  We estimate the contribution of inelastic nucleon excitations to the
$(e,e^\prime)$ inclusive cross section in the CEBAF kinematic range.
Calculations are based upon parameterizations of the nucleon structure
functions measured at SLAC. Nuclear binding effects are included in a
vector-scalar field theory, and are assumed have a minimal effect on the
nucleon excitation spectrum. We find that for $q\lsim 1$ GeV the elastic and
inelastic nucleon contributions to the nuclear response functions are
comparable, and can be separated, but with roughly a factor of two uncertainty
in the latter from the extrapolation from data. In contrast, for $q\rsim 2$ GeV
this uncertainty is greatly reduced but the elastic nucleon contribution is
heavily dominated by the inelastic nucleon background.

Nuclear Theory