The Impact of Sleep Deprivation: Historical and Scientific Perspectives

Sleep deprivation can have profoundly negative impacts on overall functioning. The average adult human requires roughly eight hours of sleep to maintain proper physical and mental health. According to Derickson, 85 percent of American soldiers in the Italian campaign 'in World War II' slept fewer than 6 hours, while 31 percent slept fewer than 3 hours per night. Sleep-deprived individuals are more prone to task errors, experience higher levels of psychological stress, are less likely to properly follow orders, are more likely to take shortcuts in decision making, and suffer from potential loss of muscle. The need to overcome fatigue was a challenge, one that needed a fast-acting solution. For many governments, psychostimulant drugs would answer the call.4

1. The main idea in the first paragraph is that sleep deprivation can have negative impacts on overall functioning, and that the average adult human requires roughly eight hours of sleep to maintain proper physical and mental health. This point is stated in the opening sentence. The main idea in the second paragraph is that governments turned to psychostimulant drugs to help soldiers overcome fatigue during World War II. This point is stated in the last sentence of the paragraph.

2. Claim: Sleep-deprived individuals are more prone to task errors, experience higher levels of psychological stress, are less likely to properly follow orders, are more likely to take shortcuts in decision making, and suffer from potential loss of muscle. Evaluation: This is a negative impact on overall functioning. Scientific reasoning: The information is based on a study of American soldiers in the Italian campaign in World War II.

3. Sourcing: The writer cites Derickson's study of American soldiers in the Italian campaign during World War II. Contextualization: The writer provides historical context by discussing the need to overcome fatigue during wartime. Corroboration: The information about the negative impacts of sleep deprivation is supported by the study of American soldiers. Close-reading: The writer provides specific details about the percentages of soldiers who slept fewer than 6 hours or fewer than 3 hours per night.

4. The biology extract relies on scientific studies and reasoning to support its claims. The history extract relies on a specific study as well as contextualization and close-reading to support its claims. Additionally, the history extract includes more contextualization and analysis of historical events and trends.