The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks
By Rebecca Skloot
Prepared by A. Bruce 2014 English 10
Table of contents
Explanation of groups…….2-3
Lit circle expectations…….4
Chapter focus questions…5-8
Learning targets……………..9
Due dates……………………….9
Assignments
Prep and Reflection
1 ?s……10
Exit slip & Prep?s…………..11
Proposal guidelines……..12
Museum information……13-16
Multimedia…………………..17
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks
Essential Question: How does science ethically exhibit humanity or inhumanity?
LIT CIRCLE TIME!
Here is where you need to be and what you need to have:
Station 1 (READER): you will decide in this group what ROLE you will be throughout EACH lit circle.
You will need to prepare and bring written responses for:



Your completed discussion questions per chapter.
Answer essential question from the point of view as lawyer, historian, story teller, scientist, or journalist of
your chosen role. Each group should have one of each representing the roles.
Be sure that you have your Prep and reflection sheet (p. 10) when you begin the lit circle.
Station 2 (SEMINAR):

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


Be sure to have your exit slip and PREP work for next lit circle (p. 11).
The job to choose are musician, quote manager, illustrator (p.2 ). You need 1 per chapter.
The job will change and be assigned to each member of the group at this station.
You will decide in each lit circle who will take on the next job for the next lit circle.
In this station you will need to share/complete:
o Share your music/art/or quotes.
o Write ONE collective group Extended response in different highlight colors (one color per
person). This is relating to essential questions of book (Ethics/humanity) and chapter.
o Do exit slip and prep work for next time.
Station 3
In this station you will read various non-fiction articles.
Article Topic:
Write in MLA Citation:
Author(s)
Credibility—
Describe your findings
Attach Hard Copy
Facts
Opinions
Bias
My Connections
 To Self
 To Text
 To other Subjects
REFLECTION
Station 4:
You will be meeting with me. Anything is fair game at this station. Expect any of the following: sharing of lit circle,
presentations, discussion about book, even a quiz!
Step 3: Extended response:
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The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks
Important notes to note: You will have a quiz over these terms.
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?
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Logos LOGIC : offers a central idea and has EVIDENCE to prove it.
Pathos -EMOTIONS/INTEREST: makes reader sympathetic.
Ethos-ETHICS: offers evidence to show that writer is a credible and believable person.
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The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks
*Your reader group is the role you are: lawyer, historian, literary analyst, scientist or journalist. This
role NEVER changes.
Rubric: (see boxes for expectations and for list of what you turn in).
You are graded on the following:
Socratic seminars ARE WORTH 30 PTS.
Showing enjoyment
 Prepared notes displayed (spot
check): 5 pts.
 Seminar prep/reflection sheet –
10 pts.
 Discussion points
(up to 5 per seminar)- 15 pts.
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
You will turn 3 items into your
group folder after the lit circle:

Reflection/exit slip

Job-quote/music/art

Essential question as a group
(colored)

15 pts.
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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.
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The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks
7. Google Jim Crow laws and tell how these relate to Henrietta’s story.
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?
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The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks
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.
Chapters 26-29, 31-38
33. 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?
34. Should the dead have rights to privacy? Give support for both sides and then tell on which side
you stand.
35. Ch 27. If you were given the option to be immortal, would you? Why or why not?
36. Should scientists have to right to manipulate DNA to produce “designer babies”? Defend your
argument.
37. Ch. 28: How did Kidwell’s (Hopkins attorney) attempt at protecting Deborah lead to her
breakdown?
38. Why do you think the group from Hopkins that had been working on a way to honor Henrietta
suddenly stopped their planning?
39. 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).
40. Explain why Christoph told Deborah and Zakariyya the analogy of Henrietta Cells to Oil rights.
41. Ch. 33: Relate this quote to your own life,“Sometimes learning can be just as painful as not
knowing.”
42. Ch36: Explain your thoughts about Skloot asking , “You believe Henrietta is in those cells?”.
43. Do you think researching and writing this book and interacting with the Lacks affected Skloot’s
religious beliefs?
44. 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.
AS ALWAYS: DATES are subject to CHANGE! You will need to list other due dates in this box as we go
through the book.
Assignment for lit
circles & other
Ch. 1-3
Ch. 5, 6, 8
Ch. 12-14
Ch. 16-20
Ch. 21-24
Ch. 26-29
Ch. 31-38
END of BOOK
Test part 1
10/31
11/3
Test part 2 11/6
11/10
Multimedia 10/29
10/30
Test final
11/21
11/24
PROPOSAL 10/29-30
Museum – week of
11/17 or 12/1
Due Date P/G
10/23-24
10/27 -28
10/29 -30
10/31-11/3
11/4-5
11/6-10
11/11-12
11/13 -14
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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.
8. Some of the essential questions will vary: for example, you may be asked to pick one
from #7 and do a pee chain with example of each from each member of the group or you
may be asked expound (explain with depth and example) of specific questions.
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The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks
Proposal for Henrietta Lacks Museum
Please note that the proposal will be reviewed for acceptance by a panel of Preble County Educators
affiliated with the Preble County Educational Service Center.
The Museum will consist of the following galleries: ethical implications (medical ethics), scientific
discoveries, legal implications, societal norms/standards.
This is an opportunity to showcase your strengths and talent in a professional way.
Each gallery will showcase what was (history )and what is (current standards) as it relates to four above.
Date of museum will be in November; please follow the rubric:
1.
2.
3.
4.
10 pts. Pick passage from book that moved you emotionally or challenged you ethically. Write a reflection
about this passage.
10 pts. Explain how it connects to the gallery you have chosen.
5 pts. Include a diagram of your plan or a list of what your intentions of this project are.
5 pts. List the supplies needed.
5. 5 pts. This proposal should be one page plus your sketch or creative plan.
35 pts. The proposal is due 10/29-30 !
Your grade on the final project in May is based on the following:






The quality of museum display: use a trifold board, construct a model or
platform, create an art project (cells)/ if you are musical, you can compose,
create, perform on video or in real life.
Creativity of the display.
Passage from book needs to be displayed.
Should be engaging to the public visitors.
Presentation needs to be memorized and ready to perform numerous times.
There needs to be a purpose and a definite connection to the book.
Examples: I also have examples to show you in person.
Societal norms: Make a model or diagram of an oven in steel mill removing slag from a furnace or a run down town.
Display stages through a photo essay.
Scientific discoveries: Construct a model of a cylinder/incubator to move cells; show how it rotates. Also telomeres,
Hayflick limit.
Ethical implications: Example #1: Display the architectural detail of Crownsville Hospital. Display rooms to compare
to then and now. Show hospital layout changes of hospital. Example #2: Interview or research the church standpoint
on stem cell research; display documents.
Legal implications: create a showcase of legal documents; interview a judge- videotape or ask them to come in. Display
brochures or write to supreme court about any topic discussed in the book.
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The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks Museum
(dates are subject to change)
DATE of MUSUEM:
Nov/Dec.
Eaton High School viewing during advisory.
Public viewing, TBD.
Week of May 12th DUE DATE of Display for grading and presenting: 200
pts.
Notable Items:

Any research done for project should be cited properly in MLA format
in clear view on display.

Any proposal rejected is expected to be resubmitted by 11/7.
Presentation of project:
You will be presenting numerous times throughout the museum. Here are just
a few to take note of:

In front of class and teacher
Week of November 11th.
o Keep in mind this is for you to get comfortable as well as get
graded on all the hard work you have done.
o There will be peer feedback in each class.

In front of any student or faculty member that approaches you during
the museum walk-through.

In front of the public visitors that may approach you.
*You need to memorize your presentation so you look prepared, professional
and knowledgeable about the book!
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The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks
Rubric:
Presentation to class (follow rubric)=
100 pts.
Rubric will be
presented in the next few weeks. Presentation the day of museum:
preparedness, engagement, professionalism, organization and creativity. Total for both
days:
200 pts.
Format of presentation: 2 components: Delivery and content.
This is a suggestion of how to begin the delivery:
Hello, my name is ___________(shake hands if standing by the visitor). I am
presenting for the _________gallery. I have chosen this gallery based on the
passage shown here. This display shows the way it was and the way it is now in
this gallery because ______________________ and through my information,
_________________________ (this is main point of your project). Also, I learned
about ____________________ through the course of this project. Are there any
questions?
Learning targets:
SL 9-10. 3

Identify when a speaker uses evidence and/or rhetoric and analyze how these
techniques strengthen his/her point of view or purpose.

Recognize when a speaker introduces distorted evidence (unjust interpretation)
and/or fallacious reasoning (incorrect reasoning) to his/her argument.
SL 9-10.4

Present information, findings, and /or supporting evidence clearly, concisely, and
logically.

Present information in a sequence that allows the listener to follow speaker’s
line of reasoning.

Prepare a presentation with organization, development, substance, and style
appropriate to purpose, task and audience.
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The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks
SL 9-10. 5

Identify parts of the presentation, including findings, reasoning, and evidence,
that could use clarification, strengthening, and/or additional interest.

Integrate visual and digital data if necessary.

Compose a formal speech that demonstrates a command of grade 10 Language
SL 9-10. 6
standards (grammar, punctuation, mechanics, structure).
Rubric: Part 1 (100 pts)
CONTENT:
1.
10 pts. Did the speaker use evidence and/or use fallacious reasoning (incorrect
reasoning) to his/her argument.
2.
10 pts. Present information, findings, and /or supporting evidence clearly, concisely, and
logically.
3.
10 pts. Present information in a sequence that allows the listener to follow their line of
reasoning.
a. Is the book connection explained clearly in their explanation?
4.
10 pts. Prepare a presentation with organization, development, substance, and style
appropriate to purpose, task and audience.
a. Was the passage displayed and relevant?
5.
10 pts. Identify parts of the presentation, including findings, reasoning, and evidence,
that could use clarification, strengthening, and/or additional interest.
a. Did anything they say stand out as really interesting and new to you?
b. MLA format cited in view and done correctly.
6.
10 pts. Did they Integrate visual and digital data to enhance the display?
DELIVERY:
7. 10 pts. Did they present a formal speech with proper grammar, punctuation, mechanics,
structure.
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The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks
a. Did they speak to us as if they were in front of visitors who were had not read
the book?
8. 10 pts. Did the speaker uses evidence and/or rhetoric and analyze how these techniques
strengthen his/her point of view or purpose.
9. 10 pts. Was the presentation memorized?
10. 10 pts. Did the presenter use voice control and eye contact?
You will be asked to fill out feedback on each presenter from your seminar group. Only friendly
feedback should be given. I ask at the end that you give one wish (suggestion) and 2 stars
(positive comments). This feedback is also part of your final grade.
Rubric: Day of Museum Presentation – 100 pts total
1. 15 pts. Preparedness: Remaining by your display throughout for visitors to interact
with you.
2. 15pts. Delivery: Present clearly with eye contact, enthusiasm, and voice control.
3. 10 pts. Engagement: Using hand shake and eye contact. Be confident about your
information.
4. 10 pts. Peer Edit: You have completed the “friendly feedback” completely for your
team members.
5. 20 pts. Professionalism : Your dress and actions say everything about you today.
Be aware that you are there to teach, engage, and inform about this book.
6. 15 pts. Organization : Your display should be easy to follow visually.
7. 15 pts. Creativity: Your display shows originality and is appealing to the audience.
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The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks
Short Multimedia
Presentation of scientific articles
You will be doing a short multimedia presentation on a personal tie to one of your
articles that you will research.
Rubric is:
 10 pts. Multimedia: video, Public service announcement, advertisement,
you tube, etc
 5 pts. Personal tie discussed
 5 pts. Interview of family member/or research someone to answer
questions
 10 pts. Overall presentation/creativity
30 pts total- due week of OCTOBER 27th.
First,
1. You will choose which article out of 3 that you have researched that you
want to present. You need to find two or three articles about any topic
on the chart. Choose only one out the all to present.
2. What is your personal tie?
3. Create a list of 5 questions for the personal Interview or research.
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