Critical Analysis Planner

I. Introduction
Source 1:
 Title of Source: The New Science of Sleep
 Author: Holly Pevzner
 Publication date: May/June 2019
 Source/Organization: Psychology Today
 Thesis/Point: Sleep gives people rest and enhances their overall productivity
 Brief summary/overview of the source:
The article explains good sleep practices. It discourages people from using screens, either
laptops, phones or televisions, at least one hour before sleeping. The light from the screen makes
one take longer before sleeping. The author asserts that adequate sleep is not only important for
optimal functioning but also aids in brain development in children. Sleep can be affected by
stress, illness, the amount of light in the bedroom, and even the quality of the mattress that one
uses. It is important to address any issue affecting the quality of sleep before things get out of
hand. The article emphasizes the importance of getting quality and adequate sleep, as this
enhances a person’s productivity and general body wellbeing.
Source 2:
 Title of Source: Radio Replay: Eyes Wide Open
 Author: Shankar Vedantam

 Publication date: September 21, 2018
 Source/Organization: National Public Radio
 Thesis/Point: Sleep is important for the optimal functioning of a human being.
 Brief summary/overview of the source:
The podcast is a personal story by Randy Gardener, of how he would experience
insomnia and some of the activities he used to engage in to remain awake. From the repeated
insomnia, he decided to go for eleven days without sleep. He had not thought through the effects
of not sleeping. He even felt sickly on day three. He however continued, and this even attracted
the media. Lack of sleep made him feel irritable. After the challenge, he slept for fourteen hours.
The podcast explains how many people find it difficult to go for extended periods without sleep.
Studies show that a person increases their chances of suffering a heart attack if they go for long
periods without sleep. It asserts that sleep is essential for the normal functioning of a human
being, and everyone should strive to get sufficient sleep at least eight hours a day.
The article relies on scientific studies to make its conclusion, and these are more credible
and reliable compared to personal experiences and opinions, as expressed in the podcast.
II. Author Credibility
 Who is the author/organization?
The article is written by Holly Pevzner, while the podcast is by Shankar Vedantam.
 What is the author’s purpose?

The purpose of Shankar Vedantam is to inform his listeners about the importance of sleep
by using Randy Gardener’s personal experience. Holly Pevzner writes to also inform her readers
about her findings from research and studies done on the science of sleep.
 Who is the intended audience?
Shankar Vedantam’s audience is listeners of National Public Radio while Holly Pevzner
writes for readers of Psychology Today.
 What are the author’s biases and/or assumptions?
Vedantam heavily relies on Randy’s experiences with insomnia. Pevzner overlooks the
fact that sometimes dreams are related to a person’s encounters during the day.
 What is the author’s worldview?
Both Shankar and Pevzner hold that sleep is important and necessary for optimal
functioning, and lack of it affects a person’s general wellbeing and productivity.
Source 1: Discuss Author Credibility:
Holly Pevzner is a writer in New York City who writes on different topics such as family
travel, nutrition, pregnancy, parenting, and health. Sleep is a health-related issue and thus falls
under her scope.
Source 2: Discuss Author Credibility:
Shankar Vedantam is an American journalist and a science correspondent for National
Public Radio. As a science correspondent, he reports on social science-related topics and on
topics related to human behaviour. He studies researches by scholars in these fields and uses
personal experiences to compile reports on his topics.

Based on the above analysis, which author is more credible?
I find Shankar Vedantam more credible. He is a science correspondent and specializes in
human behaviour and social sciences.
III. Evidence
Source 1: Discuss Evidence:
The article uses facts/statistics to support the claims. For instance, the author writes that
“The best environment won’t address intrinsic issues like sleep apnea and restless leg syndrome,”
conditions that affect 22 million and 12 million Americans, respectively. The author also quotes
works pf experts such as W. Christopher Winter, a neurologist who states that it takes ten to
twenty minutes for a person to drift off and sleep. Evidence provided relies on ethos as it quotes
experts such as Winter, whose credibility and authority in the topic cannot be questioned.
Additionally, the article relies on logos by citing facts and statistics to support the claims. For
instance, the author writes, “Alternatively, 3.1 million adults each year turn to melatonin
supplements, according to a survey by the National Center for Complementary and Integrative
Health”.
Source 2: Discuss Evidence:
The podcast relies on a testimony provided by Randy Gardener. He says, “I noticed that
in the morning, I was really nauseous. And this went on for just about the entire rest of the
experiment. And that’s when I stumbled on eating citrus. For some reason, tangerines or oranges
seemed to take nausea away”.
Based on the above analysis, which evidence is more reliable?

The evidence provided in the journal article by Holly Pevzner is more reliable. It is based
on different studies and expert opinions. The author also cites facts and statistics. She makes an
appeal to logos and ethos in presenting the claims, thus making it solid and reliable.
IV. Language
Source 1: Discuss Language:
Pevzner uses a highly emotive language, whose tone is assertive. She uses language to
lay emphasis on certain key points that she wants her audience to get from the article. For
instance, she writes, “people like you when you are rested.” This is highly convincing people to
get enough sleep so that they can be liked by their peers. She even urges the audience to let sleep
come to them. She appeals to their emotions through her choice of words, and this helps her
deliver her message. She wants her audience to improve on their sleeping habits, get adequate
sleep, and live a quality life. The tone used supports the message being delivered.
Source 2: Discuss Language:
Shankar uses a narrative language to deliver his message. The tone is candid as he
encourages Randy to open up and give as much detail as possible about how his sleep
experiment happened. The tone of the message supports the message as he ensures that the
listeners get as much detail about Randy’s experiences as possible.
Based on the above analysis, which use of language was more effective?
Pevzner’s use of language was more effective than Shankar’s. She incorporated different
elements, used facts, and provided statistics to support the claim she was making. Also, her

highly emotive language and assertive tone help her support her claim. The message is highly
relatable and easy to understand.
V. Evaluation
The podcast is very effective in making its claim. Randy Gardner’s interview explores the
important subject of the importance of sleep. Randy gives a story of how he made history by
remaining awake for eleven days. He examines how he undertook the experiment and the
challenges that he went through after the experiment. In the end, the podcast also features the
opinions of other people on sleep. Sleep neuroscientist Mathew Walker offers his expert opinion
on the importance of sleep. The audience gets to understand the importance of sleep in relation to
good health. The negative effects of staying awake for prolonged periods of time are also
explained in detail.
The journal article is also very effective in making its claim and backing the claim with
relevant evidence. The article begins with an explanation of why people need rest. The section of
why people need rest explains research that has been done over the years on the importance of
sleep. The article also explores the opinions of experts in the field of sleep neurology. Further,
the article makes various recommendations on how individuals can sleep better and, in so doing,
improve their mental health. The audience gets a glimpse of how to beat insomnia and how to
improve their lives by sleeping adequately.
The journal article is more effective compared to the podcast. The journal article covers
important topics in the area of sleep and offers robust recommendations on the subject. On the
other hand, the podcast is focused on the interview, and only a small part is dedicated to the

importance of sleep. A huge portion of the podcast describes the life of Randy Gardner, and this
makes it to be less effective compared to the journal article.