Bazos 1

Alexis Bazos
Dr. Erin McLaughlin
Multimedia Writing & Rhetoric
9 November 2016
Annotated Bibliography
Abstract
I am writing this research paper to help provide busy college students with the facts about their
caffeine intake. I think it is important that students begin to look at the costs associated with
using caffeine to temporarily alleviate fatigue. On most, if not all, college campuses, students
walk around like lifeless zombies just trying to make it through their days on five hours of sleep.
I personally relate to this topic because I have witnessed the effects of getting not enough sleep.
I have also witnessed students drink over six cups of coffee a day in an effort to keep themselves
awake. I hope to educate the American college student so that he or she can make smart
decisions when it comes to caffeine intake. Growing up in America, students are taught from the
very beginning that drugs are harmful. Street drugs are heavily regulated and drug usage is
frowned upon by adults and even peers. Somehow caffeine, a powerful and addicting drug, is
not mentioned in these lectures. I believe this paper will provide students with the valuable
information that should have been introduced long ago by administrators, parents, and peers.
"Caffeine: The Silent Killer of Success." Forbes. Forbes Magazine, n.d. Web. 25 Oct. 2016.
This article, written by Forbes contributor Travis Bradberry (a PhD. in clinical and
industrial-organizational psychology), focuses on the negatives associated with caffeine
intake. Bradberry reaches out to the average working American in an attempt to expose
them to the downfall of their daily coffee habit. The argument here is that caffeine
impacts emotional intelligence because the effects of caffeine withdrawl have a larger
impact on an individual than do the benefits of consuming the drug. The article is not
written in a demeaning fashion, as Bradberry focuses more on the opportunity for one to
improve, rather than the damage already done. I think this attitude will be helpful for me
to adopt when writing my paper, as college students will be more interested in a paper
regarding how to better their lives, rather than a scolding from an unknown peer. This
source will tie in nicely with other sources that list negatives, and I will be able to crosscheck these similar sources for accuracy and credibility.
Sparks, Sarah D. "School Nutrition; 'Adolescent Attitudes and Beliefs Regarding Caffeine and
the Consumption of Caffeinated Beverages'." Education Week, March 16, 2016, 5.
Sparks, a reporter for Education Week, shares with readers the common attitudes held by
adolescents regarding caffeine. She attempts to educate both adults and the youth

Bazos 2

population about how caffeine intake has become glorified. Her report is based on a
study conducted by Brescia University which included 166 students, primarily in grades
9 and 10 (Sparks). The study found that students were drinking caffeine in an effort to
help them study, and to help them feel more adult. The behaviour is encouraged as it is
commonly accepted as a grown up way to accomplish more work in a given timeframe.
Sparks also a quote from Brescia Universitys researcher Danielle Battram who states,
caffeine is the only psychoactive drug that is both legal and generally socially acceptable
for children to use casually (Sparks). This source will help me show how a young mind
develops with the belief that coffee is the key to success. I will likely open with a
paragraph on this idea, and then follow up with an article such as Caffeine: The Silent
Killer of Success. This source will go along with the question of why caffeine is not
included as a potentially harmful drug.
Driedger, Sharon Doyle. "A regular jolt of java: high caffeine intake is a big concern."
Maclean's, 27 Oct. 1997, p. 60. Opposing Viewpoints in Context
In this source, Driedger (a former senior writer for Macleans magazine) opens by
addressing the merits of caffeine intake. Driedger addresses the heavy coffee drinker, and
focuses less on those who might drink a couple of caffeinated drinks a week. She
includes that a recent survey in Ontario showed that low doses of caffeine can improve an
athletes performance (Driedger). She also mentions that possible benefits may include
an increase in the rate of calorie burn, a boost in energy, and improvement of memory
(Driedger). From there, she goes into the downfalls of caffeine use. These negatives
revolve around the fact that caffeine is addictive. Heavy users experience increased
anxiety, nervousness, stress, and difficulty sleeping (Driedger). Driedger closes with
offering advice to readers. Nutrition author Dr. Andrew Weil suggests that coffee
drinkers incorporate some tea in their daily routine, in exchange for the coffee (Driedger).
I think this will be useful for me because I hope to propose easy solutions to college
students toward the end of my paper. Realistically, college students are not going to
completely eradicate caffeine from their diets. However, if I can suggest some minor
changes to ones routine, I might be able to make an impact.
Carpenter, Murray. Caffeinated How Our Daily Habit Helps, Hooks and Hurts Us. NY, NY:
Hudson Street, 2014. Print.
In this book, Carpenter (who holds a masters degree in science and environmental
studies from the University of Montana) exploits both the argument surrounding caffeine,
as well as the increased role caffeine plays in American culture. The book addresses the
working American, but also provides some global input on the topic. One of the chapters
in this book opens with this quote: Consider this statement: A chemical substance
which stimulates brain, nerves, and muscles, is a daily necessity and is used by every

Bazos 3

single nation (Murray, 147). This is an alarming statement that should spark readers
concern. I will relate this back to how we, as a nation, have been so focused on
eradicating drugs and educating our youth on the effects of alcohol and marijuana, yet we
repeatedly fail to to mention the risks of consuming this highly addictive substance. I am
also particularly interested in Chapter 12, entitled Insomnia, Anxiety and Panic. This
chapter addresses the side effects of caffeine use, and I have a feeling that these side
effects will apply directly to the average college students life. I will use information
from this chapter to build my case against caffeine later in my research paper.
Latarsha Gatlin / Published Oct 23, 2016. "Caffeine Has Positive Effect on Memory, Johns
Hopkins Researchers Say." The Hub. N.p., 12 Jan. 2014. Web. 25 Oct. 2016.
This article, written by Johns Hopkins University author Latarsha Gatlin, explains
findings of a study regarding the correlation between caffeine intake and memory.
Michael Yassa, an assistant professor of psychological and brain sciences at Johns
Hopkins, and his team of scientists found that caffeine has a positive effect on our longterm memory (Gatlin). The claim was proven through an experimental study, which was
the first of its kind. A source such as this could be useful to me when introducing a
counterargument. I plan to touch upon the possible benefits of caffeine intake, but then
take readers back to the overall argument of why the negatives would outweigh the
positives. The article also contains useful facts, such as According to the U.S. Food and
Drug Administration, 90 percent of people worldwide consume caffeine in one form or
another. Facts like this can be used anywhere in my paper, but will be particularly
useful in setting up my argument.
"Caffeine and College, Do They Go Hand in Hand?" UC Davis Health and Counseling Services.
N.p., n.d. Web. 02 Nov. 2016.
This article on UC Davis website, briefly informs students on the effects of their caffeine
intake. The school targets their own students, and begins with acknowledging that
caffeine use is overly prominent on campus. The lack of dangerous side effects and the
increased cognitive boost caffeine provides can be enticing (Caffeine and College).
This speaks to the general attitude of the majority of college students, which will be
important for me to include in my introductory paragraphs. UC Davis Health Services
follows this up by disclaiming popular myths regarding caffeine. The article closes with
possible solutions for college students looking to optimize their caffeine use. I will look
more into this section as I wrap up my research paper, as I would like to briefly touch
upon a few tips for living a healthier lifestyle. Once I inform readers of the dangers of
their habits, I feel that I should include some suggestions for change before I conclude
my paper.