8th Grade Research Paper: “The Warrior’s Code” Thesis option
We began our year in Social Studies by examining the European Middle Ages.
During our studies, we encountered the code of chivalry and the impact that it had on
Europe’s Knights. We are ending our year in Social Studies by examining Feudal Japan
which has introduced us to the Samurai warrior and the Bushido code.
Interestingly, although separated by thousands of miles both European Knights
and Samurai were honor bound to uphold codes which regulated virtually every aspect of
their lives. In other words, being a Knight or Samurai wasn’t merely something someone
did in order to “make a living”. Rather, these were ways of life which separated the
Knight and Samurai apart from the rest of their society.
Consider the slogan of the United States Marine Corps “The Few, the Proud, the
Marines”. Personal honor and behavior governed by a specific code made Knights and
Samurai “the best of the best” in their time, just as the Marine Corps strives to make its
branch of the military the “best of the best” in our time according to its code. For this
thesis option, all students will research the code of Chivalry and the Bushido code and
argue one of the following positions by filling in the blank with one of the choices listed
below:
The concept of personal honor for Knights in Medieval Europe and Samurai in
Feudal Japan was ________________________________.
(completely different)
(completely similar)
(mostly similar with a few differences)
(mostly different with a few similarities)
Students should include the following writing prompts in their papers:
Be sure to directly and clearly state your thesis statement in your first
and last paragraph
Define the codes of Chivalry and Bushido
List the virtues of Chivalry and Bushido
Discuss the battlefield practices of Chivalry and Bushido include
weapons, armor and personal conduct in battle
Discuss the personal behavior and conduct which Chivalry and
Bushido required of Knights and Samurai in their day to day lives
Include the summary of a current event or new story and discuss
whether or not the people portrayed in the story are behaving
according to the codes of either Chivalry and/or Bushido, be sure that
you justify your opinion with facts from both the story and
explanations of the code(s)
Be sure to include a work cited page at the end of the paper which lists
all sources used
Research Paper Websites
Medieval Knights and Chivalry
http://www.boisestate.edu/courses/westciv/medsoc/11.shtml
(Excellent site! Comprehensive, breaks down chivalry and how it affected a Knight’s day
to day life)
http://www.higgins.org/TheAgeOfKnights.pdf
(Short overview of actual code, prayer and practices)
http://www.mnsu.edu/emuseum/history/middleages/knighthood.html
(Well organized and to the point overview of knighthood including the process of
becoming a knight, weaponry and chivalry)
http://www.middle-ages.org.uk/knights-code-of-chivalry.htm
(Gives an account of the virtues of chivalry)
Samurai and Bushido Code
http://www.hamline.edu/~rkagan/Publications_Bushido.html
(Awesome source, comprehensive, conscience and well sourced)
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/sugihara/readings/bushido.html
(Good general overview of Bushido, last paragraph not applicable)
http://www.asianart.org/samurai/samurai-code.htm
(Short but good overview of Bushido)
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/samurai/hist-nf.html
(Timeline, too much info but does offer some solid insights about Bushido)
Current Event Sources
The Washington Post, Boston.com, The Associated Press, The BBC, Reuters, CNN,
The San Francisco Chronicle, Bloomberg (all of these sites can be accessed by simply
searching for them at www.google.com
A Word on Sources
Students are free to consult sources other than those which are listed. However, please
avoid blogs and online encyclopedias at all costs because they can be edited by anonymous
users. Be certain that any source which you use has its sources of information and authors
clearly visible and cited.
Rubric: Sources: Minimum of 4 sources used, well sourced and clearly incorporated 5pts (accomplished)
4pts (thorough) 3 pts (adequate) 0-2 pts (Needs Improvement)
Consistency of thesis argument: Thesis was clearly stated and consistently and convincingly argued
throughout the essay through the use of specific and clear examples 5pts (accomplished) 4pts (thorough)
3 pts (adequate) 0-2 pts (Needs Improvement)
Current Event: Well summarized and clearly is shown to either support or neglect the values of chivalry
and/or Bushido 5pts (accomplished) 4pts (thorough) 3 pts (adequate) 0-2 pts (Needs Improvement)
Total= 15 points
Approximate Length: 5-8 Paragraphs
Due in class on Monday June 14th
Time table: Paper will be homework all week, students will be given at least 3 class periods to work on the paper in class.
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