Name: ______________________________________ Block: _________

Medicine & Literature MW#2: Were Henriettas cells taken ethically?

Now that we have learned more about the circumstances in which Henrietta Lacks cells were taken, we can
begin to consider the question: Were her cells taken ethically? You will be exploring this question in a series of
substantial, academic, paragraphs.

In your work you must discuss the ethics/validity of doctors taking and using Henriettas cells by referring to at
least two of the following topics we have covered in class:
Nuremberg Codes (cited) Cancer research (cited)
Doctors oaths (cited) "Henrietta Lacks Immortal Cells" By Sarah
Norms, morals and ethics (cited) Zielinski (cited)

ALL assignments must also include information from Henriettas life (cited from the text The Immortal Life of
Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot).

Requirements:
Paragraph 1 (TE/EA):
State your claim in a thesis statement/topic sentence.
Provide background information on the subject of your essay (citing evidence to support
your knowledge).
Paragraph 2 (TE/EA):
Support your claim/thesis (Why were the doctors' actions ethical or unethical? Be specific
and cite evidence from the different works we've examined in class to justify your stance).
Paragraph 3 (Counterclaim - TE/EA):
Explain but do not defend the opposing claim.
Provide evidence for both the counterclaim and your original claim.
Refute/Rebut the counterclaim's argument.
Paragraph 4 (TE/EA):
Support your claim/thesis (Why were the doctors' actions ethical or unethical? Be specific
and cite evidence from the different works we've examined in class to justify your stance).
Leave the reader with a thought-provoking question or idea (How have her cells impacted
the world? Her family? What are the responsibilities that doctors should have towards us?)
Show them the value of your work!

There will be TIMELINESS grades associated with both the first draft and final essays. Ensure
that you hand your work in on time for full credit!

You must also hand in this assignment sheet stapled the the BACK of your DRAFT with the
rubric facing forward.

First drafts may be typed or handwritten. Final drafts MUST be typed, font size 12, Times New
Roman, and double-spaced or they will lose points.

1st draft due: Tuesday 11/8 (Halloween!)

Final drafts due: Tuesday 11/21

4 3
- Has a sophisticated and
unique claim/thesis that
addresses the assignment.
-Gives relevant and detailed
Paragraph #1
(Opening)
background info as evidence.
- All evidence is correctly cited
& expertly explained in context.
- Two pieces of evidence.
- Analysis clearly shows how the
Es support the T & shows
critical thought and detail.
- Topic sentence supports the
claim/thesis and clearly outlines
the paragraph.
-Gives relevant and detailed
Paragraph #2
(Argument)
evidence to support the claim.
- All evidence is correctly cited
& expertly explained in context.
- Two pieces of evidence.
- Analysis clearly shows how the
Es support the T.
-Shows critical thought & detail.
- Topic sentence states the
counterclaim without
undermining the original claim.
-Gives relevant evidence to
develop the counterclaim.
(Counterclaim)
Paragraph #4
- Gives relevant evidence to
refute the counterclaim.
- All evidence is correctly cited
& expertly explained in context.
- Analysis demonstrates why
counterclaim is less convincing
than the claim.
-Shows critical thought & detail.
- Topic sentence supports the
claim/thesis and clearly outlines
the paragraph.
-Gives relevant and detailed
Paragraph #3
evidence to support the claim.
(Closing)
- All evidence is correctly cited
& expertly explained in context.
- Two pieces of evidence.
- Analysis clearly shows how the
Es support the T.
-Shows critical thought & detail.
-Essay flows smoothly with
Conventions
effectively no grammatical
and/or punctuation errors.
-Essay is formatted 100%
correctly
TOTAL: ____________/16 (DRAFT)
RUBRIC
- Has a clear claim/thesis that
addresses the assignment.
- Gives relevant background
information.
- Evidence cited correctly and
explained in context.
- Two pieces of evidence.
- Analysis shows how the Es
support the T.
- Shows critical thought and detail.
- Topic sentence supports the
claim/thesis and outlines the
paragraph.
-Gives relevant evidence to
support the claim.
- Evidence cited correctly and
explained in context.
- Two pieces of evidence.
- Analysis shows how the Es
support the T.
- Shows critical thought and detail.
- Topic sentence states the
counterclaim without undermining
the original claim.
-Gives evidence to develop the
counterclaim.
- Gives evidence to refute the
counterclaim.
- Evidence is correctly cited and
explained in context.
- Analysis discusses the
counterclaim.
-Shows critical thought.
- Topic sentence supports the
claim/thesis and outlines the
paragraph.
-Gives relevant evidence to
support the claim.
- Evidence cited correctly and
explained in context.
- Two pieces of evidence.
- Analysis shows how the Es
support the T.
- Shows critical thought.
Essay flows smoothly with few
grammatical and/or punctuation
errors that do not impact clarity.
- Essay is formatted correctly.
2 1
- Claim/thesis is vague or
unclear. Assignment may not
be apparent.
- Gives background
information, relevance may be
unclear or confusing.
- Context for evidence missing.
- May be missing evidence
and/or citations.
- The writers thoughts are
unclear or nonsensical.
- Topic sentence does not
clearly support the
claim/thesis.
- May be missing evidence
and/or citations.
- Context for evidence missing.
- The writers thoughts are
unclear or nonsensical.
- Topic sentence states the
counterclaim but may
undermine the original claim.
-Counter evidence mentioned
briefly, and/or inadequately.
- May be missing evidence
and/or citations.
- Context for evidence missing.
- The writers thoughts are
unclear or nonsensical.
- Topic sentence does not
clearly support the
claim/thesis.
- May be missing evidence
and/or citations.
- Context for evidence missing.
- The writers thoughts are
unclear or nonsensical.
Essay has several grammatical
and/or punctuation errors that
impact clarity.
- At least one formatting issue.
TOTAL: ____________/100 (FINAL)
- Claim/thesis is missing or
unintelligible.
- Background information is
insufficient or irrelevant.
- Missing evidence.
- No context.
- No or incorrect citations.
- There is no evidence of
critical thought.
- Topic sentence is missing or
unintelligible.
- Missing evidence.
- No context.
- No or incorrect citations.
- There is no evidence of
critical thought.
- Topic sentence does not
demonstrate awareness of
counterclaim and/or
undermines the claim.
-Missing evidence.
- No context.
- No or incorrect citations.
- There is no evidence of
critical thought.
- Topic sentence is missing or
unintelligible.
- Missing evidence.
- No context.
- No or incorrect citations.
- There is no evidence of
critical thought.
Essay has many grammatical
and/or punctuation errors
that significantly impact
clarity.
- Several issues with
formatting.

4 3
- Has a sophisticated and
unique claim/thesis that
addresses the assignment.
-Gives relevant and detailed
background information as
evidence.
Paragraph #1
- All evidence is correctly cited
and expertly explained in
context.
- Two pieces of evidence.
- Analysis clearly shows how the
Es support the T & shows
critical thought and
may include the writers ideas
and opinions.
- Topic sentence supports the
claim/thesis and clearly outlines
the paragraph.
-Gives relevant and detailed
evidence to support the claim.
Paragraph #2-3
- All evidence is correctly cited
(Argument)
and expertly explained in
context.
- Two pieces of evidence.
- Analysis clearly shows how the
Es support the T.
-Shows critical thought and
may include the writers ideas
and opinions.
- Topic sentence supports the
claim/thesis and clearly outlines
the paragraph.
-Gives relevant and detailed
evidence to support the claim.
- All evidence is correctly cited
Paragraph #5
(Concluding)
and expertly explained in
context.
- Two pieces of evidence.
- Analysis clearly shows how the
Es support the T.
-Shows critical thought and
may include the writers ideas
and opinions.
-Essay flows smoothly with
Conventions
effectively no grammatical
and/or punctuation errors.
-Essay is formatted 100%
correctly
TOTAL: ____________/16 (DRAFT)
TOTAL: ____________/100 (FINAL)
RUBRIC
- Has a clear claim/thesis that
addresses the assignment.
- Gives relevant background
information.
- Evidence cited correctly and
explained in context.
- Two pieces of evidence.
- Analysis shows how the Es
support the T.
- Shows critical thought and
detail.
- Topic sentence supports the
claim/thesis and outlines the
paragraph.
-Gives relevant evidence to
support the claim.
- Evidence cited correctly and
explained in context.
- Two pieces of evidence.
- Analysis shows how the Es
support the T.
- Shows critical thought and
detail.
- Topic sentence supports the
claim/thesis and outlines the
paragraph.
-Gives relevant evidence to
support the claim.
- Evidence cited correctly and
explained in context.
- Two pieces of evidence.
- Analysis shows how the Es
support the T.
- Shows critical thought and
detail.
Essay flows smoothly with few
grammatical and/or
punctuation errors that do not
impact clarity.
- Essay is formatted correctly.
2 1
- Claim/thesis is vague or
unclear. Assignment may not be
apparent.
- Gives background information,
relevance may be unclear or
confusing.
- Context for evidence missing.
- May be missing evidence
and/or citations.
- The writers thoughts are
unclear or nonsensical.
- Topic sentence does not
clearly support the claim/thesis.
- May be missing evidence
and/or citations.
- Context for evidence missing.
- The writers thoughts are
unclear or nonsensical.
- Topic sentence does not
clearly support the claim/thesis.
- May be missing evidence
and/or citations.
- Context for evidence missing.
- The writers thoughts are
unclear or nonsensical.
Essay has several grammatical
and/or punctuation errors that
impact clarity.
- At least one formatting issue.
-
- Claim/thesis is missing or
unintelligible.
- Background information is
insufficient or irrelevant.
- Missing evidence.
- No context.
- No or incorrect citations.
- There is no evidence of critical
thought.
- Topic sentence is missing or
unintelligible.
- Missing evidence.
- No context.
- No or incorrect citations.
- There is no evidence of critical
thought.
- Topic sentence is missing or
unintelligible.
- Missing evidence.
- No context.
- No or incorrect citations.
- There is no evidence of critical
thought.
Essay has many grammatical
and/or punctuation errors that
significantly impact clarity.
- Several issues with formatting.