This research experiment was held in 2012 based on sleep problems and amount of income one makes. It was found that adults in low-income areas experience sleep problems. Such a problem is due to how much one has to work to have enough money to provide for themselves as well as their family. It is a very formal and extensive experiment that observed participants over a couple of years. The abstract of the paper provides information that the average public can connect to and understand without having to think much about the diction. While in the actual study itself, the words and explanations become more extensive and connect a lot with other scientists who may be in the same field. It showed that although stress if found throughout all income ranges, the ones who suffered the most were those who basically had to worry about when their next pay check was going to be, leaving them tossing and turning throughout the night. The idea of the type of mattress wasn’t truly mentioned in the paper, raising questions whether or not this could also be a cause of sleeping problems in low-come families. There were well informed tables and graphs to provide a visual of the data collected and helped the reader fully understand the difference in numbers between the wealthy and poor and their relate sleep problems.

Citation: Stranges, S., Tigbe, W., Gómez-Olivé, F. X., Thorogood, M., & Kandala, N.-B. (2012). Sleep Problems: An Emerging Global Epidemic? Findings From the INDEPTH WHO-SAGE Study Among More Than 40,000 Older Adults From 8 Countries Across Africa and Asia. Retrieved October 20, 2016, from Sleep: A publication of the sleep research society.

-Racheal C.

In the article, Chris Thomson is able to bring the reader back into their own memories as a child and how strange and terrifying it was to think there was a monster lying quietly beneath their bed while their parents closed the door softly behind them. He brings in a quick history about where the monster most likely first appeared, through the bogeyman. He goes through different variations of this bogeyman such as the Sack Man who captures children in many Latin cultures. He brings up the question of why children are afraid of what’s not there. In reality, being afraid of the unknown is ingrained into every being’s conscience. The fear “comes from a lack of understanding of the world around them and their quickly-expanding imagination.” This article is good in depicting the culture that revolves around mattresses and shows how ironic a bed could actually be. Though it’s made for comfort and sleep, people almost become afraid of it when it comes time to actually fall asleep amongst the folds. A question that could be brought through after reading the writing would be how long this fear stays with a person. One never really think about elders being afraid of the dark, but there very well could be that fear, entrenched since childhood, lurking in the back of one’s mind, the itch one feels when they think they’re being watched. Could this fear be avoided? Or is it, in reality, a fear one is born with, regardless hearing stories being told?

Citation: Thomson, C. (2016, March 16). The History Of That Monster Who Lives Under Your Bed. Retrieved November 9, 2016, from Dreams.

-Racheal C

This article depicts the epidemic that happened and may still be happening in China, published in 2006. Chinese workers were being worked to extremes that bureaus began providing their workers with mattresses so they can stay at the office to continue their tasks. Because the employees were being paid so low, they took the offer and ended up killing themselves as they pushed their bodies too hard for extended periods of time. Geoffrey York brings up how only until the death of a former athlete had succumbed to such fate. Through York’s writing, he provides a sense of urgency but also an unbiased stance, relaying information the public needs to realize the problem, but not pushing the reader to accept a certain side. Though there was an outrage in the country, it seemed as though the government did nothing to help the problem. Should the government be more involved in how much companies should be paying their workers? This article also shows a bit of the culture surrounding the mattress. That a mattress is no more than just something soft to sleep on for a couple minutes and they don’t really think about what the body does while it is sleeping. And that although having a mattress can be helpful in providing a better sleep, only taking quick naps will not provide the body enough time to recover from the daily exertions of everyday life.

Citation: York, G. (2006, August 22). China’s ‘mattress culture’ takes sometimes fatal toll on employees. Retrieved November 14, 2016

-Racheal C

Edited Sentences: (some were part of the works cited page and quotes)

Recurrence:

Says/states = 0

-ism = 1

-ize = 2

-ity = 7

“this” = 10

-tion = 22

“it” = 24

“that” = 31

“is” = 44

-ly = 45

Corrections:

• “this”
  • Although not all beds are made in this such a fashion…
• -tion
  • Processing studied material will also not processes information cannot be performed correctly when robbed of without the proper amount of rest.
  • Although a bed serves mainly  one function primarily performs one role…
  • …some corporations firms have turned to slave labor…
• “it”
  • …all the information it received throughout the day.
  • While it is quite easy to create, buy, and consume a product creating, buying, and consuming a product is easy…
  • Although it fully depends how the user feels while sleeping on their mattress matters greatly…
  • as one heads off to bed it is due to the dark…
  • Although it the fairytale has been modified with variations overtime…
• “that”
  • Without a mattress that one is comfortable on comfortable mattress…
  • Thus, it shows that humans as a whole are continuously becoming smarter…
• “is”
  • Without correct sleep, the brain is not able to cannot expand and covert…
  • …dark making one’s and vision is quite poor.
  • A specific, recyclable protein that is recycled is called the amyloid plaque which accumulates outside nerve cells…
  • If she is to feel feels the small, spherical legume…
• -ly
  • …by way of materials becoming increasinly ever more available.
  • …modified to fit almost exactly like a dream…
  • …beds are usually recommended to be replaced after about seven years of use.

Continue reading “Edited Sentences”

Introductory Paragraph: Original

Beds are very important in one’s life. They provide a space for comfort, relaxation, and especially recuperation of the body after a long day. Throughout history, beds were made primarily through the gathering of leaves and undergrowth, providing some warmth and well-being from the hard, compact earth beneath. As time continued, beds began to become more as a symbol of status. Beds used to be very simple, but through modern technology and research, the bed has become even more of a luxury and modified to provide the best sleep as possible. In third world countries, access to beds such as those in first world countries is not easy. Although beds serve a purpose for comfort, there are many tales and legends about monsters hiding under that same bed. Stories have been shared for thousands of years and such stories can elicit fear and misunderstanding when one is young, morphing into distress of something that is not there as one is older; such as a monster under the bed. Once one is alone in a dark room, their own imagination can run wild bringing about the fear prompted during childhood once again. Beds will always provide the same purpose of comfort, but once the mind goes a drift, the dark spaces a bed can create become something to fear. This fear could also be brought as a metaphor on an economical level. Beds are always thought of as something comfortable, but the materials and work to make such technology can be quite harsh to the environment. Over production of mattresses, from different styles to different hardness and abilities are at times created to specific to a body type that they end up being thrown out after only a couple months use. Mattresses could last a decade or more, but there are some people who buy them frequently thus resulting in unnecessary discarding of mattresses which can take fifty years or more to decompose. While sleep is an important aspect to a healthy mind, the manufacturing of mattresses are starting to go overboard. There does not need to be such a grand variety of latex rectangles when a large majority of these single consumer target beds are adding more pollution to the atmosphere than necessary.

Introductory Paragraph: Revised

After a stressful nine-hour work day, the first thought that pops into one’s mind is to plop themselves down onto a comforting bed, easing away the stress and worry in a welcoming, plush warm hug. Throughout history, beds were made primarily through the gathering of leaves and undergrowth, providing warmth and well-being from the hard, compact earth beneath, as well as safety through the harsh winters. As time continued, beds began to morph towards a symbol of status rather than a survival tool by way of more materials becoming increasingly available. Beds used to be very simple, but through modern technology and research, the bed has become even more of a luxury and modified to provide the best sleep possible. Although beds serve a purpose for relief, there are many tales and legends about monsters hiding under that same bed causing unnecessary fright. Stories have been shared for thousands of years and such stories can elicit fear and misunderstanding when one is young. These fears can alter into distress from a presence that is not there; such as a cunning beast with stone like claws, as thick as one’s wrist, looming silently beneath the supple beddings. Once one is alone in a dark room, even as an adult, their own imagination can run wild. Bringing about the fear prompted during childhood once again. Beds will always provide the same purpose of comfort, but once the mind goes a drift, the dark spaces a bed can create become something to fear. This fear could also be brought as a metaphor on an economical level. Beds are always thought of as something comfortable, but the materials and work to make such technology can be quite harsh to the environment. Over production of mattresses, from different styles to different hardness and abilities are at times created to a specific body type. Because of this, not many of those beds are sold and the excess is tossed gallantly into a never-ending pile of waste; with a belief that they are now in a black hole, not in need of another thought. Mattresses could last a decade or more, but there are some people who buy them frequently. Thus, an unnecessary amount of mattress are discarded and rarely recycled as the majority of the material is synthetic latex which can take fifty years or more to decompose. While sleep is an important aspect to a healthy mind, the manufacturing of mattresses are starting to go overboard. There does not need to be such a grand variety of latex rectangles when a large majority of these single consumer target beds are adding more pollution to the atmosphere than necessary.

-Racheal Cortner

Tone and Structure

Through descriptions and diction of well-known but not informal words, such as “oddball” or “tease apart”, add to the tone of the papers provided. There is a lighter feel that engages the readers into what they’re reading, and by providing questions in the articles as well to the audience, further pulls them into wanting to find the answers along with the author. Providing small anecdotes contribute to hearing the author’s personality through the words. In “Why The U.S Chills Its Eggs And Most Of The World Doesn’t” the author, Rae Ellen Bichell, includes various countries into her article and relates them into groups about who does or who doesn’t feel “squeamish about our chicken eggs”. By doing as such, she is able to compare and contrast culture into why some countries, mainly in North America, prefer white eggs to brown while Europe prefers brow to white eggs. This could mainly be due to the fact that “[i]n North America, we like to have everything superclean”. Thus, white is usually associated to being clean, having a bleached, pristine feel, compared to brown which can be associated with dirt or being stained, a thought that is almost subconscious. In the article about the wooden spoon. The author brings in a lot of imagery and relatable stories in his descriptions, almost audible, “The hard metal angles smash your carefully diced vegetables and the handle does not grip so companionably as you stir it. It clanks disagreeably, in contrast to the gentle tapping of wood.” Through these descriptions, the reader could share mutual thoughts with the author as they continue to read along.

-Racheal Cortner

In-class discussion:

Through the manual “Health and Safety Guide for Metal Furniture and Mattress Manufacturers” provided by the Public Health Service, one will be able to utilize the conducts to display the dangers workers are put through every day as well as what the manufacturing business expels into the atmosphere through the products being manufactured as well as the products being used to keep the factory running smoothly.

Another source is an extension bulletin titled “Better Buying: Springs and Mattresses” by Alice Sundquist describes the importance of bed comfort. But because everyone is searching for the greatest possible luxury, companies make hundreds of bed and mattress styles. Although, not everyone needs such specific beds, thus a lot of the products created are wasted and thrown away, hurting the environment further. Companies wish to squeeze as much money out of the consumers as they can.

Questions:

1. Based on the second book mentioned, what percent of consumers know this fact and how do they react to it?
2. Where do mattresses go once they are thrown out?

Thesis:

While sleep is an important aspect to a healthy mind, the manufacturing of mattresses are starting to go overboard. There does not need to be such a grand variety of latex rectangles when a large majority of these single consumer target beds are adding more pollution to the atmosphere than necessary.

-Racheal Cortner

Sourcemap – Mattress:

http://open.sourcemap.com/maps/57d40fe3e02bfdc86a4f7d66

According to Sourcemap, Slovenska prostelja mattresses, a small company that produces Slovenian Mattresses, imports their latex materials from two different countries. From Bulgaria and Czech Republic, 80% of latex imported is synthetic leaving only 20% to be natural. Bed springs are then imported from Croatia with fabrics being provided by Italy. Although not all beds are made in this fashion, it will be very difficult to find a bed that is more natural compared to synthetic, even though latex is practically a new material, having been invented in 1920. Because of the boom in latex consumerism and production, some corporations have turned to slave labor to gain maximum revenue while spending as little as possible. Making beds with more local material will give those in the area with more jobs and can reduce the amount of pollution due to shipping. Although it is good importing allows jobs elsewhere, supporting one’s own economy will help enhance their own people. With beds being made with more synthetic latex instead of natural latex, which is a product made by plants, being able to recycle or dispose of the mattress will be quite difficult. Is synthetic material more comfortable to sleep on? Or is it mainly just for cost? And does using synthetic material allow less plants to be harvested and destroyed? Or will using less natural material in the product be more detrimental in the long run?

Racheal Cortner

Why Sleep is Precious for Staying Sharp:

http://www.aarp.org/health/brain-health/info-2014/sleep-for-brain-health.html

In this article, the discussion on sleep deprivation and staying smart is compared. If sleep deprivation is a continuous reoccurrence for someone, they will be more prone to early Alzheimer’s and cognitive decline. By having a good sleep, the brain will be given time to flush out toxins and process the information accumulated throughout the day. By using the correct sleeping habits and the right mattress to give the best bodily support, the appropriate amount of sleep can be achieved. It is important to keep up a sleeping schedule. Even if there is one day where there is a late night or early morning, the time scheduled on being awake should be kept up. Sleeping in the next day or sleeping early later on in the day will not give one caught up sleep and will disrupt the sleeping cycle even more and could possibly make it even harder to sleep or wake the next night. But there are some instances where too much sleep will make one even more tired, and sleeping for only a couple hours could make one feel energized. Why is this the case? How does one know they have had enough sleep? There have been tests that were conducted that had people who thought they adapted to sleeping only a few hours a night ended up not functioning optimally through the testing. Understanding what one’s body needs and sticking to a schedule is important for brain development and overall daily function.

Racheal Cortner

Old Mattresses:

http://www.scpr.org/programs/offramp/2013/08/09/33173/where-do-old-mattresses-go-when-they-die/

Discussed in the article is where old mattress go once they are not in need anymore. The article is fairly positive and explains that there are parts of the mattress that gets striped and recycled while the rest of the mattress is disposed of. Some companies “bake” their mattresses to kill any bacteria so the mattress itself can be used again. Although this is a good alternative to just disposing of the mattress all together, it uses a lot of energy as the ovens are on almost constantly, emitting a lot of carbon into the air. Beds should instead be made from materials that can be easily decomposed and absorbed back into the earth. Similar to some cups being made of corn material instead of plastic. Many mattresses are disposed of when they’re in use for just a short amount of time. This is quite wasteful, especially if that mattress is then quickly burned. Being able to rebuild mattresses instead of just destroying them will also allow more jobs. Although, with this, those who have a business of making mattresses will begin to lose revenue as well, so there needs to be a good balance between creating and recycling mattresses, or companies need to have a business that can do both or even merge. By doing as such, less waste and pollution will be released into the atmosphere. But why hasn’t the idea of creating a more sustainable mattress been thoroughly thought about. There are some people that switch their mattresses every few years, while there are others that rarely, if ever, get a new mattress at all. Mattresses are quite a large product, so creating something at such size which can’t be recycled easily is going to add to the ever-growing waste problem.

Racheal Cortner