Grade Level

9-12 (High School)

Duration

60 minutes

Class Size

25 students

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Learning Objectives & Standards

Students will:

• Analyze key themes and author's purpose in The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks (CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.9-10.2 / 11-12.2)
• Use textual evidence to support interpretations (CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.9-10.1 / 11-12.1)
• Identify and analyze rhetorical strategies and propaganda techniques within nonfiction text (CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.9-10.6 / 11-12.6)
• Demonstrate understanding of sentence types and vocabulary in context (CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.9-10.1 / 11-12.1)
• Evaluate author's use of tone and structure (CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.9-10.5 / 11-12.5)
• Understand and write argumentative counterclaims with supporting evidence (CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.9-10.1 / 11-12.1)

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Success Criteria ("I Can" Statements)

• I can cite textual evidence to support my analysis of The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks.
• I can explain the author's use of rhetorical strategies and identify propaganda techniques in nonfiction.
• I can identify different sentence types to improve my writing and understanding of the text.
• I can define and use key vocabulary terms related to the text and rhetoric confidently.
• I can complete an extended cloze passage to demonstrate understanding of text and vocabulary.
• I can explain what a counterclaim is.
• I can write a counterclaim presenting an opposing viewpoint.
• I can provide evidence for the counterclaim and rebut it effectively.

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Materials Needed

• Copies of selected excerpts from The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks (dyslexia-friendly font and formatting available)
• Word bank and glossary handout (propaganda, rhetoric terms, sentence types, argumentative techniques)
• Whiteboard/Smartboard and markers
• Printed short-answer prompt worksheets
• Extended cloze passage worksheet
• Counterclaim writing guide handout
• Pens/highlighters

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Lesson Breakdown

1. Warm-Up | 8 minutes

• Begin with a brief discussion: "What do you know about Henrietta Lacks or unethical medical experiments?"
• Show brief, dyslexia-friendly summary slide of The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks.
• Introduce vocabulary and rhetorical terms via word bank handout and examples:
  • Propaganda: Information especially biased or misleading used to promote a point of view.
  • Rhetoric: The art of persuasion using language (ethos, pathos, logos).
  • Sentence types: Simple, compound, complex, compound-complex (example sentences shown).
• Quick group quiz on word meanings (2 minutes).

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2. Guided Reading & Discussion | 20 minutes

• Hand out dyslexia-friendly excerpts from the book (around 2-3 paragraphs that illustrate ethical dilemmas and medical breakthroughs).
• Read aloud as a class (teachers model pacing and expression).
• Students annotate the text focusing on: author's tone, rhetorical strategies, and vocabulary use.
• Pause for oral discussion:
  • What emotions does the author evoke?
  • Can you identify one example of propaganda or persuasive technique?

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3. Short-Answer Prompts | 15 minutes

Students answer 5 text-dependent prompts individually or in pairs (printed worksheet):

1. How does the author use personal stories to build credibility and connect with the reader? (CCSS 9-12.T.C.2)
2. Identify one rhetorical strategy in the excerpt and describe its effect on the reader. (CCSS 9-12.T.SS.1)
3. How does the author structure the text to pace the storytelling? (CCSS 9-12.T.SS.2)
4. Using evidence, explain the ethical questions the text raises about science and medicine. (CCSS 9-12.T.C.1)
5. Choose one complex sentence from the text and explain its structure and purpose. (CCSS 9-12.T.T.3 and 9-12.T.RA.2)

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4. Argumentative Techniques & Counterclaims | 10 minutes

• Introduce the concept of counterclaims:

  • Definition: A counterclaim is an argument that presents an opposing viewpoint to the main claim in a discussion or essay.

• Steps for writing a counterclaim:

  1. Identify an opposing viewpoint related to the main argument.
  2. Clearly state the counterclaim in one or two sentences.
  3. Provide evidence or reasoning supporting the counterclaim.
  4. Rebut the counterclaim by explaining why the original claim still holds stronger or is more valid.

• Provide an exemplar counterclaim based on The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks:

  Main claim: The use of Henrietta Lacks’s cells without her consent was unethical and violated her rights.
  Counterclaim: Some might argue that the use of Henrietta’s cells without consent was justified because it led to significant medical breakthroughs that have saved millions of lives.
  Rebuttal: However, despite these benefits, the lack of consent raises serious ethical concerns about patients’ rights and informed consent, which are essential to respect human dignity and autonomy.

• Distribute a counterclaim writing guide handout with the above steps and exemplar.

• Briefly model writing a counterclaim on the board with student input.

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5. Extended Cloze Passage | 10 minutes

• Students complete a cloze passage (text with omitted words including vocabulary and sentence connectors).
• This practice supports reading comprehension and vocabulary retention.
• Review answers as a class using smartboard/whiteboard.

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6. Closure & Reflection | 7 minutes

• Students share one insight from the lesson verbally or in writing (e.g., "I learned that...").
• Revisit "I can" statements on the board for self-assessment.
• Provide extension options for early finishers or advanced learners.

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Differentiation Strategies

• Dyslexic learners: Use dyslexia-friendly fonts, colored overlays, audio recordings of excerpts, and chunk text in smaller portions.
• EL (English Learners): Provide bilingual word bank, sentence stems for short answers and counterclaim writing, and partner work for discussion.
• Students with IEPs: Offer extended time and/or one-on-one support.
• Struggling readers: Highlight key phrases and simplify complex sentences before full reading.

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Extension Activities for Advanced Learners

• Create a mini-research project on the impact of Henrietta Lacks’s cells in modern medicine.
• Write a persuasive paragraph evaluating the ethical implications using rhetorical devices learned, including a counterclaim and rebuttal.
• Analyze the portrayal of race and medical ethics in additional nonfiction texts or documentaries.
• Compose complex sentence-rich reflections connecting themes to current bioethical debates.

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Vocabulary & Word Bank

Term	Definition	Example
Propaganda	Information used to influence opinion, often biased or misleading.	Political ads that only show positive facts.
Rhetoric	The art of persuasion through language.	Using emotional stories to convince readers.
Ethos	Appeal to ethics/credibility.	Author shares personal connection to Henrietta.
Pathos	Appeal to emotion.	Stories about Henrietta's family evoke sympathy.
Logos	Appeal to logic or reason.	Detailing medical facts about HeLa cells.
Simple sentence	Contains one independent clause.	"Henrietta was a patient."
Compound sentence	Two independent clauses joined by a conjunction.	"Henrietta was sick, and doctors studied her."
Complex sentence	Independent clause + dependent clause(s).	"Although Henrietta died, her cells lived on."
Compound-complex sentence	Contains two independent clauses and at least one dependent clause.	"Although Henrietta died, her cells lived, and they changed medicine."
Counterclaim	An argument that presents an opposing viewpoint to the main claim.	"Some argue that using Henrietta’s cells without consent was justified due to medical benefits."
Rebuttal	A response that disproves or weakens the counterclaim.	"However, the lack of consent violates ethical standards and patient rights."

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This highly specific, standards-aligned plan is designed to engage diverse learners, foster critical thinking, and deepen comprehension while equipping students with key analytical and argumentative tools. It blends content mastery with literacy skill development following Common Core rigor.