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You Will Also Need To Look Back The "Race To The Top" and "17 Scientifically Proven Ways To Study Better" Articles
You Will Also Need To Look Back The "Race To The Top" and "17 Scientifically Proven Ways To Study Better" Articles
INSTRUCTIONS: After reading “Buying a Boost” and watching the video “Real-life Limitless Pill,”
answer the following questions substantively. The answers do not have to be long, but they do have to
You will also need to look back the “Race to the Top” and “17 Scientifically Proven Ways to Study
Better” articles.
1a) Compare and contrast the type of information that is used in “Race to the Top” and “Buying a
Boost.”
Buying a Boost and Race to the Top, both contain information about the trending “smart drugs” or
nootropics, mainly Adderall and Modafinil. Buying a Boost focuses more on the side effects of Adderall
and discusses how nootropics can result into psychological side effects such as depression. The article
also talks about Modafinil as an addiction-less and safe alternative to Adderall and other nootropics. The
article suggests that natural nutrients like vitamins are more effective in long term for enhancing the
cognitive abilities due to no side effects. On the other hand, Race to the Top considers nootropics (and
especially Modafinil) as cognitive enhancers and emphasizes that this modern bio-technology must not
be labeled as harmful. Although prescribed use is necessary, these cognitive enhancers are important for
1b) Which article do you think demonstrates (more) bias? Or, alternatively, which article do you
think is more objective? Why? (Hint: consider not only the information but who the writers are
Race to the top demonstrates more bias and is more objective as the author excessively used the word
“I” in the arguments and mostly presented his opinion about the cognitive enhancers. On the other hand,
Buying a boost focuses more on the studies done by different scholars and institutions and concludes the
A .Concept #1: Nootropics enhance brain function. This concept is important because it provides the
basis for why nootropics are becoming significantly popular. Apart from enhancing cognitive
capabilities and boosting energy in healthy individual, these smart drugs can also be extremely
b. Concept #2: Nootropics deteriorate mental health. This concept is important because many people use
cognitive enhancers without knowing the long-term side effects of these pills. Therefore they face
addiction and psychological problems such as anxiety and depression when these smart drugs wear off.
3) What questions about nootropic use does the video “A Limitless Pill” answer:
a. Question #1:
Are smart drugs only a fiction or do they actually work and stimulate human mind?
b.Question #2:
How do these smart drugs impart harmful effects to the human brain?
AEIS 111 NOOTROPICS Analysis & Evaluation Questions
4) Copy and then paraphrase one idea (sentence/s) from “Buying a Boost”and one idea (sentence) from
“17 Scientifically Proven Ways…” that support the following statement: College students should
not take nootropics; instead they ought to try alternative methods to boost their focus.
a. (original) Sentence 1 from “Buying a Boost”: “Working from the ground up to improve our
neurochemistry, is a safer and potentially more impactful option than taking pharmaceuticals that
carry risks. Asprey said exercise, sleep, and nutrition “are bigger levers than drugs.”
Vitamins like vitamin D and Vitamin B12 can be very effective in boosting the cognitive powers of
brain and any deficiency of these essential vitamins and nutrients may induce less cognitive capabilities.
Although these natural ways are not as trendy and fast as smart drugs but they do give better and long-
b. (original) Sentence 2 from “17 Scientifically Proven Ways…”: “As the memory-consolidation
process does its best work during slow-wave sleep, your brain could be getting both the restoration
Students take cognitive enhancers in order to enhance memory and problem solving skills. Throughout
the article, such alternatives are discussed that can enhance memory without the assistance of any
medication. One such method (an effective one) is studying before going to bed or while in state of
5) Identify one idea from the video “A Limitless Pill”, one idea (sentence) from “Buying a Boost,” and
one idea (sentence) from “Race to the Top” that support the following statement: It is beneficial to
Smart drug pills or nootropics make people focus more and enhance their memory. Many
working people use these as dietary supplements to work consistently throughout the day and
b. Sentence from “Buying a Boost”: ““One reason I like [Modafinil] is that it shares many of the
benefits other stimulants do, without the addiction or withdrawal,” Asprey said.”
Modafinil, which is a drug used for curing sleepiness or narcolepsy is an effective way of curing sleepy
and tired students and help them concentrate on their studies more effectively. Modafinil is better than
c. Sentence from “Race to the Top”: “Why should individuals who are healthy and looking to
In the presence of such high tech medicines, depriving individuals from becoming efficient in this
dynamic and competitive world is not justice with them. People should use the benefits of cognitive