Henrietta Lacks Thesis Practice

Name:

Date:

📝 Part 1: Thesis Statement Components

1. A strong thesis statement must be:

Clear and specific

Arguable/debatable

Connected to ethical issues

Very long and detailed

2. Which thesis statement about Henrietta Lacks is STRONGEST?

Henrietta Lacks was important to science.

The medical community's use of Henrietta Lacks' cells without consent violated basic human rights and demonstrates the need for stricter informed consent laws.

Henrietta Lacks had cancer and her cells were used by doctors.

Some people think what happened to Henrietta Lacks was wrong.

3. What makes a thesis statement "arguable"?

It states a fact that everyone agrees with

It presents a claim that reasonable people could disagree with

It asks a question

It includes multiple topics

🔍 Part 2: Analyzing Thesis Examples

4. Read this thesis statement and identify its strengths and weaknesses:

"Although Henrietta Lacks' cells led to medical breakthroughs, the failure to obtain her consent represents a violation of patient rights that highlights the need for ethical reform in medical research."

Strengths: ___________________________________________

Weaknesses (if any): ___________________________________

5. Improve this weak thesis statement:

Weak version: "The Henrietta Lacks case was complicated and had good and bad parts."

Improved version:

✍️ Part 3: Writing Your Thesis Statement

6. Choose an ethical issue from the Henrietta Lacks case that interests you most:

Informed consent in medical research

Racial inequality in healthcare

Commercialization of human biological materials

Patient privacy and family rights

7. Sentence Frame Option (for support): Use this frame if helpful:

"Although some argue _________________, I believe _________________ because _________________."

8. Write your thesis statement about the Henrietta Lacks case:

9. Check your thesis using this checklist:

My thesis takes a clear position

My thesis is specific (not vague)

My thesis is arguable (people could disagree)

My thesis connects to ethics

My thesis is 1-2 sentences long

10. Revision Space: Based on your checklist, revise your thesis if needed:

11. Reflection: How will your thesis statement guide the direction of your persuasive essay?

🎯 I Can Statements - Check off what you accomplished today:

I can identify the components of a strong thesis statement

I can analyze examples of effective thesis statements

I can write a clear thesis statement about an ethical issue

I can explain how my thesis guides my essay direction

📚 Font Note: If you have dyslexia, ask your teacher for this worksheet in OpenDyslexic font.

Henrietta Lacks Thesis Practice

Henrietta Lacks Thesis Practice

📝 Part 1: Thesis Statement Components

🔍 Part 2: Analyzing Thesis Examples

✍️ Part 3: Writing Your Thesis Statement

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