According to “Turn Off, Tune Out, Turn In” by Marissa Lang and “Homeroom Zombies” by Dr. Lawrence Epstein, teens aren’t getting enough sleep, leaving them sleep deprived. Lang does a better job of supporting her argument in the article “Turn Off, Tune Out, Turn In” by including real-life examples, using complex vocabulary, and supporting her evidence with credible sources.
One technique that Lang uses to support her argument is including real-life examples in her article. She uses quotes and personal examples from two teenagers: Mikaela Espinoza, 17, and Marvin Green, 19. This helps the intended audience, the teenage reader, relate because the two subjects used are teenagers. Their stories are a critical part of supporting the argument that sleep deprivation causes health problems among teens. Epstein does not use any real-life examples in his article. Without a concrete example of what can happen to teens who are sleep deprived, the reader is left to guess what health problems can come from lack of sleep. We learn lessons and personalize information when we hear first-hand knowledge about a subject.
Not only does Lang use real-life examples in her article, “Turn Off, Tune Out, Turn In” she also uses more complex vocabulary solidifying her argument. Words such as enigma, detrimental, and misconstrued are scattered throughout the article, grabbing the reader’s attention. In the first paragraph of Dr. Epstein’s article “Homeroom Zombies” words such as bleary and narcolepsy are used. He uses more sleep-specific vocabulary which limits the reader to learning only sleep-specific words. A broader vocabulary makes for a more well-rounded article. The flaws in Epstein’s article are evident and continue to build.
Last but not least, “Turn Off, Tune Out, Turn In” by Marissa Lang is filled with evidence taken from credible sources. Sources such as the National Sleep Foundation, and accredited medical doctors strengthen the article’s argument. By using these types of sources, Lang’s article becomes more trustworthy and believable than Epstein’s article. Dr. Lawrence Epstein’s article “Homeroom Zombies” does not use evidence that is supported by credible sources. Most of the information in the article is paraphrased and not research-based. The lack of reliable sources weakens Epstein’s argument.
It is safe to say that the article that best supports the argument that teens are sleep deprived is “Turn Off, Tune Out, Turn In” by Marissa Lang. She gives the reader something to relate to by including real-life examples, her complex vocabulary challenges the reader, and her evidence is solid because of the use of credible sources. It would be obsurd to say “Homeroom Zombies” by Dr. Lawrence Epstein does a better job of arguing his point; his techniques are not as effective as Lang’s.