GraceDeSanctis,MarybethFair,andRoannYanes

ProfessorErinDietelMcLaughlin
Writing&Rhetoric13300
2November2015
WhatisSleep?Script
Blackscreen.Alarmclockbeeps.Screenturnstowideshotofentirecollegedormroom,lofted
bedjustvisibleontheleft.8:00amemblazonedonthescreen.Thealarmbeepsagain,anda
handreachesoutfromunderthecoversandhitssnooze.Backtoblack.Alarmbeeps,dorm
scene,time8:10am.Handreachesoutandturnsoffalarm.Slightgroan.Backtoblack.Thena
quickseriesofshotswiththetimeandthehandhittingsnooze(9:00,10:00,Year435,304AD,
etc.)
Narrator:

Everwonderwhatitsliketobeacollegestudent?Well,Illtellyou!Thetypical
collegestudentisstressedout,constantlyhungry,completelyandutterlybroke,andmost
importantly!
Voiceover:Sleepdeprivationaffects9outof10collegestudents.Ifyouhappentobethatone
studentnotaffectedbysleepdeprivation,theresa10outof10chanceyourenotdoingcollege
correctly.
Voiceover:Hoursofunnecessaryhomeworkandstudyingisoneoftheleadingcausesofsleep
deprivationincollegestudents,makingitnearlyimpossibletogettherecommended7to9
hoursofsleepeachnight.
Voiceover:Butwhoarewekidding.Collegestudentsareluckytogeteven4hoursofsleeplet
alonethe6to7hourrange.

Voiceover:Asmostcollegestudentssay:Ifyouwanttogetgoodgradesinyourclasses,sleep
isnotapriority.Infact,sleepistheenemy.Whateveryoudo,donotgiveintothetemptationof
sleep.
Interviewer(notoncamera):
Cameraisonpersongivingtestimony.
Howwelldoyousleepin
college?
Testimony1:Sleep?Whatissleep?IsthatsomethingIshouldknowformynextexam?
Interviewer(notoncamera):
Cameraisonpersongivingtestimony.
Howwelldoyousleepin
college?
Testimony2:Definesleep.
Longpause.
Noactually.Idontknowwhatthatis.
Looks
aroundconfused.
Interviewer(notoncamera):
Cameraisonpersongivingtestimony.
Tellusaboutyoursleeping
habitsincollege.
Testimony3:WellIhaventsleptin5days,butImtotallyfine.Whoneedssleepanyways?
Sleepisfortheweak.
Eyetwitchesashe/shesipsacanofRedbull.Camerazoomsouttosee
personissurroundedbyemptyRedbullcans.
Testimony4:Onetime,Ifellasleepfor3hourswhilestudyingformycalculusmidterm.I
endedupgettinga65%onthetest,confirmingmytheorythatsleepequalsbadgrades.
ExpertTestimony:Itisrecommendedthatyoungadultsreceive7to9hoursofsleepeach
night
burstsoutlaughing
butthatiscompletelyunrealistic.IwaspremedincollegesoInever
slept,butIstillbecameadoctorandnowIstilldontsleep.Dontevengetmestartedonmedical
school.

ProfessorSmith:Ifstudentsmanagedtheirtimemoreeffectively,theywouldbeabletogeta
goodnightssleep.Sleeping8hoursadayisattainable.
Student:Sure,Iget8hoursasleepeachnight.Ijusthideinthelibraryalldayandcutoff
contactwiththeoutsideworld.Like,whoneedsasociallifeanyways?
Uneasilylaughs.
Imean,
sheismyfriend,isntthatright?
BackgroundGirl:
Looksupwithadisgustedlook.
Iveneverseenyouadayinmylife.
Student:Shesakidder,haha
Speaker:(Tellsabouthowmuchsleepcollegestudentsactuallygeteachday,showyearly
projection,discusssideeffectsandriskfactorsofsleepdeprivation)
Slowpanoverpreviousstudentdoingworkwithredbull,fallingasleepatterribletimes,instyle
ofthemedicationadswhentheyneedsomethingonthescreenwhilediscussingthesideeffects
oftheirmiracledrug)
Voiceover:(lowvoice,quickly)Severesleepdeprivationcanleadtoproblemswithmood,such
asirritabilityoranxiety,performance,suchasdecreasedenergyorslowerreactiontimes,and
health,suchasanincreasedriskofheartattacksanddiabetes.Oneinfiveadultssufferfrom
sleepdeprivation.
Speaker:Ifyouoralovedoneissufferingfromsleepdeprivation,dontworry.Theresnothing
youcanreallydoaboutit.Sowritethatfivepagephilosophypaperinonenight,cramforthat
physicsexam.Andalwaysremember:sleepisimportant,butnotnearlyasimportantasyour
grades!
SipsaRedbull.