Lesson 3

Lesson Goals

• Can I sequence and group sentences and paragraphs and use devices, techniques, descriptions, reasoning, evidence, and visual elements to establish coherent, logical, and well-developed narratives, explanations, and arguments?

• Can I recognize points of connection among texts, textual elements, and perspectives to make logical, objective comparisons?

Texts

Core

• • The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, Rebecca Skloot, Crown Publishing Group, 2010

• • “HeLa,” L. Lamar Wilson, Carolina Wren Press, 2008

• • Henrietta Lacks (HeLa): The Mother of Modern Medicine, Kadir Nelson, Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery and National Museum of African American History and Culture, 2018

• • The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, George C. Wolfe, HBO, 2017

Optional

• • “Henrietta Lacks, HeLa Cells, and Cell Culture Contamination,” Brendan P. Lucey, Walter A. Nelson-Rees, and Grover M. Hutchins, College of American Pathologists, 2009

Materials

Tools

• The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks: Culminating Task Checklist

Reference Guides

• Avoiding Plagiarism Reference Guide
• Claims Reference Guide
• Connecting Ideas Reference Guide
• Conventions Reference Guide
• Integrating Quotations Reference Guide
• Organization Reference Guide
• Style Reference Guide

Editable Google Docs

• The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks: Culminating Task Checklist

Activity 1: Write

We will draft our interior paragraphs for the essay.

For each interior paragraph, focus on the comparison between one technique between the companion and the anchor text. If using the film or the painting, focus on the cinematic or artistic technique that best compares to their literary counterparts. For instance, you can compare the author’s use of diction in The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks to the specific details or patterns used in the design of the painting Henrietta Lacks (HeLa): The Mother of Modern Medicine.

If you are examining two techniques, you should write two interior paragraphs with four examples per paragraph. If you are examining three techniques, use three paragraphs with two examples in each. Here is a method for organizing interior paragraphs:

• Introduce your point of comparison.

• Present the first example and analysis.

• Present the second example and analysis.

• Present the third example and analysis.

• Present the fourth example and analysis.

• Conclude with a summary and transitional sentence.

Complete a draft of your interior paragraphs. Consider what transitional phrases you should use in the paragraph to signal the reader and provide a road map of your exposition.

Activity 2: Read – Discuss

We will share our interior paragraphs to receive feedback from our peers.

Switch papers with a partner in your group and read each other’s interior paragraphs. Use the two questions below to focus your feedback on additional points of connection:

1. Does the evidence and analysis relate specifically to your partner’s working thesis?

2. What additional evidence do you recall that relates to the analysis in your partner’s paragraphs?

3. What additional analysis can you add to your partner’s interior paragraphs?

Discuss your answers with your partner. Add to or modify your interior paragraphs based on the feedback from your partner.

Activity 3: Write

We will write a draft of our concluding paragraph for our expository essay.

Begin drafting your concluding paragraph. The organization of your concluding paragraph can include several of the following:

• summary of your main ideas

• personal response

• universal response

• a final comparison

• final thoughts

Activity 4: Write

For homework, we will finish our drafts for the Culminating Task.

Finish your draft for homework. Bring in a copy of your draft to your next lesson for a peer read.