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Dustin Fuller
Chris Tomlinson
Honors English I
18 May 2010
Caffeine, Can It Drive You Crazy?
Many often say that caffeine is bad for people, can cause a short burst of energy,
jitteriness and then a sudden lack of energy. Energy drinks are a prime example of this;
any semi frequent drinker of energy drinks will know that they can cause an occasional
crash. And any regular drinker of energy drinks especially knows this feeling, for
example Kenny, a typical high school senior, stops by Casey’s General Store every
morning on his way to school and buys a monster energy drink, one of their many
available energy drinks. During an average day Kenny will come to school very alert
and ready to learn, this could be credited to his daily dose of energy, but by lunch he is
feeling the crash and gets his feeling of senioritis and just wants to leave school and go
home.
Caffeine is also an important part of many breakfasts due to its ability to
stimulate the central nervous system and increase alertness and focus (Brown). But do
people ever wonder if they drink caffeine out of habitual daily habits or because it’s
addictive? People need to cut back on caffeine intake because of its effects on heart
rate and blood pressure, its addictiveness, and the effects of lack of caffeine after
habitual intake.
Caffeine is said to have a negative effect on heart rate and blood pressure,
helping contribute to the jitteriness. According to research done through a controlled
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experiment, caffeine showed to increase heart rate in an individual four hours after
consumption (Belza, Toubro and Astrup). This gave solid proof to the reasoning that
caffeine is bad for a person’s heart rate.
In the same experiment an increase in blood pressure was also noted at the
same time after consumption of caffeine. This gives concrete proof to the fact that
caffeine has a negative effect on blood pressure.
It is also believed that caffeine can cause a feeling of jitteriness or make the
drinker feel shaky. The intake of caffeine will cause the heart to race, also known as
increased heart rate (Grimes). When the heart is racing this will give a person the
shaky, jittery feeling many get from caffeine.
On many accounts caffeine has been called an addictive drug. As with any
addictive drug, the addictiveness will cause the body to feel a need for more caffeine
(Satel 495). The body will suffer until the caffeine needs are met, no matter how
extreme the needs are. But as with many addictive drugs the human body can form a
tolerance to some of the side effects of it. In caffeine a tolerance will usually be formed
to the negative, undesirable side effects such as the jitteriness, but a tolerance will not
be formed to the desired effects such as, wakefulness and alertness (Satel 495). This is
what makes caffeine seem to be a wanted and desired substance causing it to be even
easier to become addicted to.
Mood changes have also been noted in caffeine consumers. After an extended
period of time the habitual intake of caffeine will cause people to suffer mood alterations
(Ping). This is one way the human body will suffer from the lack of caffeine after
becoming addicted. Homeostasis is known as the physical need for a substance, this
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can happen after a long period of time of habitual consumption of caffeine; this is a key
sign of addictiveness (Satel 496).Once the human body is feeling the need for
homeostasis the consumer is obviously addicted.
The effects of lack of caffeine can also be heart wrenching. The lack of any
addictive substance can lead to withdrawals; a withdrawal occurs when the dose of a
drug is cut-off from the body (Satel 495). Withdrawals can be hard on the human body,
causing much mental and physical pain and complications to a person.
There are many side effects to a caffeine withdrawal including headache,
irritability, and lethargy. Being cut-off from only a small daily dose of caffeine can invoke
the symptoms of a withdrawal, the symptoms can be noticed twelve to twenty-four hours
after being cut-off from the caffeine, and will reach a peak in notice ability and
harmfulness twenty to forty-eight hours after first being noticed (Satel 495). The more
caffeine a person’s body is accustomed too, the more intense withdrawal symptoms will
be (Grimes). Withdrawal symptoms can have a negative effect on both the personal and
professional lives of the addict.
One of the only ways to revoke the symptoms of a caffeine withdrawal is to
ingest the appropriate amount of caffeine for the body’s needs (Satel 495). One of the
easiest ways to break the addiction to caffeine is to gradually reduce the daily dose and
slowly break the body of its needs (Grimes). This would make breaking the addiction to
caffeine a difficult and miserable process for anyone.
Caffeine can cause an increase in heart rate and blood pressure, cause people
to become addicted, and have negative effects on the human body. Those are some
reasons people need to reduce their caffeine intake. So next time someone takes their
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daily coffee break or drinks their daily soda they may think to themselves if they actually
need the caffeine or if they are addicted.
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Works Cited
Belza, A., S. Toubro, and A. Astrup. “The Effects of Caffeine, Green Tea, and Tyrosine
on Thermogenis and Energy Intake.” European Journal of Clinical Nutrition 63.1 (2009):
57-64. Academic Search Elite. Web. 9 May 2010. <http://search.ebscohost.com/
login.aspx?direct=true&db=afh&AN=35951042&site=ehost-live>.
Brown, Jordana. “Caffeine Confussion.” Joe Weider’s Muscle and Fitness Jan. 2007:
124-130. Health Source - Consumer Edition. Web. 7 May 2010.
<http://search.ebscohost.com/
login.aspx?direct=true&db=hxh&AN=23336918&site=ehost-live>.
Grimes, Karlyn. “The Coffee Craze.” American Cheerleader Apr. 2006: 107-109.
MasterFILE Premier. Web. 7 May 2010. <http://search.ebscohost.com/
login.aspx?direct=true&db=f5h&AN=20036002&site=ehost-live>.
Ping, Tina. “A Summer Caffeine Rush.” Newsweek 18 Aug. 2008: 63. MAS Ultra School Edition. Web. 7 May 2010. <http://search.ebscohost.com/
login.aspx?direct=true&db=ulh&AN=33725616&site=ehost-live>.
Satel, Sally. “Is Caffeine Addictive?-A Review of the Literature.” American Journal of
Drug & Alcohol Abuse 32.4 (2006): 493-502. Academic Search Elite. Web. 9 May 2010.
<http://search.ebscohost.com/
login.aspx?direct=true&db=afh&AN=23219825&site=ehost-live>.
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Research Paper Rubric
0
Works Cited
page
ALL OR
NOTHING
SCORE
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5
6 7 8
9
10
Citations are in alphabetical order.
Entire page is double spaced.
Annotations are deleted.
Page has no hyperlinks.
Second line of citation (and subsequent lines) is indented.
Databases and pictures are properly cited.
Author or title of article/webpage (99% of the time) starts the citation.
Works cited page is on the last page of paper; it is not a separate document nor does it start half way
down the page (used a hard page break).
Correct
Format
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ALL OR
NOTHING
SCORE
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1” margins
Running header and page
number is correct
Title page correct

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12 point readable font
Internal title is correct
Double spaced
Thesis
Statement
Not defined, not evident
A little bit slippery, doesn’t quite do
the job it’s supposed to do. Missing
one of the elements.
Introduction
Intro doesn’t introduce, rambles or
otherwise detracts from the intent
of the paper.
Intro is acceptable, however, isn’t as
defined or punchy as possible.
Conclusion
Leaves the reader hanging,
introduces a new thought, or
otherwise violates dictates
Merely restates thesis without
thought to “going further”. Although
not bad, is ineffective in that the
reader takes little away from it.
Ends with a bang. Reader takes away
new thoughts or new outlook. Refers
back to thesis without directly stating
it. Goes further.
Source
Citation
Undocumented statements.
Consistent improper format for
documentation.
All sources (information and
graphics) are accurately
documented, but a few are not in the
desired format.
All sources (information and graphics)
are accurately documented in the
desired format.
OrganizationUnity
Information is unorganized or left
out. “Oh by the way” moments
happen with frequency.
Information is organized, but could
be more effective. Some skipping
around is done or information is left
out.
Information is very organized . Each
argument progresses into the next. No
side roads are taken. No information is
left out.
All questions have been answered.
Amount and
Quality of
Information
Information has little or nothing to
do with the main topic. One or
more topics were not addressed.
Includes no visual element.
Information clearly relates to the
main topic. It provides 1-2 supporting
details and/or examples. All topics
are addressed, and most questions
answered with 1 sentence about
each.
Information clearly relates to the main
topic. It includes several supporting
details and/or examples. All topics are
addressed and all questions answered
with at least 2 sentences about each.
Paragraph
Construction
and
Transitions—
Paragraphing structure was not
clear and sentences were not
typically related within the
paragraphs. Transitions not in
evidence.
Paragraphs included related
information but left out bits and
pieces consistently throughout the
paper. Shaky transitions.
All paragraphs include introductory
sentence, explanations or details, and
concluding sentence. Transitions used
effectively between main ideas.
Author’s
Arguments
and
Comments
Author’s arguments/ conclusions
are not evident. Little or no
evidence of the interplay between
author and source material
Author’s arguments/ conclusions
aren’t as finely drawn as could be.
Reader still has questions.
Reliance upon source material too
great/too little.
Author draws implications,
connections and insights from primary
source material. This is author’s own
thoughts supported by the research.
Clearly stated, well integrated.
Grammar,
Usage, and
Mechanics
Consideration
of Audience
9 or more mistakes in grammar,
usage, or mechanics
6-8 mistakes in grammar, usage, or
mechanics
0- 5 mistakes in grammar, usage, or
mechanics
Author has made little or no
attempt to gauge audience
knowledge. Questions
Audience knowledge is taken for
granted. Author sometimes leaves
questions unanswered. Author isn’t
Audience knowledge is considered
and specifically targeted. Technical,
difficult concepts are explained.
X2
X2
Clear, strong, and identifiable, points
reader toward conclusion, sets up the
direction of the paper. One sentence
that Is not a question or purpose
statement.
Hooks the reader from the start;
leaves no doubt as to the purpose and
direction of the paper.
X3
X3
X3
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unanswered, technical jargon
used.
quite sure of the audience.
Questions are answered. Opposing
arguments are countered.
Total out of 200