have homework that night, all of their plans are ruined. For all of the work that students do each day, they deserve time to relax. No matter what work students get, it’s really bad. It forces them to work longer, and possibly through the night, which leads me to my next point.

Sleep Deprivation Essay

Sleep deprivation is prevalent in industrialized societies and has been linked to serious health issues and traffic accidents. This essay views sleep and sleep deprivation from five different motivational perspectives in order to gain a holistic understanding of the phenomena. From evolutionary, psychodynamic, behaviourist, cognitive, and hierarchy of needs perspectives, it is inferred that the cognitive and behaviourist perspectives uphold the most merit for gaining understanding into sleep and sleep deprivation. However, it is

Homework Per Day Research Paper

If you’re a student you know the stress that runs through you all day, even after school ends. Yes, the learning part of the day is done but there’s still all homework that needs to be finished. As soon as you step foot inside your house, it’s time to decide whether to start studying for the science test or finish the history project. Then you would think to yourself and say; neither because you still have the stack of math homework laying on your bed. Nowadays students get so much homework that they are usually up and losing sleep in order to complete it. On an average, a student should not spend more than 60 minutes on homework per day, but if each teacher assigns homework which exceeds the time limit it adds to the workload. Due to a lack

The Pros and Cons of Homework Essay

  • 6 Works Cited

The next reason too much homework is harmful to students is that studies show more homework to cause lower test scores. One to two hours of homework a week does not cause a major change in test scores (Wolchover). There is no evidence of homework having any academic benefit in elementary or middle school, and the academic benefit found in high school is very weak (Kohn). Homework is not shown to help students academically until grades ten through twelve (Wolchover). There is also no proof that homework increases good study habits in students (Kohn).

The Negative Effects Of Homework On Students In Elementary School

In almost all schools, teachers assign homework assignments to students starting in elementary school. When students begin to grow older and are faced with more challenging classes in junior high and high school, the workload begins to pile up. Students are now becoming more stressed and have anxiety because of the amount of work that is placed on them which is even taking a toll on their family life. Many students end up completing the assignment in order to just get credit for it without a regard for learning. But over the years, homework has begun to lose its purpose. Instead of the students focusing on only completing their homework in order to get good grades, they should be more focused on learning the material that they are studying. Without truly understanding the material in the classes that students might be taking, school is essentially a waste of time. The effects of mass quantities of schoolwork on students that are given by teachers leads students to underperform in school due to the mental stress and anxiety.

The Severity of Sleep Deprivation Essay

  • 8 Works Cited

Sleep deprivation is a common issue among people around the world, and everyone has or will experience it in their life. Not getting enough sleep makes it difficult for the body to function properly. Insomnia is a well-known disorder, mainly known in the United States; one in ten adults suffers from this disorder (Kloc). There are many reasons why people end up with a sleeping disorder, and the most common reason is stress. When people do not have enough sleep they behave differently, and do not make the same choices as if they were fully rested. There are four stages of sleep. The fourth stage, REM (Rapid Eye Movement) sleep is the most important stage of sleeping. A common side effect of BPD (Borderline Personality Disorder) is sleep

Persuasive Essay On Sleep

Most people joke around about how important sleep is and they say things like: “If I don’t sleep right now I might die!”. But many people don’t know how true that statement can be or how important sleep really is. The amount of sleep you get is important and how much sleep you need varies depending on your age. Even naps can help people that have unusual sleeping schedules. Sleeping and napping give you the energy you need to go through the day, but over sleeping or napping can make you even more tired than you were before. Sleeping and napping is a very important thing you need to do to be healthy, to have enough energy to go through the day, and help you be more focused throughout the day.

Essay On Sleep Deprivation

What do the effects of sleep deprivation have on people? When a person does not get enough sleep, he or she is depriving his or her body of something that it needs. A delightful sleep is one of the most satisfying human experiences with a role to play in supporting a good mood and cognitive acuity as well as in promoting physiologic balance and resilience (Chittora, Jain and Suhalka). People think because they get an insufficient number of hours of sleep, they will not have an emotional impact by it. Sleep is a required need for peoples’ day to day life to be able to perform and stay healthy emotionally and physically. The effects of sleep deprivation are an issue because it affects mood, performance, and health.

Related Topics

  • Sleep deprivation
  • Extracurricular activity
  • High school

Argumentative Essay On Lack Of Sleep

argumentative essay topics about sleep

Show More Staying awake throughout an entire night is so common that everyone has done it atleast once in their life. Whether it be a college student cramming in a late assignment, a parent nurturing their sick child, an employee to get in extra hours, or just for fun, lack of sleep has rendered itself something prevelant and common in all lives. It is a common belief that a couple of sleepless nights here and there cannot do much harm. Unfortunately, this misconception is very common yet not true at all. It is understandable that students have tons of homework to do and due dates to manage. It is also understandable that some people may have to work strenious hours in order to sustain their household. It is understandble that life happens which causes sleep not to always be the priority however an adequate amount of sleep is crucial to the well being of not only human beings but every animal on earth. The amount of sleep required to function differs from person to person however most healthy adults need between 7.5-9 hours of sleep to function at their best while teens,children, and infants need even more! Sleep is …show more content… Growth hormones are released all throughout the day. However, the most intense release of growth hormones take place shortly after a child is in deep sleep which is why a sufficient amount of sleep is crucial for a child. Growth hormones are not the only hormones that are affected by lack of sleep. The hormones used to regulate appetite and hunger are also greatly affected by the lack of sleep and can lead to overeating or not eating at all. Hormonal imbalances can also lead to negative affects in the way the body metabolzies foods. It is important for the body to metabolize its food correctly and if the way the body metabolizes foods is damaged this can trigger insulin resistance and Insulin resistance is linked to being the cause of type 2

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However, the opposite also remains true- bad health decreases quality of sleep and increases rate of insomnia. (Dahl 355). In combination with the clear physical growth, adolescent brain development is one of the most important changes occurring throughout the body during this period, and the majority of the development takes place during sleep. One of the largest changes occurring, apart from frontal lobe development and growth, is the changing of brain chemistry and different hormones within the body.…

Sleep Deprivation Paper

Sleep deprivation in the United States is a problem. According to Durmer and Dinges (2005) sleep deprivation affects nearly 20% of all adults in the United States. This means that in a room with 40 people, 8 of them are sleep deprived and more accident prone. Up to 50% of College students exhibit symptoms of daytime sleepiness and sleep deprivation (Herschner; Chervin, 2014).…

Sleeping Patterns In College Students

When achieved, the student will be more successful in basically all areas of his or her life. If a college student gets no sleep at night, then they are forced to be exhausted during the day and want to take long daytime naps. If the student sleeps too much, then they will be awake during random times of the day and night. Sleeping too much or too little creates vicious sleep patterns that affect many aspects of a student’s…

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Problem of Sleep Deprivation Cause and Effect Essay

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Introduction

  • What is Sleep Deprivation?

Causes of Sleep Deprivation

Effects of sleep deprivation, managing sleep deprivation, works cited.

The functioning of the human body is influenced by a number of factors, which are mainly determined by the health status of an individual. Oftentimes, people seek medication when the body deviates from its normal and usual functioning mechanisms. Through different activities and processes, the body is able to use energy and replenish itself. Sleeping is one of the activities that has a direct effect on the functioning of the body.

This sleep deprivation essay explores how the functioning of the human body is influenced by various factors, primarily determined by an individual’s health status. While most people do not understand the implications of sleep, human effectiveness solely depends on the amount of time dedicated to sleeping. However, for various reasons, people fail to get enough sleep daily, weekly, or on a regular basis.

What Is Sleep Deprivation?

This cause and effect of sleep deprivation essay defines sleep deprivation as a condition occurring among human beings when they fail to get enough sleep. Sleep deprivation is defined as a condition that occurs when human beings fail to get enough sleep. Many experts argue that sleep deficiency is widespread even though most people do not consider it to be a serious issue, which affects their (Gaine et al.). Sleep deprivation has become a major problem in the United States, with almost 47 million suffering from the condition (Wang and Xiaomin). This lack of sleep can lead to a variety of physical and mental health issues, impacting daily functioning and quality of life.

The present essay about sleep deprivation defines sleep deprivation as a condition that occurs among human beings when they fail to get enough sleep. Many experts argue that sleep deficiency is widespread even though most people do not consider it to be a serious issue that affects their lives. Sleep deprivation has become a major problem in the United States, with almost forty-seven million suffering from the condition (Wang and Xiaomin). Among other reasons, one may get insufficient sleep in a day as a result of various factors. Some people sleep at the wrong time due to busy daily schedules, while others have sleep disorders, which affect their sleeping patterns. The following segment of the paper discusses the causes of deprivation.

Sleep deprivation may occur as a result of factors that are not known to the patients. This is based on the fact that sleep deprivation may go beyond the number of hours one spends in bed. In some cases, the quality of sleep matters in determining the level of deprivation.

In this context, it is possible for one to be in bed for more than eight hours but suffer from the negative effects of sleep deprivation. Whilst this is the case, there are people who wake every morning feeling tired despite having spent a recommended number of hours in bed (Griggs et al.14367).

Sleep deprivation can be caused by medical conditions, which may include but are not limited to asthma, arthritis, muscle cramps, allergies, and muscular pain. These conditions have been classified by researchers as common medical conditions that largely contribute to most of the cases of sleep deprivation being witnessed in the United States.

Similarly, these medical conditions have a direct impact on not only the quality but also the time one takes in bed sleeping. It is worth noting that sometimes people are usually unconscious to realize that their sleep is not deep enough (Wang and Xiaomin). This also explains the reason why it is not easy for a person to recall any moment in life when he or she moved closer to waking up.

Treatment of cases like sleep apnea is important because it affects the quality of sleep without necessarily awakening the victim. This is because medical surveys have revealed fatal effects of sleep apnea, especially on the cardiovascular system. Besides these, one is likely to experience breathing difficulties caused by insufficient oxygen.

Even though the treatment of sleep deprivation is important, it has been found that some drugs used to treat patients may worsen the case or lead to poor quality of sleep. It is, therefore, necessary for the doctor to determine the best drugs to use. Discussions between doctors and victims are imperative in order to understand patients’ responses (Conroy et al. 185).

Sleep deprivation is also caused by sleep cycle disruptions, which interfere with the fourth stage of sleep. Oftentimes, these disruptions are described as night terrors, sleepwalking, and nightmares.

Though these disorders are known not to awaken a person completely, it is vital to note that they may disrupt the order of sleep cycles, forcing a person to move from the fourth stage to the first one. Victims of these disruptions require attention in order to take corrective measures.

In addition, there are known environmental factors which contribute to several cases of sleep deprivation. However, doctors argue that the impact on the environment is sometimes too minimal to be recognized by people who are affected by sleep deficiency (Gaine et al.). In other words, these factors affect the quality of sleep without necessarily arousing a person from sleep.

Common examples include extreme weather conditions, like high temperatures, noise, and poor quality of the mattress. As a result, they may contribute to a person’s awakening, depending on the intensity when one is sleeping.

Moreover, the impact of these factors may develop with time, thus affecting one’s quality of sleep. In addition, most of the environmental factors that contribute to sleep deprivation can be fixed easily without medical or professional skills. Nevertheless, the challenge is usually how to become aware of their existence.

Lastly, sleep deprivation is caused by stress and depression, which have been linked to other health disorders and complications. Together with some lifestyles in America, these factors are heavily contributing to sleep deficiency in most parts of the world. Even though they might not be acute enough to awaken an individual, their cumulative effects usually become significant.

There are countless stressors in the world that affect youths and adults. While young people could be concerned with passing exams, adults are normally preoccupied with pressure to attain certain goals in life. These conditions create a disturbed mind, which may affect a person’s ability to enjoy quality sleep.

Sleep deprivation has a host of negative effects which affect people of all ages. The commonest effect is stress. Most people who suffer from sleep deficiency are likely to experience depression frequently as compared to their counterparts who enjoy quality sleep (Conroy et al. 188). As a result, stress may lead to poor performance among students at school.

Research has revealed that students who spend very few hours in bed or experience disruptions during sleep are likely to register poor performance in their class assignments and final exams. Additionally, sleep deprivation causes inefficiency among employees.

For instance, drivers who experience this disorder are more likely to cause accidents as compared to those who are free from it (Griggs et al.14367). This is based on the fact that un-refreshed people have poor concentration and low mastery of their skills.

Besides stress and anxiety, sleep deprivation has a wide-range of health-related effects. For instance, medical experts argue that people who spend less than six hours in bed are likely to suffer from high blood pressure. Quality sleep gives the body an opportunity to rest by slowing down the rate at which it pumps blood to the rest of the body (Wang and Xiaomin).

Inadequate sleep implies that the heart has to work without its normal and recommended rest. Additionally, sleep deprivation is known to affect the immune system. People who experience this disorder end up with a weakened immune system, leaving the body prone to most illnesses. This reduced immune response accumulates and may become fatal with time.

Sleep paralysis is also a common effect of inadequate sleep. This is due to disruption of the sleep cycle. It primarily occurs when the body is aroused during the fourth stage of the sleep cycle. In this case, the body is left immobile as the mind regains consciousness. Due to this conflict, one may experience pain and hallucinations.

Based on the negative effects of sleep deprivation, there is a need to manage this disorder among Americans. Firstly, it is necessary for people to seek medical advice concerning certain factors which could be contributing to this condition, like stress and infections (Wang and Xiaomin).

Proper counseling is also vital in stabilizing a person’s mental capacity. Physical exercises are also known to relieve a person from stressful conditions, contributing to sleep deficiency. Lastly, it is essential to ensure that the environment is free from noise and has regulated weather conditions.

Sleep deprivation remains a major problem in America, affecting millions of people. As discussed above, sleep deprivation is caused by a host of factors, ranging from environmental to health-related issues. Moreover, sleep deficiency has countless effects, most of which may become fatal in cases where the disorder is chronic.

Conroy, Deirdre A., et al. “ The Effects of COVID-19 Stay-at-home Order on Sleep, Health, and Working Patterns: A Survey Study of US Health Care Workers. ” Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine , vol. 17, no. 2, Feb. 2021, pp. 185–91.

Gaine, Marie E., et al. “ Altered Hippocampal Transcriptome Dynamics Following Sleep Deprivation. ” Molecular Brain, vol. 14, no. 1, Aug. 2021.

Griggs, Stephanie, et al. “ Socioeconomic Deprivation, Sleep Duration, and Mental Health During the First Year of the COVID-19 Pandemic. ” International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, vol. 19, no. 21, Nov. 2022, p. 14367.

Wang, Jun, and Xiaomin Ren. “ Association Between Sleep Duration and Sleep Disorder Data From the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey and Stroke Among Adults in the United States .” Medical Science Monitor , vol. 28, June 2022.

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50 Argumentative Essay Topics

Illustration by Catherine Song. ThoughtCo. 

  • M.Ed., Education Administration, University of Georgia
  • B.A., History, Armstrong State University

An argumentative essay requires you to decide on a topic and argue for or against it. You'll need to back up your viewpoint with well-researched facts and information as well. One of the hardest parts is deciding which topic to write about, but there are plenty of ideas available to get you started. Then you need to take a position, do some research, and present your viewpoint convincingly.

Choosing a Great Argumentative Essay Topic

Students often find that most of their work on these essays is done before they even start writing. This means that it's best if you have a general interest in your subject. Otherwise, you might get bored or frustrated while trying to gather information. You don't need to know everything, though; part of what makes this experience rewarding is learning something new.

It's best if you have a general interest in your subject, but the argument you choose doesn't have to be one that you agree with.

The subject you choose may not necessarily be one you are in full agreement with, either. You may even be asked to write a paper from the opposing point of view. Researching a different viewpoint helps students broaden their perspectives. 

Ideas for Argument Essays

Sometimes, the best ideas are sparked by looking at many different options. Explore this list of possible topics and see if a few pique your interest. Write those down as you come across them, then think about each for a few minutes.

Which would you enjoy researching? Do you have a firm position on a particular subject? Is there a point you would like to make sure you get across? Did the topic give you something new to think about? Can you see why someone else may feel differently?

List of 50 Possible Argumentative Essay Topics

A number of these topics are rather controversial—that's the point. In an argumentative essay , opinions matter, and controversy is based on opinions. Just make sure your opinions are backed up by facts in the essay.   If these topics are a little too controversial or you don't find the right one for you, try browsing through persuasive essay and speech topics  as well.

  • Is global climate change  caused by humans?
  • Is the death penalty effective?
  • Is the U.S. election process fair?
  • Is torture ever acceptable?
  • Should men get paternity leave from work?
  • Are school uniforms beneficial?
  • Does the U.S. have a fair tax system?
  • Do curfews keep teens out of trouble?
  • Is cheating out of control?
  • Are we too dependent on computers?
  • Should animals be used for research?
  • Should cigarette smoking be banned?
  • Are cell phones dangerous?
  • Are law enforcement cameras an invasion of privacy?
  • Do we have a throwaway society ?
  • Is child behavior better or worse than it was years ago?
  • Should companies market to children?
  • Should the government have a say in our diets?
  • Does access to condoms prevent teen pregnancy?
  • Should members of Congress have term limits?
  • Are actors and professional athletes paid too much?
  • Are CEOs paid too much?
  • Should athletes be held to high moral standards?
  • Do violent video games cause behavior problems?
  • Should creationism be taught in public schools?
  • Are beauty pageants exploitative ?
  • Should English be the official language of the United States?
  • Should the racing industry be forced to use biofuels?
  • Should the alcohol-drinking age be increased or decreased?
  • Should everyone be required to recycle?
  • Is it okay for prisoners to vote (as they are in some states)?
  • Should same-sex marriage be legalized in more countries?
  • Are there benefits to attending a single-sex school ?
  • Does boredom lead to trouble?
  • Should schools be in session year-round ?
  • Does religion cause war?
  • Should the government provide health care?
  • Should abortion be illegal?
  • Should more companies expand their reproductive health benefits for employees?
  • Is homework harmful or helpful?
  • Is the cost of college too high?
  • Is college admission too competitive?
  • Should euthanasia be illegal?
  • Should the federal government legalize marijuana use nationally ?
  • Should rich people be required to pay more taxes?
  • Should schools require foreign language or physical education?
  • Is affirmative action fair?
  • Is public prayer okay in schools?
  • Are schools and teachers responsible for low test scores?
  • Is greater gun control a good idea?

How to Craft a Persuasive Argument

After you've decided on your essay topic, gather evidence to make your argument as strong as possible. Your research could even help shape the position your essay ultimately takes. As you craft your essay, remember to utilize persuasive writing techniques , such as invoking emotional language or citing facts from authoritative figures. 

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  • Personal Essay Topics

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Sleep Persuasive Essay

Everyone Learns Better When They’re Awake Sleep is the condition of body and mind that occurs for several hours a night. Sleep is when the nervous system is inactive, the eyes are closed, muscles are relaxed, and the consciousness is practically suspended. Sleep is used to restore and regenerate, to grow muscle and repair tissue, and to synthesize hormones. Sleep helps your body work to support brain function and maintain physical health. Sleep is beneficial to the growth and development of teens and children. Sleep is necessary for us to survive. Why is it that most students in middle and high school are only obtaining six of the eight to nine hours of sleep that is needed for a teenager? Nearly 40% of students today get under six hours …show more content…

Admittedly, early start times do have some advantages such as more time for after-school jobs and activities. Starting school early also helps with transportation costs and fits better with parent schedules, but the loss of sleep takes a huge toll on a student’s health, safety, and learning. Why should we, as students, sacrifice our health because it’s easier for the school system? Is the easier option really worth the well-being and success of adolescents all over the country? As a high school student, I know what it’s like to get assigned homework from every class, along with having practice that night, and having to stay up until I can barely stay awake to get it all done. Not to mention waking up before the crack of dawn to do what wasn’t finished or just not doing the homework at all. It’s currently unobtainable to get the correct amount of sleep with the current school hours and workload that students receive. Adding that extra hour allows students time in the morning to finish up what couldn’t be done the night before. Data from more than 9,000 students at “eight high schools in Minnesota, Colorado, and Wyoming” was researched and it was found that shifting the school day to later in the morning “resulted in a boost in attendance, test scores, and grades in math, English, science, and social studies” (Richmond). Everyone learns better when they’re

Summary Of Terra Snyder's Article Let Kids Sleep Later

She cites a study that found that students who start school later have higher grades and test scores than those who start earlier. Additionally, students who get more sleep are more likely to be engaged in class and retain information better. By allowing students to get the sleep they need, schools can help them perform better academically and set them up for success in the future. Thirdly, Snyder provides examples of schools that have successfully implemented later start times and seen positive results.

The Pros And Cons Of Later School Start Times

For the last few years, schools across the United States have made conscious efforts to delay school start times. The push for a later school start has been led by doctors and parents who believe students do not receive the suggested eight-and-a-half hours of sleep daily. A later start time does not guarantee more sleep for students as students may just go to bed even later usual. A later start time could also change the times for after-school activities for many students. As a result of a later start time, both students and teachers will come home to families late into night.

Later Start Times Benefits

Imagine the benefits of having later start times for high school students. This controversial subject has been discussed by professionals over the past few years, some argue the start times are too early for teens while others tend to disagree. High school students should have later start times because it benefits their grades, their amount of sleep, and also provides advantages for the parents and School Board. By delaying the start times of the school, studies have shown improvements in grades and performance in teens. A study done by the University of Minnesota shows that by setting back start times for school showed an increase in grades 10th-12th.

Why School Should Start Later In The Day

The extra time in the morning may give them some room to sleep a bit more or finish some last minute homework. With students getting more sleep, we will see an improvement in their test score and grades, which can help them later in

Many schedule difficulties will arise if schools make later start times, but many schedule advantages could also come from it. In conclusion, the hormones that students get through high school make it difficult for teenagers to fall asleep until late at night and then wake up early for school. These yield many problems, such as sleep deprivation, car crashes, depression, and anxiety.

Should High School Start Later

Students who don’t get the required 8 ½ to 9 ½ hours of sleep each night become more vulnerable to depression and obesity, (according to www.npr.org). This can cause problems later in these students’ lives. Think about this; Why should students have to suffer just because school start times are too early? Would you want that to be your child in the

Why Starting School Should Start Later

To begin with teenagers usually need 8.5 hours of sleep a day. Not enough sleep for students has gone to far. 22,000 kids all across the USA are stressed and tired for school. School should start later because starting school early is not just a student complaint, it's an observation backed up by science. Studies have shown the brain doesn't properly function until two hours after students leave there rooms in the morning.

Why School Should Start Later

First, some people assert that teenagers should wake up early in the morning for school, while others argue that teenagers should be able to sleep in because they need their sleep. Summarize the Issue- In the article, “Why should Should Start Later in the Morning” by Emily Richmond, “Should School Start Later?” by Justin O'Neill, and “Sleepy Teens: High School Should Start Later in the Morning?” by Mark Fischetti, they debate about the fact that school should start later. There are many explanations for the issue if school should start later for kids. For example, some people think it is a very smart idea that would stop causing kids/teens to come into school everyday looking tired. Also, it would get them more rest because of the time that they had stayed up the last night catching up on loads of homework and studying.

Persuasive Essay On Sleep

There’s plenty the medical field still doesn’t understand about sleep. In fact, no one is quite sure why human beings need to sleep. But sleep is absolutely vital. Sleep plays a major role in human health. A poor night’s sleep has significant negative effects.

Persuasive Essay About Starting School Later

According to the National Sleep Foundation, a nonprofit organization that promotes public understanding of sleep and sleep disorders, starting school later is an adequate way for students to have a better memory, behavior, attention, mood, and executive function. The National Sleep Foundation states “, A National Sleep Foundation poll reported that 28% of teenagers have fallen asleep in class at least once due to lack of sleep. Negative effects of sleep loss include impairments in mood, attention, memory, behavior and executive function… increase in caffeine use… sleep deprived-teens at higher risk of car accidents.” This means that by just adjusting the time by an hour students are more aware of their surroundings, more focused on what they’re learning, have a better mood, and executive function, and it reduces the amount of sugary snacks they have eat or drink to stay awake.

Persuasive Essay On Later School Start Time

A reason for this is that waking up too early could be dangerous. In highschool students begin to learn to drive, some owning their own cars to drive to school (Pietrangelo and Watson). When they have to wake up early in order to drive to school they may be too tired for it to be considered safe for them to drive on the roads. This leads to car crashes that leaves their lives and the person who they hits life in danger. Not to mention those who are close enough to walk to school also may be too tired to properly pay attention.

The Negative Effects Of Early School Start Times

Early School Start Times Most adolescents don’t get nearly the correct amount of sleep and the early school start times make it worse. Having school start later would have a great impact on teens’ overall health. Some people may say that teens should just go to sleep earlier, but its not that easy. Early school start times should be changed because they are dangerous, inconvenient, and it negatively affects body growth.

Persuasive Essay Why Do We Sleep

Most people or some say they have this disease called ‘Insomnia’. Insomnia is when you have a hard time falling asleep when you need to be asleep and it can cause you to feel drowsy the next day or even sleep during the day instead of night. Our bodies need energy and there are ways to get that energy, however, the main thing is sleeping. Sleeping allows your body to relax and all the muscles to restore and helps you feel refreshed the next day. We sleep because without sleep our bodies feel very fatigued and weak.

Why do we sleep? While we may not recognize sleep as important or we don’t think about it often but we all know it makes us feel better. One way to think of sleep is to compare it to eating. We all need to eat and we need sleep in the same way to replenish our bodies and to help make us feel better.

Essay On Sleep Deprivation

Gaukhar Dosmuratova PSYC 1111 Sleep Deprivation experiments Sleep deprivation is a condition when a person has problems to get enough sleep. Nowadays, sleep deprivation has become a common problem. Sleep plays a vital role in people’s lives because by getting enough sleep at the right times a person can protect his/her mental and physical health. During sleep, your body and mind are resting and it supports healthy brain function and maintain person’s physical health. There are many types of research were made on sleep deprivation.

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argumentative essay topics about sleep

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If you’ve taught argument writing with our resources in the past, you already know we ask a fresh question every day as part of our long-running Student Opinion series . Teenagers around the world are invited to visit and post their thoughts on topics including politics, medical ethics, fashion, sports and entertainment.

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  • Writing Tips

50 Argumentative Essay Topics for Students

50 Argumentative Essay Topics for Students

4-minute read

  • 11th June 2022

The goal of an argumentative essay is to persuade the reader to understand and support your position on an issue by presenting your reasoning along with supporting evidence. It’s important to find the right balance between giving your opinions and presenting established research.

These essays discuss issues around a range of topics, including science, technology, politics, and healthcare. Whether you’re a teacher looking for essay topics for your students or a student tasked with developing an idea of your own, we’ve compiled a list of 50 argumentative essay topics to help you get started!

●  Does texting hinder interpersonal communication skills?

●  Should there be laws against using devices while driving?

●  Do violent video games teach or encourage people to behave violently?

●  Should social media sites be allowed to collect users’ data?

●  Should parents limit how long their children spend in front of screens?

●  Is AI helping or hurting society?

●  Should cyber-bullying carry legal consequences?

●  Should Supreme Court justices be elected?

●  Is war always a political decision?

●  Should people join a political party?

●  Is capitalism ethical?

●  Is the electoral college an effective system?

●  Should prisoners be allowed to vote?

●  Should the death penalty be legal?

●  Are governments around the world doing enough to combat global warming?

●  Is healthcare a fundamental human right?

●  Should vaccinations be mandated for children?

●  Are there any circumstances under which physician-assisted suicides should be legal?

●  Should parents be able to choose specific genetic modifications of their future children?

●  Should abortion be legal?

●  Is it ethical to perform medical experiments on animals?

●  Should patients who lead unhealthy lifestyles be denied organ transplants?

●  Should doctors be able to provide medical care to children against their parents’ wishes?

Mental Healthcare

●  What causes the stigma around mental health?

●  Discuss the link between insufficient access to mental health services and the high suicide rates among veterans.

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●  Should cannabis be used as a treatment for patients with mental disorders?

●  Is there a link between social media use and mental disorders?

●  Discuss the effect of physical activity on mental health.

●  Should sports be segregated by gender?

●  Should male and female athletes be given the same pay and opportunities?

●  Are professional athletes overpaid?

●  Should college athletes be paid?

●  Should sports betting be legal?

●  Should online access to art such as music be free?

●  Should graffiti be considered art or vandalism?

●  Are there any circumstances under which books should be banned?

●  Should schools be required to offer art courses?

●  Is art necessary to society?

●  Should schools require uniforms?

●  Should reciting the Pledge of Allegiance be required in schools?

●  Do standardized tests effectively measure intelligence?

●  Should high school students take a gap year before pursuing higher education?

●  Should higher education be free?

●  Is there too much pressure on high school students to attend college?

●  Are children better off in two-parent households?

●  Should LGBTQ+ partners be allowed to adopt?

●  Should single people be able to adopt children as easily as couples?

●  Is it okay for parents to physically discipline their children?

●  Does helicopter parenting help or hurt children?

●  Should parents monitor their children’s Internet use?

Proofreading & Editing

An argument could also be made for the importance of proofreading your essay ! The reader can focus more on your message when your writing is clear, concise, and error-free, and they won’t question whether you’re knowledgeable on the issues you’re presenting. Once you have a draft ready, you can submit a free trial document to start working with our expert editors!

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How to Write an Argumentative Essay | Examples & Tips

Published on July 24, 2020 by Jack Caulfield . Revised on July 23, 2023.

An argumentative essay expresses an extended argument for a particular thesis statement . The author takes a clearly defined stance on their subject and builds up an evidence-based case for it.

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Table of contents

When do you write an argumentative essay, approaches to argumentative essays, introducing your argument, the body: developing your argument, concluding your argument, other interesting articles, frequently asked questions about argumentative essays.

You might be assigned an argumentative essay as a writing exercise in high school or in a composition class. The prompt will often ask you to argue for one of two positions, and may include terms like “argue” or “argument.” It will frequently take the form of a question.

The prompt may also be more open-ended in terms of the possible arguments you could make.

Argumentative writing at college level

At university, the vast majority of essays or papers you write will involve some form of argumentation. For example, both rhetorical analysis and literary analysis essays involve making arguments about texts.

In this context, you won’t necessarily be told to write an argumentative essay—but making an evidence-based argument is an essential goal of most academic writing, and this should be your default approach unless you’re told otherwise.

Examples of argumentative essay prompts

At a university level, all the prompts below imply an argumentative essay as the appropriate response.

Your research should lead you to develop a specific position on the topic. The essay then argues for that position and aims to convince the reader by presenting your evidence, evaluation and analysis.

  • Don’t just list all the effects you can think of.
  • Do develop a focused argument about the overall effect and why it matters, backed up by evidence from sources.
  • Don’t just provide a selection of data on the measures’ effectiveness.
  • Do build up your own argument about which kinds of measures have been most or least effective, and why.
  • Don’t just analyze a random selection of doppelgänger characters.
  • Do form an argument about specific texts, comparing and contrasting how they express their thematic concerns through doppelgänger characters.

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An argumentative essay should be objective in its approach; your arguments should rely on logic and evidence, not on exaggeration or appeals to emotion.

There are many possible approaches to argumentative essays, but there are two common models that can help you start outlining your arguments: The Toulmin model and the Rogerian model.

Toulmin arguments

The Toulmin model consists of four steps, which may be repeated as many times as necessary for the argument:

  • Make a claim
  • Provide the grounds (evidence) for the claim
  • Explain the warrant (how the grounds support the claim)
  • Discuss possible rebuttals to the claim, identifying the limits of the argument and showing that you have considered alternative perspectives

The Toulmin model is a common approach in academic essays. You don’t have to use these specific terms (grounds, warrants, rebuttals), but establishing a clear connection between your claims and the evidence supporting them is crucial in an argumentative essay.

Say you’re making an argument about the effectiveness of workplace anti-discrimination measures. You might:

  • Claim that unconscious bias training does not have the desired results, and resources would be better spent on other approaches
  • Cite data to support your claim
  • Explain how the data indicates that the method is ineffective
  • Anticipate objections to your claim based on other data, indicating whether these objections are valid, and if not, why not.

Rogerian arguments

The Rogerian model also consists of four steps you might repeat throughout your essay:

  • Discuss what the opposing position gets right and why people might hold this position
  • Highlight the problems with this position
  • Present your own position , showing how it addresses these problems
  • Suggest a possible compromise —what elements of your position would proponents of the opposing position benefit from adopting?

This model builds up a clear picture of both sides of an argument and seeks a compromise. It is particularly useful when people tend to disagree strongly on the issue discussed, allowing you to approach opposing arguments in good faith.

Say you want to argue that the internet has had a positive impact on education. You might:

  • Acknowledge that students rely too much on websites like Wikipedia
  • Argue that teachers view Wikipedia as more unreliable than it really is
  • Suggest that Wikipedia’s system of citations can actually teach students about referencing
  • Suggest critical engagement with Wikipedia as a possible assignment for teachers who are skeptical of its usefulness.

You don’t necessarily have to pick one of these models—you may even use elements of both in different parts of your essay—but it’s worth considering them if you struggle to structure your arguments.

Regardless of which approach you take, your essay should always be structured using an introduction , a body , and a conclusion .

Like other academic essays, an argumentative essay begins with an introduction . The introduction serves to capture the reader’s interest, provide background information, present your thesis statement , and (in longer essays) to summarize the structure of the body.

Hover over different parts of the example below to see how a typical introduction works.

The spread of the internet has had a world-changing effect, not least on the world of education. The use of the internet in academic contexts is on the rise, and its role in learning is hotly debated. For many teachers who did not grow up with this technology, its effects seem alarming and potentially harmful. This concern, while understandable, is misguided. The negatives of internet use are outweighed by its critical benefits for students and educators—as a uniquely comprehensive and accessible information source; a means of exposure to and engagement with different perspectives; and a highly flexible learning environment.

The body of an argumentative essay is where you develop your arguments in detail. Here you’ll present evidence, analysis, and reasoning to convince the reader that your thesis statement is true.

In the standard five-paragraph format for short essays, the body takes up three of your five paragraphs. In longer essays, it will be more paragraphs, and might be divided into sections with headings.

Each paragraph covers its own topic, introduced with a topic sentence . Each of these topics must contribute to your overall argument; don’t include irrelevant information.

This example paragraph takes a Rogerian approach: It first acknowledges the merits of the opposing position and then highlights problems with that position.

Hover over different parts of the example to see how a body paragraph is constructed.

A common frustration for teachers is students’ use of Wikipedia as a source in their writing. Its prevalence among students is not exaggerated; a survey found that the vast majority of the students surveyed used Wikipedia (Head & Eisenberg, 2010). An article in The Guardian stresses a common objection to its use: “a reliance on Wikipedia can discourage students from engaging with genuine academic writing” (Coomer, 2013). Teachers are clearly not mistaken in viewing Wikipedia usage as ubiquitous among their students; but the claim that it discourages engagement with academic sources requires further investigation. This point is treated as self-evident by many teachers, but Wikipedia itself explicitly encourages students to look into other sources. Its articles often provide references to academic publications and include warning notes where citations are missing; the site’s own guidelines for research make clear that it should be used as a starting point, emphasizing that users should always “read the references and check whether they really do support what the article says” (“Wikipedia:Researching with Wikipedia,” 2020). Indeed, for many students, Wikipedia is their first encounter with the concepts of citation and referencing. The use of Wikipedia therefore has a positive side that merits deeper consideration than it often receives.

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An argumentative essay ends with a conclusion that summarizes and reflects on the arguments made in the body.

No new arguments or evidence appear here, but in longer essays you may discuss the strengths and weaknesses of your argument and suggest topics for future research. In all conclusions, you should stress the relevance and importance of your argument.

Hover over the following example to see the typical elements of a conclusion.

The internet has had a major positive impact on the world of education; occasional pitfalls aside, its value is evident in numerous applications. The future of teaching lies in the possibilities the internet opens up for communication, research, and interactivity. As the popularity of distance learning shows, students value the flexibility and accessibility offered by digital education, and educators should fully embrace these advantages. The internet’s dangers, real and imaginary, have been documented exhaustively by skeptics, but the internet is here to stay; it is time to focus seriously on its potential for good.

If you want to know more about AI tools , college essays , or fallacies make sure to check out some of our other articles with explanations and examples or go directly to our tools!

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An argumentative essay tends to be a longer essay involving independent research, and aims to make an original argument about a topic. Its thesis statement makes a contentious claim that must be supported in an objective, evidence-based way.

An expository essay also aims to be objective, but it doesn’t have to make an original argument. Rather, it aims to explain something (e.g., a process or idea) in a clear, concise way. Expository essays are often shorter assignments and rely less on research.

At college level, you must properly cite your sources in all essays , research papers , and other academic texts (except exams and in-class exercises).

Add a citation whenever you quote , paraphrase , or summarize information or ideas from a source. You should also give full source details in a bibliography or reference list at the end of your text.

The exact format of your citations depends on which citation style you are instructed to use. The most common styles are APA , MLA , and Chicago .

The majority of the essays written at university are some sort of argumentative essay . Unless otherwise specified, you can assume that the goal of any essay you’re asked to write is argumentative: To convince the reader of your position using evidence and reasoning.

In composition classes you might be given assignments that specifically test your ability to write an argumentative essay. Look out for prompts including instructions like “argue,” “assess,” or “discuss” to see if this is the goal.

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Importance of Sleep Essay | Essay on Importance of Sleep for Students and Children in English

February 13, 2024 by Prasanna

Importance of Sleep Essay:  Sleep is one of the most important things you need to do for your body because it is your body’s way of recharging its batteries. When you begin to feel sleepy at night, it means that you have reached the limit that your body has, and you should sleep so that you do not over-exert yourself.

Many people don’t get enough sleep at night, mostly because so many of us have turned into night owls who love to do so many things at night instead of the daytime. These are terrible habits, and we must learn to get rid of them by paying attention to the importance of sleep. For example, a bad habit like this would be watching TV shows late at night despite knowing that we have to wake up early the next morning.

You can also find more  Essay Writing  articles on events, persons, sports, technology and many more.

Long and Short Essays on Importance of Sleep for Students and Kids in English

Let’s look at some essays of different, increasing word lengths to know and understand the importance of sleep. These ‘Importance of Sleep’ Essays can also be like your inspiration to write your essay about the same.

Short Essay on Importance of Sleep 150 Words in English

Short Essay on Importance of Computer is usually given to classes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6.

When we sleep, the brain recharges itself and heals our bodies in whichever parts we need healing. When we sleep, our blood vessels and circulatory system heal themselves. If you have a bruise, you will notice that it has healed a little bit when you go to sleep and wake up in the morning. Sleep does the same thing for the rest of the body as well, and it is essential to allow your batteries to charge while you heal yourself.

Many of us struggle with our sleep because of the prevalence of mobile phones and other addictive screens in our lives. Some severe problems can enter our lives when we do not get enough sleep. This can range from mental health problems like depression and anxiety to even physical ailments and issues like diabetes, cardiac arrest, obesity, high blood pressure, etc. We must be careful and get a good 6-8 hours of sleep every night.

The average hours that one adult should be sleeping every night is 8 hours, or you can give or take one or two hours. The problem with all the generations in the world is that there are so many disturbances around us that can easily distract us from what is essential. One such example of this is mobile phones – it is easy to get addicted to mobile phones that contain an entire world and keep scrolling through it instead of going to sleep.

It is essential to understand the reason why sleep is vital. Getting enough sleep helps heal your bodies from any pain or injuries; it betters your immune system, cognitive memory, and thinking capacity. Furthermore, getting adequate sleep is vital for keeping our hearts and other systems clean and with a good bill of health. Without getting a good number of hours worth of sleep at night, we are putting ourselves at the risk of mental health disruptions as well as physical disorders and problems such as depression, anxiety, heart attacks, obesity (leading to various other issues), and even exhaustion which can ultimately disrupt one’s life. We must get enough sleep to look and feel fresh and healthy every day.

Introduction

Many of us do not realise the importance that a good night’s sleep holds in our lives. It is so important to sleep well at night to prevent us from getting health problems which can be disruptive for our whole lives. Let’s talk a little bit more about the importance of sleep in our lives.

Healthy Living with Good Sleep

It is essential to sleep well to live a healthy life. There are many health benefits of getting a good night’s sleep, and there are many hindrances to when you don’t get a good night’s sleep. The benefits of good sleep are that it can boost your immune system, boost your cardiovascular health, improve our abilities to think and remember things more clearly, and contain our mental health by preventing some symptoms of anxiety and depression. Sleep also helps us out with containing our exhaustion of course, the best thing to do when you are tired is to go to sleep and regain the energy you need to carry forth with your life. Most importantly, sleeping well and sleeping enough helps prevent obesity, diabetes, heart problems, and various other issues.

We must all sleep for about 8 hours in our adult lives. It can be about an hour less or an hour more, but think about it this way – you must spend about one third to one-fourth of your day recharging your batteries to get ready for the remainder of the days.

You can also read many interesting facts equipped about the importance of sleep essay furthermore in the given here, Importance of sleep essay. Never miss it!

Importance of Sleep Essay 400 Words in English

Sleep is one of the most essential and inevitable things that we have to do in our lives. Whether you eat food or drink water, sleep is inevitable because it’s what the body does naturally. Sometimes it can be tough to get a full night’s sleep, but it is imperative to try.

The Trio of Good Health

We can deny nothing about the fact that there are three things we need to improve our lives – a good diet with tonnes of nutrition, an exercise routine, and, of course, a good night’s sleep every day. These are the three things that are very imperative in our lives to inculcate and follow. Sleeping well has impressive health benefits, such as improving our cardiovascular health and preventing obesity, which even come a lot of other problems. A balanced diet filled with nutritious foods helps us remain fit and healthy, and a good exercise plan will be good for the same, too. Sleeping enough also helps us out with our strength and performance during exercise. Thus, it is a good cycle that we should create for ourselves.

Benefits of Good Sleep

There are several benefits of getting a good sleep at night. It helps you maintain your body weight so that you do not become obese and add to this; there’s also the fact that people who sleep well at night often eat less than those who don’t, which also helps with the weight. Getting adequate sleep also increases your productivity by making you feel more energetic and giving you the time you need to rest. It also helps our lives be in a good mood, and good sleep puts a person in a good mood. Sleeping enough also allows our minds to function correctly and in a better way. Thus we can think better, and we also have a better memory power upon sleeping enough.

Getting adequate sleep is incredibly vital to our mental health and physical well-being. If we do not get enough sleep, we might get burnt out and not be able to carry out our lives in the way that we should be able to. Without the ability to do this, life can become painful and full of difficulties that may become complex over time. Thus, we must all take the initiative in our own lives to sleep on time and wake up on time to prevent any mental or physical blockages and hindrances.

Long Essay on Importance of Sleep 500 Words in English

Long Essay on Importance of Computer is usually given to classes 7, 8, 9, and 10.

Sleep is one of the most essential parts of our lives; still, most of us neglect it as though there’s nothing wrong with that. It is understandable that we barely ever get any time to rest when we have a hectic life. For so many of us workaholics, sleeping can even seem like something you can do later, that there are more things you can do in the time that you could be sleeping. However, working like this may be alright for a short while, but not getting enough sleep for a long-stretched period has been found to have terrible effects on the body in the long run. We must all learn how to take care of ourselves, and this begins by forming a good routine with an adequate amount of sleep inculcated in it, alongside a good diet and regular exercise.

It is a lesser-known fact that sleeping well and sleeping a fair amount of hours when we are supposed to supplements the maintenance of our weight – this means that if you sleep better, you’re less likely to put on more weight! This is corroborated because those who sleep more need fewer calories to function in a day, as they are more refreshed and energised and thus require less food to keep them afloat throughout the day calories mean less weight.

Sleep is when our body and brains regenerate, meaning that your blood vessels and your heart and the other parts of your body heal themselves while you are sleeping. Think about it this way – you are not doing anything, your eyes are closed, and at this time, your brain has no other work because you are not conscious of doing anything in particular that the brain needs to function for. Thus, this is the best time for your body to heal itself. You’ll notice that when you wake up after getting an injury the previous day, the bruises may have already begun to heal – scabs are created in the process of healing through the night while you sleep. Thus, sleep is so crucial for healing the body.

Getting your good 7-9 hours of sleep every night is imperative for our bodies to work well the next day. Sleeping removes the tiredness from our bodies, and it rejuvenates and re-energises us for the next day. With adequate sleep, we can focus on our work better, we can do more things in our day to make it more productive, and we will be able to think, read and do everything else much better through the course of the day with good sleep.

What Happens When We Don’t Sleep Well?

Not sleeping enough is one of the worst things that a person can do to their bodies. As mentioned before, sleeping is great for rejuvenating our bodies and healing our systems inside. So, it is the complete opposite that takes place when we don’t get enough sleep.

If we do not get enough sleep at night, we will end up with terrible health. Most of us end up binge-watching television shows, movies, and even things like YouTube videos at night, and we usually do this at night because, in the daytime, we generally remain busy with other things, like school, office, other work, running errands, and stuff like that. We all think that because we do a lot of work in the daytime, the nighttime is, in a way, free time for us to do as we want. However, this is not the right way to go about life.

We need to get enough sleep because, without it, our blood vessels and heart and other organs as such will stop healing by themselves. Without adequate sleep daily, our minds will always be occupied by one thing or another, especially about how tired we all may feel, and how we want to sleep. Sadly, many us don’t even realise this, and go about their day without sleeping much without knowing how it can affect them in the long run.

Risks for all kinds of health issues, including physical and mental health go up manifold without getting a good night’s sleep every day. Depression, anxiety, stress disorders, sleep disorders, heart attacks, diabetes, obesity, etc. are just a few of the dangers that come from not sleeping well at night.

How Should I Get More Sleep?

Good sleep does not necessarily mean that you get your 8 hours a night of sleep, which is enough. No, that is not enough – it also matters that the quality of this sleep is good. If you go to sleep with your mind disturbed, you will have disturbed sleeping – maybe you will have trouble falling off to sleep in the first place, or even keep on waking up at night because of nightmares and similar things.

The best ways to get some great sleep at night would be to turn off your phone early, maybe at 10 pm or 11 pm, and only turn it back on when you wake up in the morning, possibly at 7 am to 8 am. This is the best way to get more sleep.

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