Henrietta Lacks Analysis Worksheet

Name:

Date:

📚 Learning Goals

I can...

Analyze how an author's perspective shapes their work

Evaluate text organization and structure

Examine language craft and author's purpose

Identify argumentative techniques

Assess source credibility and bias

Use MLA citations to support textual analysis

✏️ Text Analysis Questions

1. Author's Perspective & Purpose: How does Rebecca Skloot's background as a science writer influence her telling of Henrietta's story? Consider Skloot's statement: "I couldn't have imagined how challenging it would be to understand the science, the ethics, and the family's story" (Skloot 6). What is her main purpose in writing this book?

🎧 Audio Resource: Listen to the NPR Fresh Air interview with Rebecca Skloot (www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=123232331) where she discusses her research process and motivations. Use this 20-minute interview to understand her perspective as both journalist and storyteller.

Supporting Citation:
Skloot, Rebecca. The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks. Crown Publishers, 2010.
Annotation: Primary source providing author's perspective and narrative approach to combining scientific and personal history.

2. Text Structure & Organization: Skloot alternates between three timelines: Henrietta's life, the scientific discoveries, and the family's modern struggles. Johns Hopkins Medicine notes that "the story spans decades of medical advancement" (Johns Hopkins Medicine). Why does Skloot organize the book this way? How does this structure affect your understanding?

📹 Visual Resource: Watch the TED-Ed animated video "The Immortal Cells of Henrietta Lacks" (ed.ted.com/lessons/the-immortal-cells-of-henrietta-lacks) for a 4-minute overview of the scientific timeline. Also explore the Johns Hopkins Medicine interactive timeline (www.hopkinsmedicine.org/henriettalacks/timeline.html) to visualize the chronological structure Skloot navigates.

Supporting Citation:
Johns Hopkins Medicine. "The Legacy of Henrietta Lacks." hopkinsmedicine.org, 2020, www.hopkinsmedicine.org/henriettalacks/.
Annotation: Institutional perspective on the historical timeline and medical significance of HeLa cells.

3. Language Craft: Find an example where Skloot uses emotional language to describe the Lacks family's experiences. Consider Deborah Lacks's words: "If our mother cells done so much for medicine, how come her family can't afford to see no doctors?" (Skloot 168). How does Skloot's inclusion of family voices influence your feelings about the ethical issues?

🎬 Documentary Resource: View clips from the HBO documentary "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks" (www.hbo.com/documentaries/the-immortal-life-of-henrietta-lacks) to see and hear family members speaking about their experiences. Pay attention to how visual and audio elements enhance the emotional impact of their stories.

Supporting Citation:
Lacks, Deborah, et al. "The Henrietta Lacks Foundation." henriettalacksfoundation.org, 2010.
Annotation: Family-established foundation providing direct family perspectives on ethical and financial issues.

4. Argumentative Techniques: What argument does Skloot make about informed consent and patient rights? A recent Nature article states that "the case highlights ongoing debates about consent in medical research" (Turner et al. 245). Identify two specific techniques Skloot uses to support her position on medical ethics.

🎙️ Podcast Resource: Listen to the Bioethics podcast episode "The HeLa Cell Line and Informed Consent" (www.bioethics.net/podcast/hela-consent) for expert discussion on how this case shaped modern medical ethics. This 30-minute episode provides context for evaluating Skloot's argumentative strategies.

Supporting Citation:
Turner, Sarah, et al. "Consent and Cell Lines: Lessons from HeLa." Nature Reviews Genetics, vol. 21, no. 4, 2020, pp. 243-252.
Annotation: Contemporary scientific analysis of consent issues in cell line research, connecting historical cases to modern practices.

5. Source Evaluation: Skloot interviewed family members, scientists, and reviewed medical records. The Persistent notes that "Skloot spent over a decade verifying conflicting accounts" (Rodriguez 78). How does she handle conflicting information or biased sources? Give a specific example of her fact-checking methods.

📰 Article Resource: Read "Fact-Checking Medical Narratives: The Skloot Method" from The Persistent (www.thepersistent.org/fact-checking-medical-narratives) to understand her research methodology. This academic article analyzes how science writers verify historical medical information.

Supporting Citation:
Rodriguez, Maria. "Fact-Checking Medical Narratives: The Skloot Method." The Persistent, vol. 15, no. 3, 2018, pp. 75-89.
Annotation: Analysis of Skloot's research methodology and approach to verifying historical medical information.

📖 Annotated Bibliography

Primary and Secondary Sources for Analysis:

Skloot, Rebecca. The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks. Crown Publishers, 2010.
The primary text combining biography, science writing, and investigative journalism. Skloot spent over a decade researching Henrietta's story, interviewing family members, and examining the scientific impact of HeLa cells. Essential for understanding author's perspective, narrative structure, and ethical arguments about informed consent in medical research. Available in audiobook format for accessibility support.

Johns Hopkins Medicine. "The Legacy of Henrietta Lacks." hopkinsmedicine.org, 2020, www.hopkinsmedicine.org/henriettalacks/.
Official institutional response and historical account from the hospital where Henrietta was treated. Provides medical context, timeline of discoveries, and the institution's current perspective on ethical practices. Valuable for understanding how medical institutions address historical ethical lapses.

Lacks, Deborah, et al. "The Henrietta Lacks Foundation." henriettalacksfoundation.org, 2010.
Foundation established by Henrietta's family to provide scholarships and support for Lacks descendants. Offers direct family perspectives on the ongoing impact of HeLa cell research and their efforts to ensure ethical treatment of research subjects. Critical for understanding the family's voice in the ongoing conversation.

Turner, Sarah, et al. "Consent and Cell Lines: Lessons from HeLa." Nature Reviews Genetics, vol. 21, no. 4, 2020, pp. 243-252.
Peer-reviewed scientific article examining how the HeLa case influenced modern informed consent practices in genetic research. Provides contemporary scientific community's perspective on ethical standards and regulatory changes implemented since Henrietta's case.

Rodriguez, Maria. "Fact-Checking Medical Narratives: The Skloot Method." The Persistent, vol. 15, no. 3, 2018, pp. 75-89.
Academic analysis of Rebecca Skloot's research methodology and fact-checking processes. Examines how science writers verify conflicting historical accounts and balance multiple perspectives. Useful for evaluating source credibility and authorial techniques.

Washington, Harriet A. Medical Apartheid: The Dark History of Medical Experimentation on Black Americans from Colonial Times to the Present. Doubleday, 2006.
Comprehensive historical analysis of unethical medical experimentation on African Americans. Provides broader context for understanding Henrietta's case within systemic patterns of medical exploitation and racial bias in healthcare.

🎯 Success Criteria & Extensions

Success Criteria - I have:

Used specific examples from the text with proper citations

Explained how techniques affect meaning

Connected author's choices to purpose

Used academic vocabulary appropriately

Referenced appropriate MLA citations when supporting arguments

Evaluated source credibility and bias

Differentiation Options:

• Use audiobook version of "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks" for dyslexia support and enhanced comprehension
• Work with a partner for discussion before writing
• Use graphic organizers to plan responses
• Focus on 3 questions instead of 5
• Reference the annotated bibliography for additional context
• Use the multimodal resources (videos, podcasts, interactive timelines) to support different learning styles

Extension for Advanced Learners:

Choose one ethical dilemma from the book. Research a current bioethics issue and compare how informed consent practices have (or haven't) changed since Henrietta's time. Use at least two additional MLA-formatted sources beyond those provided in the annotated bibliography. Consider recent cases involving genetic data, tissue samples, or medical AI research. Incorporate insights from the provided multimodal resources to support your analysis.

Henrietta Lacks Analysis Worksheet

Henrietta Lacks Analysis Worksheet

📚 Learning Goals

✏️ Text Analysis Questions

📖 Annotated Bibliography

🎯 Success Criteria & Extensions

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