works cited - process analysis

Chang, Louise. "Stages of Sleep: REM and Non-REM Sleep Cycles." WebMD - Better Information. Better Health.
         Web. 25 Oct. 2010. http://www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/excessive-sleepiness-10/sleep-101.

1) Louise Chang, MD

2)January 8, 2010

3) sponsoring organization: WebMD - balanced

4) secondary



Fonseca, Brenda, Saundra K. Ciccarelli, Saundra K. Ciccarelli, and J. Noland. White. Study Guide and Concept
          Notes For: Psychology, Second Edition. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Prentice Hall, 2009. Print.

1)Brenda Fonseca, Saundra K. Ciccarelli, and J. Noland White

2) 2009

3) Pearson Prentice Hall - balanced

4) primary and secondary



"An Intro to Sleep: What Is Sleep?" Sleep Disorder Information & Resources - Always up to Date with the Latest News in the Sleep Disorder Community! Web. 24 Oct. 2010. http://www.talkaboutsleep.com/sleep-disorders/archives/intro.htm.

1)no obvious author

2) no publication date listed

3)sponsoring organization: Let's Talk About Sleep - balanced

4)primary and secondary



Swiezewski, Stanley J. "Sleep Stages Overview, Sleep Cycle - Sleep Stages - Sleep Channel." Your Sleep Disorder Community - Sleep Channel. Web. 28 Oct. 2010. http://www.sleepdisorderchannel.com/stages/index.shtml.

1) Stanley J. Swiezewski

2) original publication date: December 1, 2000; last review date: December 4, 2007

3) secondary

process analysis essay

Trishia Domingo
Kenneth Kerr
EN101-5
27 October 2010

Good Night, Good Night

Sleep - that is all one may think of after a hard day of work. One’s body had been running around all day and was finally able to return to his home after an exceptionally tiring day. His mind had been drifting off due to exhaustion. Sleep is something that is very important to human beings. In order to function properly, the body needs to rest so it can recover from a long day and generate more cells in order for survival. There are two kinds of sleep: REM, which stands for rapid eye movement, and non-REM sleep, which has four stages in itself, with the first stage called Light Sleep, the second stage Sleep Spindles, and the third and fourth Delta Waves (Fonseca).

A person goes through four stages of non-REM sleep before they enter the REM period, which occurs about every ninety minutes throughout the night (Fonseca). One may recall a time when he thought he was just closing his eyes to rest, but is abruptly woken up by the sound of a ruler hitting his desk or the booming voice of his professor. This person has just undergone stage one sleep, in which if they are awoken, people will not know that they were just asleep. Stage One sleep, also called Light Sleep happens when theta wave activity increases and alpha waves fade away (Fonseca). Another strange occurrence is hypnic myoclonia, more commonly known as a hypnic jerk, that takes place when one feels as if he is falling, which causes a sudden muscle contraction (“Stages of Sleep”).

                The second stage that someone goes through during the non-REM stage has sleep spindles, where eye movements stop and brain waves become larger (“An Intro to Sleep”).  Sleep spindles are a pattern of EEG waves, in which the heart rate slows, and breathing becomes more shallow and irregular, lasting only a second or two (Fonseca). When awakened during this period of the sleep cycle, persons will be aware that they have been sleeping, since approximately 45% of non-REM sleep is spent in Stage 2 (“An Intro to Sleep”).

                Stages three and four of one’s sleep cycle are when delta waves start to roll in. The slowest and largest waves make their appearance during stage three of the sleep cycle, and these delta waves make up approximately twenty to fifty percent of the brain wave pattern (Fonseca). Once delta waves can be accounted for over fifty percent of total brain activity, a person can be said to have entered stage four sleep. For example, someone who has been sleeping for about an hour may have entered stage four of sleep, and once he has been awoken he may feel irritable and a bit disoriented for a few minutes. A person who is in either stage three or stage four of sleep is harder to wake than someone who is only in stage one or two, because the brain produces elta waves much quicker by the time he has shifted into stage four (“An Intro to Sleep”).

                Once a person has undergone stages one through four of non-REM sleep, the next stage is REM sleep, in which the eyes move rapidly, typically meaning that the person is experiencing a dream. People usually spend more time in NREM deep sleep after a physically demanding day, compared to an increased time in REM sleep after an emotionally demanding day (Fonseca). This may be the reason why people tend to experience dreams after a significant event has happened in their life such as being traumatized somehow, loss of a loved one or a job, etc. Some characteristics that distinguish REM from non-REM sleep stages are periodic eyelid fluttering, muscle paralysis, irregular breathing, body temperature, heart rate, and blood pressure (“An Intro to Sleep”). It is thought that perhaps while in REM sleep, dreams are a way of dealing with the stresses and tensions of the day, and physical activity demands more time for recovery of the body, which is where NREM sleep comes into play (Fonseca).

                Everyone needs sleep in order to function properly. Moderate sleep loss may not seem like a huge issue, however sleep deprivation can lead to concentration problems and the inability to do simple tasks, as well as disrupting the normal sleep-wake cycle (Fonseca). The amount of sleep that needed is different with each individual, but it is imperative that one gets at least six hours in order to function well enough to do mundane tasks. If one were to go many nights without any sleep, he may drift into microsleeps, which are brief side-steps into sleep that lasts only a few seconds. Microsleep periods are observably responsible for a lot of car accidents that occur when drivers haven’t had sufficient sleep. (Fonseca).

essay three outline

topic: Sleep: going from REM to non-REM

first paragraph: non-REM sleep; stage one

second paragraph: non-REM sleep; sleep spindles

third paragraph: stages 3 & 4; delta waves

fourth paragraph: REM sleep; dreams

compare and contrast

Trishia Domingo

Kenneth Kerr

EN101-5

20 October 2010

Alone on During the Holidays

                People look forward to the month of December for many reasons: hot chocolate next to an open fire, the warmth of a bed during a cold winter’s morning, the beautiful blanket of snow that covers the ground. Another thing that others may anticipate is Christmas, although the price one may pay for the perfect present for his loved ones can often times be disconcerting. Depending on how extravagant one is during Christmas time, the total amount of money he spends on presents, his stress levels, and free time from work is different than that of people who are in a relationship or have families.

                The amount of money that someone who is single spends on presents is very different from how much money someone in a relationship or has a family spends. According to Theresa McEntire, “Christmas generates about $435 billion worth of economic activity each year in the United States alone” (“How Much”). The average American income, for those with a bachelor’s degree, is about $56, 000 annually (“Average American”). When multiplied by two for those individuals in a relationship the number becomes $102, 000. Those who are single generally have a bigger budget for spending because they do not have to worry about buying presents for children, which can add up to $750 spent on gifts and accessories (“How Much”). People who have families may end up spending double or more than that amount, especially if the children like to play videogames; before the Playstation 3 debuted in November of 2006, it generated bad press for its $600 price tag (“World’s Most Expensive”), compared to other consoles that are 1/3 of that price. The amount of money spent for children, along with lavish presents for a significant other, could easily put one into debt.

                The cost of a present for a loved one has more than one price tag; if a person cannot afford to buy a specific item that he had sought to purchase, stress levels may go up. A survey from 2008 showed that, “the #1 source of stress reported is personal finance concerns, the top response for almost half (49%) of those surveyed” (“American’s Stress”). Single individuals without children do not have to stress about the financial side of Christmas as much because they have less people to purchase presents for. An article on stress states, “It has been estimated that 75-90% of all visits to primary care physicians are for stress related problems. Job stress is far and away the leading source of stress for adults” (“America’s No. 1”). Stress in the life of someone who has a family is heightened when finances for the holidays are considered; in addition to things one has to worry about in the workplace.

                Another thing that may add to a person’s stress and have a role in how much money he may spend on presents is the amount of hours put in during the holiday season. The average employee works 40 hours a week, but those who work less than that suffer a bit during the holiday season. According to an article concerning employment legal issues, “an employee must actually work 40 hours in a week before he/she is eligible for overtime. Paid time off (holidays, vacation, sick leave, etc) is not considered time worked” (“Holiday Pay”). This will not hurt an individual who is single because he or she will not have as many reservations for taking more time off compared to his coworker who has a family to support.

                Single employees will have a bit more money to spend more frivolously because they only have themselves to think about when it comes to the holidays. Although most married couples pay less income tax than they would if each partner were single (Marriage and Taxes), it is also important to remember that their bills for the groceries, utilities, and gas will undoubtedly be higher since there is more than one person whose mouth needs to be fed. Therefore, it would be better to be single during the holidays due to less money spent on presents, less work-related stress, and not having to worry about vacation time and how it will affect one’s salary.    

works cited: compare & contrast

Works Cited

"American Institute of Stress." American Institute of Stress Is Dedicated to Advancing Understanding of Stress in Health and Illness. Web. 20 Oct. 2010. <http://www.stress.org/americas.htm>.

Kulkarni, Arjun. "Average American Income." Buzzle Web Portal: Intelligent Life on the Web. Web. 20 Oct. 2010. <http://www.buzzle.com/articles/average-american-income.html>.

"Marriage and Taxes - Kiplinger." Kiplinger - Personal Finance, Business, Investing, Retirement, and Financial Advice. 01 Sept. 2010. Web. 20 Oct. 2010. <http://www.kiplinger.com/features/archives/2007/01/marriage.html>.

McEntire, Teresa. "How Much Do You Spend On Christmas? - Parents - Families.com." Parents Blog - Families.com. Web. 20 Oct. 2010. <http://parenting.families.com/blog/how-much-do-you-spend-on-christmas>.

Muskovitz, Mel. "Holiday Pay Practices: Do You Know Your Legal Requirements About Holiday Pay?" Human Resources - Business Management Development Jobs Consulting Training Policy Human Resources. Web. 20 Oct. 2010. <http://humanresources.about.com/od/legalissues/a/holiday_pay.htm>.

"New Poll Shows American's Stress Levels Rising." Medical News Today: Health News. Web. 20 Oct. 2010. <http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/124025.php>.

"World’s Most Expensive Video Game Consoles." Most-Expensive.net — The Most Expensive Journal. Web. 20 Oct. 2010. <http://most-expensive.net/video-game-console-system>.

Topic on compare/contrast paper

Topic: economic viewpoint on Christmas

Two things being compared: singles and people in a relationship/with families

-What is the difference in cost for the two groups?

-How do the stress levels of the two groups differ?

-How much free time do these individuals get from work?

essay one

Trishia Domingo

Kenneth Kerr

EN101-5

September 15, 2010

Secrets to a Sweet Disposition

                Everyone goes through hard times throughout their life, whether it is a loss of a loved one, financial difficulties, or stress building up from daily struggles. It takes a special kind of person to be able to get through all of the obstacles that life throws at them and still have a positive outlook on life. Many people do not realize how fortunate they are to live the kind of life that they live and tend to gravitate towards the negative things in their life rather than the positive. People should realize that they are in this world for a specific purpose and look to those who see the glass half full instead of half empty.

                America is a great example of an individualist country – this country is one that has, “an ‘I’ consciousness [and] competition, not cooperation, is encouraged” (Rothwell). This could be part of why so many individuals are so self-obsessed and driven to work solely for themselves and not appreciate their existence in the world. There are an overwhelming number of people who are used to having an excess of everything from food to shoes, and if they are lucky, even cars. They are also the ones who are unhappy and unsatisfied with their lives because they feel as if they never have enough of whatever material thing they desire. Many of these individuals could not fathom what life would be like without multiple servings of food, multiple shoes of the same color, and multiple cars that are able to go from zero to sixty in five seconds.

                Although the United States is going through some trouble economically it is still considered the most powerful country in the world. Third world countries, however, experience things much differently than the western hemisphere. While several people sleep in a nice, comfortable bed every night, “an estimated 150, 000 refugees from Myanmar are currently in camps across the border in Thailand” (Aljazeera.net). Many of these families have children as young as four who have to walk long distances in order to get to their school – across the town dump. It is often times hard enough to walk with a rancid stench in the air, but to be forced to live next to a place where there is filth everywhere would be extremely difficult to deal with. Even still, the people of Myanmar do it daily. The people of America cannot see themselves working for less than eight dollars an hour, yet there are kids in underdeveloped countries who scavenge around in dumps just to make a measly sixty five cents a day. If more people were aware of the struggle that these children go through they would have a better time seeing the brighter side of many of their own situations.

                While children from Myanmar go through obstacles that are sometimes life threatening, there is still a plethora of people who are religiously pessimistic and unwilling to appreciate the life that they live. Such people have many options that will help them with having a positive outlook on life; though it can often times be tricky to find ways to start. People with traits such as, “courage, future mindedness, interpersonal skill, optimism, faith, hope, honesty, perseverance, and work ethic…tend to be more successful and happier in life” (personaldevelopment.com). No matter what type of situation a person may be in, positive thinking is key for them to become content with the way their life will be shaped. Being aware of one’s surroundings could also play a part in obtaining a sweet disposition. If more people were culturally knowledgeable of the world around them they would be able to appreciate everything that they have.

                One of the things that kept the children of Myanmar who attend the Blue Sky School in high spirits was a clown that came to visit one of the schools near the dump. Something as simple as a clown making an inflatable balloon dog brings such joy to these kids. On the other hand, kids from wealthier nations would roll their eyes because it is something so elementary and would not appreciate such a simple pleasure. The kids from the school come across things that would leave many unknowing people in despair, but their laughter is one of the things that keep their hopes up for a change in their life. People who are often times stressed out could learn a lot from these children; when people laugh, muscles are stretched throughout the face and body, the pulse and blood pressure go up, and breathing gets faster, which sends more oxygen to the tissues of the body” (cbsnews). It was even reported that a man named Norman Cousins laughed his way from ankylosing spondylitis, a deathly disease of the spine, by watching an endless amount of comedy films! Cousins was originally given six months to live checked himself out of the hospital that he was in and into a hotel and watched Marx Brothers movies and Candid Camera episodes. Norman Cousins ended up adding twenty six years to his life, which proves that it pays off to be positive (nutritionresearchcenter.org).

http://english.aljazeera.net/video/asia-pacific/2010/09/20109563511757498.html

http://personaldevelopment.suite101.com/article.cfm/maintaining-a-positive-attitude-in-life

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/04/07/health/webmd/main1481492.shtml

http://www.nutritionresearchcenter.org/healthnews/can-laughing-your-ass-off-heal-you/