Unit 3: The Persistence of Memory

Welcome to Honors English 10 Unit 3: The Persistence of Memory!

This unit is anchored in nonfiction novel The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot. Below is this unit's objective...

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks is a narrative nonfiction account of an African American woman whose cancerous cells, called HeLa, revolutionized science and medicine. As students read The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, they will consider some of the important themes and messages within. The following are some of the essential questions we will be exploring:

• What lessons does the story of Henrietta Lacks offer current and future generations?

• In what ways did institutionalized racism impact Henrietta Lacks and her family?

• How does Skloot use the narrative non-fiction to engage the reader?

At the end of this unit, students will reflect on the nonfiction account studied in this unit and how it deals with the memories and dreams of individuals. By answering the following question: How can memories influence the future? Students will create an original narrative in which the protagonist is driven to action by the recurrence of a significant memory. Students will use what they have learned from this account and their own prior knowledge to inform their writing.