ENG 122_5-2 First Draft
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ENG 122: 5-2 First Draft if the Critical Analysis Essay
“The High Price of Multitasking,” by Daniel T. Willingham presents the dangerous side to multitasking. Willingham presents multiple forms of evidence to back up his claims as to why the perceived benefits of multitasking do not outweigh the risks. While understanding that multitasking is viewed as favorable and only the benefits are perceived by most, Willingham brings awareness to the potential consequences that multitasking can cause to both ourselves and others around us. The article’s main claim that multitasking can be dangerous or decrease productivity is strong because it examines that response time declines when switching between tasks, identifies pedestrians who listen to music while crossing the road are more likely to be struck by a vehicle, and demonstrates that texting while driving leads to increased accidents (Willingham). Willingham points out that response time declines by 20 percent when switching between
tasks, making certain tasks extremely dangerous, ultimately decreasing the quality of the end result in most tasks (Willingham A21). Willingham references an experiment where subjects responded 20 percent slower than their initial responses when identifying a letter or number as vowel or non-vowel, even or odd (Willingham A21). The slower response was due to the extra steps required like resetting the goal and reloading the mental rule producing the outcome (Willingham A21). Willingham speaks a lot towards the subject of driving or even walking while listening to
music. Driving requires much attention, but the simple task of walking is pretty much done on autopilot, right? Willingham references a virtual study showed that one is more likely to get hit by a vehicle when crossing the street while listening to music than if their full attention was on the simple task at hand, crossing the street (Willingham A21). A pedestrian may briefly look
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both ways, or maybe think they did, while listening to music, focusing on lyrics or rhythm rather than the traffic surrounding them.
Although lawmakers have stepped in and forty-eight states are on board banning texting while driving, this does not cover the multiple ways people can still legally multitask while driving. Willingham encourages self-regulation and the need to understand how the brain multitasks to avoid unfortunate outcomes. Honolulu has banned pedestrians from texting or even looking at mobile devices while crossing the street and the Netherland have banned texting while
riding a bike (Willingham A21). None of these laws ban the act of multitasking while operating a
vehicle, bicycle or while walking. Only twenty states have banned the use of hand-held phones while driving but still allow the use of hands-free devices (Willingham A21), Willingham claims
this makes no difference – “they impair driving equivalently as far as external hazards go” (Willingham A21).
Ultimately, Willingham provides a persuasive argument as to why multitasking comes at a high price. Willingham supports his claims with experiments, surveys, and state law. Willingham also provides suggestions on how to complete multiple tasks successfully if there is predictable downtime during one or both tasks. Start one task, set it down and switch to another. The increased risks of slower response times while switching between tasks, greatly increases the
likelihood of accidents, harm, and inadequate quality of work in general. Be aware of the choice to multitask and know the potential consequences in doing so.
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Works Cited
Willingham, Daniel T. "The High Price of Multitasking."
New York Times
, 15 July 2019, p. A21(L).
The High Price of Multitasking: [Op-Ed]
, ProQuest, https://ezproxy.snhu.edu/login?qurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.proquest.com
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