1. Using quotes (isolation examples)

2. Example 1 Isolation can make a country very vulnerable to other countries. For example, consider the statements of Aizawa Seishisai, a Japanese Confucian scholar, who wrote about how unprepared for foreign warfare Japan was. “But the art of war as taught today consists of outmoded ideas and tactics. … We do not observe foreign troops directly, nor do we gather information about them.” (Seishisai) Great choice of quote (but you need to do more than just have a quote sit there like this is) Good job of giving some context to quote (but you need a little more) Isolation can make a country very vulnerable to other countries. For example, consider the statements of Aizawa Seishisai, a Japanese Confucian scholar, who wrote about how unprepared for foreign warfare Japan was. “But the art of war as taught today consists of outmoded ideas and tactics,” Seishisai wrote during the Tokugawa Dynasty, when Japan was at its most isolated. “…We do not observe foreign troops directly, nor do we gather information about them.” (Seishisai)

3. Example 2 Isolation in the past has proven to be a useless and a poor decision when it comes to sustainability and protection of a country. If no new information is being absorbed, then the country is going to be in the slow lane as other countries are in the fast lane, modernizing and gaining more and more power. In the excerpt “Shinron” by Seishisai, he explains how weak they are with their incompetence. “But due to our ignorance of enemy formations and tactics, our valor counted for little. … We do not observe foreign troops directly, nor do we gather information about them.” (Seishashi) Great job in making point first, then using quote to support it. Great job in explaining the speaker’s point in the quote before, rather than after, the quote. Need to give context for the quote, however. Just saying “Shinron” by Seishasi tells us nothing. Isolation in the past has proven to be a poor decision when it comes to sustainability and protection of a country. If no new information is being absorbed, then the country is going to be in the slow lane as other countries are in the fast lane, modernizing and gaining more and more power. This was evident during the isolated Tokugawa Dynasty in Japan, when despite being steeped in the tradition of samurai, the nation failed to fend off Western ships entering Japanese waters. A tutor to the Tokugawa family, Aizawa Seishisai, explained how weak the country became due to isolation, saying, “Due to our ignorance of enemy formations and tactics, our valor counted for little. … We do not observe foreign troops directly, nor do we gather information about them.” (Seishashi)

4. Example 3 Isolation is somewhat a form of weakness, insecurities, and fear. Any enemy can pick a country apart, piece by piece. They may have their army locked and loaded (the isolated countries), but how well-trained are they to cope with sudden attacks and other “complexities of warfare”? According to Aizawa Seishisai, author of “the Barbarians’ Nature” wrote about a period of wins and their ultimate downfall, “During the Warring States period (1467-1568), our warriors were truly fit for combat: proper movements on the battlefield were simple reflex actions. Our warriors proved their valor… capturing enemy banners or beheading enemy generals. But two hundred years have passed since our warriors last tasted battle.” “Seishisai”…. (this continues, but we’ll stop here) Great choice of quote, and your idea is great. Need to give context for the quote. Simplify! Citation format! Isolation leaves a country vulnerable, in part because a nation’s untested military is not trained to cope with sudden attacks and other complexities of warfare. That may have been the cause of Japan’s problems during the latter part of the Tokugawa Dynasty, which had become isolated. “During the Warring States period (1467-1568), our warriors were truly fit for combat: proper movements on the battlefield were simple reflex actions,” said Aizawa Seishasi, a Confucian scholar during the Tokugawa period. “Our warriors proved their valor… capturing enemy banners or beheading enemy generals. But two hundred years have passed since our warriors last tasted battle.” (Seishisai)

5. Example 4 History has proven isolation is not a good policy for a country. Isolation of a country leads to ignorance of what is going on in other parts of the world. If countries are not in contact with each other, it becomes difficult for one to fully understand the power or weakness another country possesses. An isolated country cannot fully be prepared for attacks, because they themselves do not fully understand what they are up against. “To turn our vacillation into constancy of purpose and eliminate the weakness we possess, we must fully understand the barbarians’ nature.” (Seishasai) Good use of quote and idea. Need to ID speaker (and use context) within the text History has proven isolation is not a good policy for a country. Isolation of a country leads to ignorance of what is going on in other parts of the world. If countries are not in contact with each other, it becomes difficult for one to fully understand the power or weakness another country possesses. An isolated country cannot fully be prepared for attacks, because they themselves do not fully understand what they are up against. That’s why Aizawa Seishasai, a scholar during the Tokugawa Dynasty in Japan, urged his country to end its isolated ways. “To turn our vacillation into constancy of purpose and eliminate the weakness we possess, we must fully understand the barbarians’ nature,” Seishasi said. (Seishasai) Seishasai’s warnings would prove to be prescient, as…. (you could then give a description of how the Tokugawa was forced out of isolation)

6. Example 5 Another reason isolation has failed in most countries is that it could lead to invasions, resulting in great losses. As Aizawa Seishisai states, “due to our ignorance of enemy formations and tactics, our valor counted little.” He shows that because of China’s isolation, they did not know what to expect from the Mongol invaders. This shows that their isolation led to the decimation of their own forces. Good idea in using a specific example, but: Need to give context to author (and get your context right, as Seisashi is talking about Japan!) It would help if you gave example first, then use quote Another reason isolation has failed in most countries is that it could lead to invasions, resulting in great losses. Aizawa Seishisai a scholar during the Tokugawa Dynasty, claims the nation’s isolation led to an inability to fend off Western powers. Seishasai said Japan didn’t know what to expect, and “due to our ignorance of enemy formations and tactics, our valor counted little.” (Seishasai)

7. Example 6 In terms of a country, being isolated may look like it’s safer, but it’s not. In the instance of war, a country that is isolated may ultimately be out of date with combat techniques, or even out of date with combat in general. Aizawa Seishisai, and important Confucian scholar for the Tokugawa family, stated in his work Shinron “How many of them today are trained well enough to cope with the sudden thrusts and feins or other complexities of warfare? The weak-hearted would flee for their lives, disrupting the ranks; the courageous would die meaninglessly, their valor coming to naught. Our skill and valor do not guarantee victory.” (Seishisai) As Aizawa said, skill and a sense of valor won’t win a war. To win, you need to know tactics and strategies of your opponent, and you can’t do that if you’re isolated. Good use of quote and addition of Tokugawa Still need a little more context Quote is a little too long You can transition this to actual examples In terms of a country, being isolated may look like it’s safer, but it’s not. In the instance of war, a country that is isolated may ultimately be out of date with combat techniques, or even out of date with combat in general. Aizawa Seishisai, and important Confucian scholar for the Tokugawa family, warned that this might be coming to his isolated country of Japan. “How many of them today are trained well enough to cope with the sudden thrusts and feins or other complexities of warfare?...” Seishisai wrote in 1825. “Our skill and valor do not guarantee victory.” (Seishisai) It turns out Seishisai was right, …