About This Lesson
Use Narrowing an Argument for Clarity to practice Japanese conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.
Dialogue
A
私のエッセイは研究を活用していますが、中心となる主張がはっきりしない気がします。
wa-TAH-shee noh EH-say wah ken-KYOO oh kahts-YOH she-TEH ee-MAHS gah, CHOO-shin toh NAH-roo shoo-CHOH gah hahk-kee-ree she-NAI kee gah she-MAHS. My essay draws on research, but the central argument feels unclear.
B
証拠は関連していますが、主張の範囲をもっと明確にする必要があります。
SHOH-koh wah kahn-REN she-TEH ee-MAHS yet, shoo-CHOH noh HAHN-ee oh MOHT-toh MAY-kah-koo she-ROO nee-ZHOO gah ah-ree-MAHS. The evidence is relevant, yet the claim needs sharper boundaries.
A
多くの問いに答えようとしすぎているのだと思います。
OH-koo noh TOH-ee nee koh-tah-eh-YOH toh she-soo-GEE-teh ee-ROO noh dah toh oh-MOH-ee-MAHS. I think I am trying to answer too many questions.
B
話題が興味深い一方で、幅が広いときにはよく起こります。
wah-DAI gah kyoh-mee foo-KAI ee-POH deh, HAH-bah gah hee-ROO-ee toh-KEE nee wah YOH-koo oh-KOH-ree-MAHS. That often happens when the topic is interesting but broad.
A
単純化しすぎずに、どうすれば範囲を絞れますか。
tahn-JOON-kah she-soo-GEE-zoo nee, DOH shoo-REH-bah HAHN-ee oh shee-BOH-reh-MAHS kah. How can I narrow it without making it simplistic?
B
複数の資料に見られる、一つの対立点を選んでください。
foo-koo-SOO noh shee-RYOH nee meh-RAH-reh-roo, hee-TOHTS noo tie-REE-tsoo-ten oh EH-ran-deh koo-DAH-sai. Choose one tension that appears across several sources.
A
そうすれば、主な点を失わずに、さまざまな見方を比較できます。
SOH shoo-REH-bah, OH-moh-nah ten oh shee-NAH-wah-zoo nee, sah-mah-ZAH-mah-nah mee-KAH-tah oh hee-KAH-koo deh-kee-MAHS. Then I can compare perspectives without losing the main point.
B
その焦点があれば、各段落が同じ主張を支えるようになります。
SOH-noh SHOH-ten gah ah-REH-bah, KAH-koo DAHN-rah-koo gah OH-nah-jee shoo-CHOH oh sah-sah-EH-roo YOH-oo nee nah-ree-MAHS. That focus will make each paragraph support the same claim.Word by Word
私
In 私のエッセイ, 私 means “my,” referring to the speaker’s essay. The reusable pattern is 私の + noun for possession, such as 私の研究 for “my research.”
の
In 私のエッセイ, の links 私 to エッセイ and shows possession: “my essay.” Use the pattern noun + の + noun when one noun belongs to or describes another.
エッセイ
エッセイ means “essay,” the piece of academic writing being discussed here. It can be used after a topic or possessive phrase, as in 私のエッセイ.
は
In 私のエッセイは, は marks the essay as the topic of the sentence. A common pattern is topic + は + information about that topic.
研究
研究 means “research” in 研究を活用しています, referring to research used as evidence or support for the essay. The pattern 研究を活用する means “to make use of research.”
を
In 研究を活用しています, を marks 研究 as the object being used. It commonly follows the object before an action verb, as in 資料を活用する.
活用
活用 means “use” or “make effective use of” in 研究を活用しています. The pattern noun + を活用する is useful when describing the effective use of research, materials, or skills.
し
In 活用しています, し is the connecting form of the action in 活用して and links it to the continuing polite expression. The whole pattern 活用しています describes an action that is currently in progress or an ongoing state.
て
In 活用して, て connects 活用し to the following part of 活用しています. The pattern verb-ている is commonly used to describe an ongoing action or state.
い
In 活用しています, い is the auxiliary component after て that helps express an ongoing action or state. Together, 活用しています means that the essay is currently making use of research.
ます
In 活用しています, ます gives the expression a polite tone. It is used in polite statements when speaking to a tutor or another person in an academic setting.
が
In 研究を活用していますが, が means “but” and connects the useful research with the problem that the argument is unclear. The pattern clause + が + clause is a common way to present a contrast politely.
中心
In 中心となる主張, 中心 means “center” or “core,” identifying the claim that is most important to the essay. It is used before と, as in 中心となる, to describe something that forms the central part.
と
In 中心となる, と links 中心 with なる and presents the idea of becoming or constituting the center. The whole expression 中心となる主張 means “the claim that is central.”
なる
In 中心となる主張, なる expresses that the claim constitutes or becomes the central part. The pattern noun + となる can describe something taking on a particular role or status.
主張
主張 means “claim” or “argument” in 中心となる主張. In academic discussion, it can be used with 範囲, as in 主張の範囲, to describe the scope of an argument.
はっきり
In はっきりしない, はっきり means “clearly,” and the negative expression says that the central claim does not feel clear. The pattern はっきりする describes becoming clear, while はっきりしない describes a lack of clarity.
ない
In はっきりしない, ない makes the expression negative, so the claim is not clear. It can follow a verb or adjective form to say that something does not happen or is not the case.
気
In 気がします, 気 refers to the speaker’s feeling or impression that something is the case. The pattern noun + 気がする is used to say that something feels or seems a certain way.
証拠
証拠 means “evidence,” referring to the material supporting the essay’s claim. A common academic pattern is 証拠が relevantな主張を支える, where evidence supports a claim.
関連
In 関連しています, 関連 means “related” or “relevant” to the claim being discussed. The pattern noun + に関連する describes something connected with a topic or argument.
範囲
範囲 means “scope” or “range” in 主張の範囲. It identifies how broad or limited the claim is, and it commonly follows a noun with の.
もっと
In もっと明確にする, もっと means “more,” indicating that the claim’s scope should be made clearer than it currently is. It can modify an adjective or an adverbial expression to request a greater degree.
明確
In 明確にする, 明確 means “clear” or “precise” and describes the desired condition of the claim’s boundaries. The pattern 明確にする means “to make something clear,” often with an object before it.
に
In 明確にする, に changes 明確 into the form describing the result of the action: making something clear. The pattern adjective or noun + にする means “to make something become that way.”
する
In 明確にする, する means “make” or “cause to be,” so the tutor says the boundaries need to be made clearer. The pattern noun or adjective + にする is used when deliberately changing something.
必要
In 必要があります, 必要 means “necessary” or “needed,” stating that clearer boundaries are required. The pattern noun + が必要です or 必要があります expresses a need.
あり
In 必要があります, あり is the connecting form used before ます in the polite expression for existence or necessity. Together, 必要があります means that something is necessary.
多く
In 多くの問い, 多く means “many” or “a large number of,” referring to the number of questions the writer is trying to answer. The pattern 多くの + noun is used before a plural or uncountable idea.
問い
問い means “question” or “inquiry” in 多くの問い. It is used with に in 問いに答える, the pattern meaning “answer a question.”
答え
In 答えようとしすぎている, 答え means “answer” as part of the attempt to answer the questions. The common pattern 問いに答える places the question with に before 答える.
よう
In 答えようとしすぎている, よう contributes the sense of intending or attempting to answer. The pattern verb + ようとする describes trying or intending to do something.
すぎ
In 答えようとしすぎている, すぎ means “too much” or “excessively,” so the writer is trying to answer an excessive number of questions. It follows an action or expression to show that it goes beyond an appropriate amount.
いる
In 答えようとしすぎている, いる shows that the excessive attempt is an ongoing state. The pattern verb-ている can describe a continuing action or condition.
だ
In のだと思います, だ gives an explanatory, assertive tone to the idea that the writer is trying to answer too many questions. The pattern のだと思います is used to present an explanation as the speaker’s belief.
思い
In 思います, 思い is the form used before ます to express thinking or believing. The pattern と思います is commonly used to state an opinion politely.
話題
話題 means “topic” in 話題が興味深い. It refers to the subject of the essay or discussion, and it commonly appears before が when describing its qualities.
興味深い
興味深い means “interesting” in 話題が興味深い, describing a topic that attracts intellectual interest. It can directly modify a noun, as in 興味深い話題.
一方
In 興味深い一方で, 一方 contributes the meaning “while” or “on the other hand,” contrasting the topic’s interest with its breadth. The pattern adjective or clause + 一方で presents two sides of the same situation.
で
In 一方で, で completes the connective expression that means “while” or “although.” It links the description of the interesting topic to the contrasting point that it is broad.
幅
In 幅が広い, 幅 means “breadth” or “range,” referring to how widely the topic extends. The pattern 幅が広い can describe a topic or subject with broad coverage.
広い
In 幅が広い, 広い means “broad” or “wide,” describing the topic’s range. It is used after 幅が to say that the scope is extensive.
とき
In ときには, とき means “when” or “at a time,” introducing the condition in which the problem often occurs. The pattern clause + ときに is used to describe when something happens.
よく
In よく起こります, よく means “often,” saying that this situation happens frequently. It commonly comes before a verb to describe frequency.
起こり
In 起こります, 起こり is the connecting form of “happen” before the polite ending ます. The pattern problem or event + が起こる is used to say that something occurs.
単純化
In 単純化しすぎずに, 単純化 means “simplification,” referring to reducing the argument until it becomes overly simple. The pattern noun + する forms an action, here meaning “simplify.”
ず
In 単純化しすぎずに, ず means “without doing,” so the writer asks how to narrow the argument without oversimplifying it. The pattern verb stem + ずに expresses doing one thing without doing another.
どう
In どうすれば, どう means “how,” asking about the method for narrowing the argument. The pattern どうすれば + result is used to ask what one should do to achieve a result.
すれ
In どうすれば, すれ is the conditional form of the action in the question and connects with ば. Together, どうすれば asks how a desired result can be achieved.
ば
In どうすれば, ば marks the conditional relationship: “if one does it how” or more naturally “how can one do it.” The pattern conditional form + ば is used when asking or explaining the condition for a result.
絞れ
In 絞れます, 絞れ means “narrow” in the sense of reducing the scope of the argument. With ます, the expression asks whether the writer can narrow the scope without making it simplistic.
か
At the end of どうすれば範囲を絞れますか, か marks a polite question. It turns the preceding statement into a request for guidance or information.
複数
複数 means “several” or “multiple” in 複数の資料. It indicates that the tension appears in more than one source, and it commonly comes before の + noun.
資料
資料 means “source” or “material” in 複数の資料. In academic work, it can refer to materials consulted as evidence, and it commonly appears in 資料に見られる.
見
In 見られる, 見 is the part connected to られる in the expression meaning “be seen” or “be found.” The whole pattern 資料に見られる describes something appearing in or being observable in sources.
られる
In 見られる, られる makes the expression passive-like, meaning that the tension can be seen or found across the sources. The pattern nounに見られる is useful for describing a feature observed in documents or examples.
対立点
対立点 means “point of tension” or “point of conflict,” referring to one issue where perspectives differ. The phrase 一つの対立点を選ぶ is used here to identify a focused issue for the essay.
選ん
In 選んでください, 選ん is the connecting form of “choose” before でください. The pattern nounを選ぶ means “choose a noun,” and 選んでください makes it a polite request.
ください
In 選んでください, ください makes the request polite: “please choose.” It follows a て-form to ask another person to carry out an action.
そう
In そうすれば, そう means “so” or “in that way,” referring back to choosing one tension across several sources. The whole pattern そうすれば means “if you do so” or “then, if that is done.”
主な
主な means “main” or “principal” in 主な点. It identifies the point that should remain central while comparing perspectives.
点
In 主な点, 点 means “point,” referring to the central idea of the argument. The reusable pattern 主な点を失わない means “not lose the main point.”
失わ
In 失わずに, 失わ means “lose” as part of the expression “without losing.” The pattern 失わずに + action describes carrying out an action while retaining something important.
さまざま
In さまざまな見方, さまざま means “various” or “diverse,” describing perspectives that differ from one another. It is followed by な before a noun, as in さまざまな見方.
な
In さまざまな見方, な links the noun-like expression さまざま to 見方 and allows it to describe the noun. The pattern さまざまな + noun means “various + noun.”
見方
見方 means “perspective” or “way of viewing” in さまざまな見方. It is useful when comparing how different sources or people understand the same issue.
比較
In 比較できます, 比較 means “compare” or “comparison,” referring to comparing different perspectives. The pattern AとBを比較する is used when comparing two items or viewpoints.
でき
In 比較できます, でき is the ability component before the polite ending ます, so the expression means “can compare.” It follows the action noun 比較 and forms a polite statement of ability.
その
In その焦点, その means “that” or “its,” referring to the focused tension chosen from the sources. It directly comes before the noun it identifies, here 焦点.
焦点
焦点 means “focus” in その焦点. In this dialogue, it refers to the single tension that gives the essay a clear direction, and it can be used with が when describing its effect.
あれ
In あれば, あれ is the conditional form of the existence expression used in その焦点があれば. The whole phrase means “if that focus is present” or “with that focus.”
各
各 means “each” in 各段落, referring separately to every paragraph of the essay. It commonly comes directly before a noun, as in 各段落.
段落
段落 means “paragraph,” referring to the individual sections of the essay. In 各段落が同じ主張を支える, it is the subject that supports the same claim.
同じ
同じ means “same” in 同じ主張, indicating that every paragraph should support one shared claim. It directly modifies the noun 主張 in this expression.
支える
支える means “support” in 同じ主張を支える, describing how each paragraph should provide support for the claim. The pattern nounを支える means “support a noun,” such as supporting an argument with evidence.
なり
In なります, なり is the connecting form before ます in 支えるようになります. The whole expression 支えるようになります means that the paragraphs will come to support the same claim.
る
The supplied unit る is the dictionary-form ending of the verb represented in the polite form なります; the character る itself does not appear in this dialogue form. In this sentence, the form appears as なり before ます, meaning “become” in 支えるようになります.
Grammar Points
〜ようになります
各段落が主な焦点を支えるようになります。
KAH-koo DAHN-rah-koo gah OH-moh-nah SHOH-ten oh sah-sah-EH-roo YOH-oo nee nah-ree-MAHS.Each paragraph will come to support the main focus.
「〜ようになります」は、状態や習慣が変化して「〜するようになる」という意味です。
〜ずに
主な焦点を失わずに、話題を絞れます。
OH-moh-nah SHOH-ten oh oo-shee-NAH-wah-zoo nee, wah-DAI oh shee-BOH-reh-MAHS.You can narrow the topic without losing the main focus.
「〜ずに」は、ある動作をしないで別の動作をすることを表します。
Japanese Vocabulary
エッセイ
noun
EH-say
essay
はっきりしない
phrase
hahk-kee-ree she-NAI
be unclear
活用する
verb
kahts-YOH soo-ROO
make use of; draw on
活用しています
関連する
verb
kahn-REN soo-ROO
be relevant; be related
関連しています
研究
noun
ken-KYOO
research
主張
noun
shoo-CHOH
claim; argument
証拠
noun
SHOH-koh
evidence
中心となる
phrase
CHOO-shin toh NAH-roo
central
範囲
noun
HAHN-ee
scope; range
必要がある
phrase
hee-tsoo-YOH gah ah-ROO
need to; be necessary
必要があります
明確にする
verb
MAY-kah-koo nee soo-ROO
clarify; make clear
問い
noun
TOH-ee
question
Quiz
Spelling
Tap the letters to spell the word.
be unclear
Show Answer
はっきりしないessay
Show Answer
エッセイcentral
Show Answer
中心となるmake use of; draw on