The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks
By Rebecca Skloot
Prepared by A. Bruce 2013
For CP English 10
Table of contents
Explanation of groups…….2-3
Group list………………………..4
Chapter focus questions…5-8
Learning targets……………..9
Assignments
Due dates……………………….9
Lit circle expectations…….9
Prep and Reflection
1 ?s……10
Exit slip & Prep?s….11
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks
Essential Question: How does this chapter exhibit an act of humanity or inhumanity?
Step 1:
Roles: you need to choose which role you will take. We need one of each for every group. We will
refer this as your reader group. In each class, there should be about 5 of each. SEE PAGE 3 for groups.
Lawyer
Historian
Literary analyst
Scientist
Journalist
In this role, your task is to read each assigned chapter as if you were only focusing on that part of the
research. This is very important to understand your viewpoint as you will present this side to your
reader group. In this group, you will discuss the essential question.
Step 2:
After you present to all your reader group of the same role, you will break into the seminar group. In
this group, you are representing your role as historian, journalist, historian, literary analyst, or scientist.
You will share the findings with the seminar group by doing the following tasks:
The seminar roles will change from chapter to chapter so everyone will do all roles:

o
o
Musician (one per chapter)- find lyrics to fit chapter for that time and provide evidence
from book as to why you chose it to fit.
Quote manager (3 per chapter): your quote should follow these guidelines:
 Tell connection to society, text, self, other classes (subjects)- choose one
 Explain the significance to the essential question for book or chapter.
 Who says it, why?
 Lead the group discussion
Illustrator (one per chapter) choose passage from book to visually represent
 explain why they picked it
 Explain artistic expression.
 May be drawn/sketched/created OR printed out through research if you cannot
create it. Don’t worry! You are graded on creativity of thought, not so much the
art.
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The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks
Step 3: Extended response:

Create a group extended response to the essential questions of book
(humane/inhumane) and chapter. The sentences will be color coded so choose your
own color! If you do not own a colored pen, you may highlight your answer in different
color.
 Decide on jobs (illustrator, etc) for next seminar.
 Prep time for next time
Important notes to note:
READING NON-FICTION:
What is the subject of this book?
What is the context?

Non-fiction writers always write in context (combination of time, people, events and
place that influences how the writer creates his/her persona, the appeals, and the
subject matter.
What is the persona?



Persona is how the writer’s tone and diction contribute to the persona.
Persona refers to the narrator or speaker of the piece, not to be confused with the
author - a narrative voice other than the. The expression derives from the Greek word
"persona" meaning mask.
But the persona requires shape, and, therefore, nouns to define the roles a narrator
might adopt—curmudgeon, manipulator, witness. And the language a writer uses:
syntax, vocabulary, paragraph and sentence length, point of view are the tools writers
have to build such elusive elements as voice or sensibility, which provide clues to who
the narrator and persona are.
How does the writer show credibility?
What appeals does the writer use to connect and persuade the reader?



LOGIC : offers a central idea and has EVIDENCE to prove it.
EMOTIONS/INTEREST: makes reader sympathetic.
ETHICS: offers evidence to show that writer is a credible and believable person.
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The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks
TEAMS for seminar groups – you will meet after your reader * groups meet. Roles change after each
discussion.
TEAM
Team 1
2
3
4
5
Team 2
2
1
1
3
4
5
Block 1
David
Jordyn
Justin
Lynlee
Block 3
Madison B.
Jacob
Taylor B.
Brooke
Carter
Block 6
Devlin
Autumn
Gabby
Blake
Hannah L
Block 7
Courtney
Austin P
Kristin C
Alexis
Caitlyn
Whitney
Shauna
Carlie
Shawntell
Matt
Morgan
Zach W
Shane
Rhianna
Elizabeth
Rachel
Brandon
Haley S.
Mason
Erin
Andrew
Hannah S
Team 3
2
3
4
5
1
Britney
Jessica S.
D’Layne
Courtney
Hannah P.
Libby
Tyra
Marcus
Jennifer
Dylan
Austin
Brittany S
Fran
Silas
Yue
Jonah
Felicity
Tayler R
Kristen H
Team 4
2
3
4
5
1
Cole
Hannah R.
Nick
Sarah R.
Hannah S.
Henry
Seth
Tess
Ethan
Kristi
Paige
Justin
Abby
McKenzie
Cheyenne
Kaitlyn
Jordan H
Hayden T
Michael
Brad
Katie
Jenson
Jessica P
Alex
Drew
Madison K
Shannon M.
Kiley
Hunter
Doni
Brooklyn
Haley M.
Jacob
Isaiah
Cody
Zach K
Brittany
Sam
Team 5
2
3
4
5
1
*Your reader group is the role you are: lawyer, historian, literary analyst, scientist or journalist. This
role NEVER changes.
Rubric: (see box on page 9 for expectations)
LIT CIRCLES ARE WORTH 30 PTS.
 Prepared notes displayed: 5
pts.
 Seminar prep/reflection
sheet –
10 pts.
4  Discussion points
(up to 5 per seminar)- 15 pts.
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks
Chapter focus Questions
For discussion in your reader and seminar groups
Chapters to skim (we will not do lit circles on these chapters):
4, 7, 10, 15 (SKIP), 18, 25, 30.
For each answer, an acceptable response is considered to be explained in
paragraph form, most expected to be in multiple paragraphs. Short answer is
unacceptable.
You will display this before a lit circle for 5 pt. spot check. The quality of the
content will come out in the discussion. You will base your PREP work and
discussion points on your responses to these questions.
Prologue:
“We must not see any person as an abstraction. Instead, we must see in every person a universe with
its own secrets, with its own treasures, with its own sources of anguish, and with some measure of
triumph.”
-
Elie Wiesel, holocaust survivor, author of Night (we will read in class). From The Nazi Doctors
and Nuremberg Code.
- Placed before the prologue.
1. How does this quote apply to Henrietta’s story and Skloot’s possible purpose in writing this
book?
2. What is the context in which this book was written by Skloot after reading the prologue?
Deborah’s Voice (after the prologue).
Deborah states, “But I always have thought it was strange, if our mother cells done so much for
medicine, how come her family can’t afford to see no doctors? Don’t make no sense…I just want to
know who my mother was.”
3. Why is the knowledge about who her mother was so important to Deborah once she is already
a grown woman? How might this knowledge help or harm her? Shape or influence her?
4. Is it wrong that Henrietta and her family did not financially profit from HeLa? Why?
Chapter 1
5. Describe Henrietta’s feelings and attitudes toward the medical community?
6. Give evidence to support your answer.
7. Google Jim Crow laws and tell how these relate to Henrietta’s story.
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The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks
Chapter 2
8.
Skloot notes social and racial inequities. How did the cultural context, including Jim Crow
segregation, influence the medical care Henrietta received and her attitude toward her doctor?
9. Why does this chapter, and many others, include details of Henrietta’s childhood- cultural
context?
10. Why include these details if the central conflict, use of cancerous cells without consent, didn’t
start until she was in her early thirties? Which one of the appeals is Skloot trying to stir in the
reader. WHY?
Chapter 3
11. Carefully read the permission form Henrietta signed before surgery. Given that she had a sixth
grade education do you think she understood what she signed? Give evidence.
Chapter 5
12. How does Henrietta maintain dignity and individuality during her struggle?
13. Give four examples from diagnosis to death that supports #12. You may have to look in Ch. 8,
11.
Chapter 6
14. Why does Pattillo ask Skloot what she knows of African-Americans and science before giving
Deborah’s phone number?
Chapter 8
15. What is ‘benevolent deception’ according to SKloot?
Chapter 12
16. On page 89-90 “They said {doctors} they wanted to run tests that might help his children
someday…so eventually Day agreed and signed the autopsy permission form.” This is evidence
that the doctors did not fully explain and inform what they were going to use Henrietta’s cells.
IS it ethical for a doctor to use a patient’s body without getting his/her informed consent or the
family’s informed consent if the research is intended to benefit mankind and the medical
would?
17. Should a doctor have to disclose all the reasons for wanting to complete an autopsy?
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The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks
Chapter 13-14
18. Compare the experiments on and distribution of Henrietta’s cells done by Tuskegee Institute
with the Tuskegee syphilis studies (p.50), both conducted by the same institute at the same
time. What are the similarities and differences? PUT IN A VENN DIAGRAM
19. Does the good brought about by research outweigh the ethical offenses of Dr. Gey and his lab?
EXPLAIN WITH SUPPORT FROM BOOK?
20. Did Dr. Gey act ethically in the information given to journalists? WHY or why not? Explain what
he gave them?
Chapter 16-17
21. In ch. 16, we learn about Henrietta’s past. Explain why Skloot included this information and why
was it important to the context?
22. In ch. 17, we learn of the research done by Dr. Southam. Was the cancer research done by him
immoral, illegal or deplorable? Include the dangers in your response. This is your opinion,
however, you must support yourself with evidence from the book. Use at least one PEE chain.
Chapter 19, 20
23. What does Joe mean when he writes “the most critical time on earth is now”? How can you
relate to this statement?
24. Predict the shocking news that Deborah is about to get. Based on Skloot’s description of her at
the beginning of the book, how will she handle the news?
25. What is the HELA bomb? Why were scientists and doctors so concerned with the news
delivered by Stanley Gartler at the conference?
26. What would happen to scientific and medical research if Gartler’s idea of the contamination is
true? Give specific examples.
Chapters 21-24
27. Why did the Lacks family finally open up to Skloot?
28. What was the original purpose of Johns Hopkins Hospital? Did doctors uphold the original
purpose? Why or why not?
29. Why did no one inform the family that Henrietta’s cells were taken? Is it right that the family
were not updated? Would you be upset? Explain
30. In ch. 23, Susan Hsu is introduced. Why is she important in the story and did she act in an
ethical manner?
31. Ch. 24, what does it say about Gey’s character that he didn’t make money or patent the roller
drum from the HeLa cell line?
32. What do you think were the implications when the world found out in 1976 that one of the
most important tools in medicine came from a black woman? Be sure to address context,
historical references of the 50s and 60s.
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The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks
33.
34.
35.
36.
37.
38.
39.
40.
41.
42.
43.
44.
Chapters 26-29, 31-38
Ch 26 -Why is doctor/patient confidentiality so important? Why is it important that your
medical information is not given out to anyone but you and whomever you would like to know?
Should the dead have rights to privacy? Give support for both sides and then tell on which side
you stand.
Ch 27. If you were given the option to be immortal, would you? Why or why not?
Should scientists have to right to manipulate DNA to produce “designer babies”? Defend your
argument.
Ch. 28: How did Kidwell’s (Hopkins attorney) attempt at protecting Deborah lead to her
breakdown?
Why do you think the group from Hopkins that had been working on a way to honor Henrietta
suddenly stopped their planning?
Ch 32: What was the symbolism of Deborah, Zakariyya, and Rebecca meeting at the Hopkin’s
Jesus statue as they readied to see Henrietta’s cells; Henrietta herself had nearly passed the
statue 50 years earlier (Ja. 29, 1951).
Explain why Christoph told Deborah and Zakariyya the analogy of Henrietta Cells to Oil rights.
Ch. 33: Relate this quote to your own life,“Sometimes learning can be just as painful as not
knowing.”
Ch36: Explain your thoughts about Skloot asking , “You believe Henrietta is in those cells?”.
Do you think researching and writing this book and interacting with the Lacks affected Skloot’s
religious beliefs?
Ch 38 Contrast Henrietta’s great grandchildren’s dreams and lives in 2009 with her own at their
age.
End of book –
Reread Elie’s quote
What is the quote’s connection to Henrietta and Deborah’s stories? Be specific.
-if one were to look at Henrietta as an abstraction, what would he/she see? If one looked at
Henrietta as a whole person, what would he/she see?
if one were to look at Deborah as an abstraction, what would he/she see? If one looked at Deborah
as a whole person, what would he/she see?
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The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks
Learning targets:
RI 9-10. 1 : Define inference and explain how to use textual evidence to reach a logical conclusion.
Analyze an author’s words and determine multiple pieces of textual evidence that strongly and explicitly supports
both explicit and inferential questions.
RI 9-10. 4. Recognize words that have technical meaning and understand purpose in this text of scientific words.
Analyze how specific word choices build on one another to create a cumulative impact on tone and meaning.
RI 9-10. 7
Determine credibility of author and her purpose.
Identify claims that are supported by fact vs. opinion.
RL 9-10. 5
Analyze a text and determine why an author organized events in a particular order and creates effect on the
reader.
RL 9-10.9
Identify source material from one author found in the work of another (scientific articles and relate topic to book).
RL 9-10.10
Determine reading strategies for reading informational texts independently and proficiently.
You will need to list other due dates in this box as we go through the book.
Lit circle expectations
Assignment for lit
circles
Ch. 1-3
Ch. 5, 6, 8
Ch. 12-14
Ch. 16-17
Ch. 21-24
Ch. 26-29
Ch. 31-38
END of BOOK
Test
Essay
You are graded on the following:
Due Date P/G
Showing enjoyment
1/16 1/17
1/24 1/25
1/28 1/29
2/5 2/6
2/11 2/12
2/13 2/14
2/20 2/21
2/20 2/21
Explaining or elaborating on answer
Making connections to text
Justifying answers based on text
Asking relevant “Big” questions
Drawing conclusions based on text
Making predictions based on text
Making inferences based on text
Sharing reaction to others’ ideas
Discussing literary elements
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The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks
Prep and Reflection sheet
10 pts
To be completed for each lit circle meeting; only one per day over the Reader and Seminar. 7 total will be
completed
PREP
1. What chapters are you discussing?
2. List 5 discussion points you will add to discussion based on your prepared notes.
□
□
□
□
□
Check them off as you discuss in reader/seminar groups.
REFLECTION over both reader/seminar
3. Evaluate each- 5 high, 1 low.

Participation
54321

Thoughtfulness
54321

Preparedness
54321

respectfulness
54321

both groups as a whole
54321
 comments : ___________________________________________________
4. List 3 of the most important discussion points discussed today.
◊
◊
◊
5. Who contributed the most?
6. What did you learn from the group about the topic and how does it relate to essential
question?
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The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks
Exit slip and
PREP work For next Lit Circle
7 total will be completed
Do this on back of prep and reflection sheet.
1. When is the next lit circle?
2. For which chapters are you preparing to discuss?
3. For seminar: what is your role/job for the next lit circle?
4. How do the chapters covered relate to the essential question? Give only one
sentence summary.
5. Have you all created your extended response in different colors?
6. How can lit circles improve for next time?
7. Discuss one of the following and how it related to your discussion:
a. Context
b. Persona
c. Credibility
d. Appeals
*refer to the notes on page 3.
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