WH JapaneseSociety Socratic SG Final DE1 JVH · Discovery Education Techbook Discovery Communications, LLC 1 Bushido: Code of the Samurai

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Bushido: Code of the Samurai Socratic Seminar

Socrates, an ancient Greek philosopher, taught that it is more important for people to think for themselves rather than be given the “right” answers or be taught to look for a single correct answer to a question. Socrates was a supporter of divergent thinking, or thinking that moves in different directions, rather than thinking that is meant for everyone to arrive at the same answer. In this activity, you will put Socrates’ ideas to the test by completing a Socratic Seminar. In a Socratic Seminar, participants read, view, or listen to common source material, respond to open-ended questions meant to produce varying opinions and responses, and sharing ideas in a safe discussion format. Imagine you are an adviser to the leader of a newly established country. You need to form a strong military, and part of this is giving your soldiers guidance on how they should behave. To do this, you are researching Bushido—a code of behavior used by the samurai of Japan. In this Socratic Seminar, you will read excerpts that describe Bushido and then complete a discussion to craft your response to the question: What aspects of Bushido would work well for training soldiers today, and what aspects would not?

Visscher, Peter. Samurai on Horseback Holding

Bow. Getty Images. Web.

I. Preparing for the Socratic Seminar 1. Before you participate in the Socratic Seminar, you must analyze the Bushido

excerpts below. Keep the following questions in mind as you read these passages: What is rectitude? Is rectitude more similar to honesty or bravery? Explain. Why are talent and learning useless to a samurai without rectitude? How can a samurai maintain a balance between rectitude and benevolence?

Explain. Why do you think listening to the Uguisu is emphasized for a samurai?



2. Now you will do a close rereading of the quotes. As you reread each quote, you will annotate the text. Annotate means to add notes to a text by explaining or commenting on the text as you read. In other words, you will read with a pencil or pen in hand. When you annotate, you might consider:

underlining important words or phrases writing questions you have about the author’s meaning in the margins writing summaries of key points in the margins underlining vivid imagery or descriptions creating your own code of symbols or colors to identify key points or ideas



Quotes

“To rush into the thick of battle and to be

slain in it is easy enough, and the merest churl

[bad-mannered person] is equal to the task; but

it is true courage to live when it is right to

live, and to die only when it is right to die.”

—attributed to a prince of Mito



“Rectitude is the power of deciding upon a

certain course of conduct in accordance with

reason, without wavering;—to die when it is

right to die, to strike when to strike is

right.” —attributed to a Bushido master



“Rectitude is the bone that gives firmness and

stature. As without bones the head cannot rest

on the top of the spine, nor hands move nor feet

stand, so without rectitude neither talent nor

learning can make of a human frame a samurai.

With it the lack of accomplishments is as

nothing.”

—attributed to a Bushido master



“Rectitude carried to excess hardens into

stiffness; benevolence indulged beyond measure

sinks into weakness.”

—attributed to Masamune [Japan's greatest sword

smith, who lived in the 1300s]



“Stands the warrior, mailed [wearing a coat of

mail] and strong, To hear the Uguisu's

[nightingale's] song, Warbled sweet the trees

among.”

—attributed to Bushido master

Nitobe, Inazo. Bushido, the Soul of Japan. Tokyo: Shokwabo, 1901. Web.



3. After reading the excerpts, complete the graphic organizer below.

Notes

What is the main idea of each quote?

Quote 1:

Quote 2:

Quote 3:

Quote 4:

Quote 5:



What evidence from each quote supports the main idea you identified?

Quote 1:

Quote 2:

Quote 3:

Quote 4:

Quote 5:



Write two questions about each quote. First, write a Level 1 question. Level 1 questions are related to the text and focus on concrete examples from the text. Example: What does Masamune mean when he says, “Rectitude carried to excess hardens into stiffness”? Then, write a Level 2 question. Level 2 questions are more abstract questions about theme or relationships between the text and yourself. Example: What is Masamune trying to teach me?

Level 1 Question Level 2 Question

Quote 1:

Quote 2:

Quote 3:

Quote 4:

Quote 5:



II. Participating in the Socratic Seminar 1. Gather your annotated text, the completed graphic organizer, and analysis

questions.

2. In a Socratic Seminar, you and your classmates will discuss the main points and ideas in the texts you read. The seminar will have a discussion leader, either your teacher or a student the teacher has selected. Familiarize yourself with the rules of a Socratic Seminar.

A Socratic Seminar is a discussion. Talk to everyone in the discussion group and make contact with your audience.

Be courteous. If someone else is speaking, do not interrupt. Be mindful of how long you are speaking. Others want to share their ideas, so

keep your comments brief and clear. Use textual evidence to support your ideas. Ask questions if you do not understand what another student has said. Don’t criticize. If you do not agree with something, use textual evidence to

question the statement. For example, you might say, “You said that Bushido was in favor of always using rectitude. However, I read that … Can you explain how you arrived at your conclusion?”

A Socratic Seminar is not a debate. You do not have to get others to think the same way you do. Instead, you are looking to understand the meaning of a text together.

3. Participate in the Socratic Seminar in which you discuss the sources. The procedure

for the seminar is as follows: The discussion leader will begin by asking an open-ended question to jump-

start the discussion. Students will respond to the question, share their thoughts about other

students’ responses, and ask questions of their own during the discussion.

4. As you discuss the sources, keep the following questions in mind: What advice does each Bushido expert give for following the way of Bushido? What aspects of Bushido do you think would work well for training soldiers? What aspects do you think would not work well?

III. Reflecting on the Socratic Seminar 1. After completing the Socratic Seminar, complete the Socratic Seminar Self-

Evaluation graphic organizer on the next page. In this graphic organizer, you will rate your performance during the seminar and note the most interesting points you heard during the discussion.



Socratic Seminar Self-Evaluation

Yes (2

pts.)

Mostly

(1 pt.)

No

(0 pts.)

Comments/Reflections

I participated fully in the conversation.

I used a tone of voice that was respectful and did not attack others.

I actively listened and connected my ideas to those of other speakers.

I used evidence from the sources to support my thoughts.

I remained on topic and engaged.

I spoke in a loud and clear voice.



Total Points:

What is the most interesting thing mentioned during the discussion?

Did the discussion help me better understand Bushido? Explain.

Do I have any lingering questions after the seminar?

2. What aspects of Bushido would work well for training soldiers today, and

what aspects would not? On a separate sheet of paper, use the information you gathered during your reading of the excerpts and the seminar to create a proposal to the leader of a newly established country. In your proposal, be sure to explain the following:

the aspects of Bushido that would work well for training soldiers the reasons why these aspects would work well, using specific

evidence from the quotes and the discussion the aspects of Bushido that would not work well for training soldiers the reasons why these aspects would not work well, using specific

evidence from the quotes and the discussion

Documents

WH JapaneseSociety Socratic SG Final DE1 JVH · Discovery Education Techbook Discovery Communications, LLC 1 Bushido: Code of the Samurai