Name: Brandyn HIll Week #: 8

Golden Line Reading Journal: Notetaker

Requirements: Each notetaker assignment should include THREE “Golden Lines” from your chosen
text(s); this will appear on the left side of your entry, along with the page #. On the right, (1) begin with a
brief explanation, or background information, of what’s happening in the story when the “Golden Line”
was shared (summary). Then, (2) interpret the “Golden Line” and then provide and analysis of your
interpretation, this is where the work becomes a real metacognitive exercise.

Golden Line (page #__________) Background / Summary

“But I am bound with you in your mean graves Claude Mckay in his poem “In Bondage” dreams of
O black men, simple slaves of ruthless slaves.,” (P.13, place without war. Without people to lust over what
“In Bondage”) others have and make claims about ownership.

A mother of a child who pleads to join the civil rights

“No, Baby, no, you may not go, marches, is instead sent to sing in the Church Choir to
For I fear those guns will fire. keep him out of dangers faced by protesters.
But you may go to the church instead
And sing in the children’s choir.” (P.13 “Ballad of
Birmingham”)
In a descending and funneling shaped poem, “The
“ ...Then, for tril-
Shape of History” begins with a feed of events Charles
lions of years,
Webb describes how the farther back in History you go
nothing at
the less defining events can be described by people,
all.”
and the less complex things seem to be.
(P. 21, “The Shape of History”)
 Interpretation and analysis

“In Bondage” by Claude Mckay speaks of how wars affect not only those who want to fight them and profit
from war. The bondage the poem’s name is referencing how we all share the same fate to be bound to the
earth and be buried in the same dirt. The “black men” mentioned in the poem are anyone willing to fight the
wars out hate for men who are slaves to their own greed.

The situation presented in “Ballad of Birmingham” is possibly the worst form of tragedy, a mother trying to
protect her son, sends her son to the very place he would end dying. In order to prevent her son from
joining the marches of the Civil Rights movement, a mother places her son in the church choir in order to
protect him from the injustices protesters face on these demonstrations.

I’m not sure what it is about this poem but I think it resonates with me because of my love of history and
science fiction. Bleak sci fi is always my favorite and the black nothingness of before time is always an
interesting topic to discuss.

Grading Criteria: Each Entry will be graded out of 4 based on the following standards-based criteria:

4 3
Reflection shows evidence of
keen and expert observation
of the text and thoughtful
and insightful connections.
Reflection contains a
thoroughly crafted
background summary that
included extensive details,
and ends with a strong and
insightful interpretation and
analysis of the “Golden
Lines”
Reflection is clear and
provides insight.
Reflection contains a
background summary that
includes several key details,
and makes a basic
interpretation with clear
analysis “Golden Lines”
2 1
Reflection is lacking insight
and depth.
Reflection contains minimal
to no background details
which makes it difficult to
understand why the “Golden
Line” is important.
Furthermore, the writer
makes a vague and/or
unclear interpretation with
little analysis of the “Golden
Lines.”
0
Reflections provides little to Assignment was not
no specific details; writing is completed.
unclear, disjointed, and lacks
insight or depth.
Reflection provides little, if
any, background summary.
Connections to the “Golden
Line” are incoherent and are
void of thought.