Narrowing an Essay Argument | Learn Korean in English

About This Lesson

Use Narrowing an Essay Argument to practice Korean conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

제 에세이는 연구를 바탕으로 하고 있지만, 중심 주장이 불분명한 것 같아요.

jeh eh-SEH-ee-nuhn yuhn-GOO-ruhl pah-TAHNG-uh-roh hah-goh IT-jee-mahn, joong-SHIM joo-JAHNG-ee bool-boon-MYUHNG-hahn kuht KAH-tah-yoh My essay draws on research, but the central argument feels unclear.

근거는 관련이 있지만, 주장의 범위를 더 명확하게 정해야 해요.

guhn-GUH-nuhn gwahl-LYUH-nee IT-jee-mahn, joo-JAHNG-uhl buhm-WEE-ruhl duh myuhng-HWAK-hah-geh juhng-HAE-yah heh-YOH The evidence is relevant, yet the claim needs sharper boundaries.

너무 많은 질문에 답하려고 하는 것 같아요.

NUH-moo MAH-nuhn jil-MOO-neh dahm-NYUH-ryuh-goh hah-nuhn kuht KAH-tah-yoh I think I am trying to answer too many questions.

주제가 흥미롭지만 범위가 넓을 때 그런 일이 자주 생겨요.

joo-JEH-gah hoong-MEE-rop-JEE-mahn buhm-WEE-gah nuhl-BUHL t-TEH guh-ruhn EEL-lee JAH-joo seng-GYUH-yoh That often happens when the topic is interesting but broad.

너무 단순하게 만들지 않으면서 어떻게 범위를 좁힐 수 있을까요?

NUH-moo dahn-SOON-hah-geh MAHN-duhl-jee AH-nuh-MYUHN-suh uh-TTUH-keh buhm-WEE-ruhl joh-PHEEL soo EES-suhl-KKAH-yoh How can I narrow it without making it simplistic?

여러 자료에서 나타나는 긴장 관계 하나를 선택해 보세요.

YUH-ruh JAH-ryoh-eh-suh nah-TAH-nuhn geen-JAHNG gwahn-GYEH hah-NAH-ruhl suhn-TEH-keh boh-SEH-yoh Choose one tension that appears across several sources.

그러면 핵심을 잃지 않고 관점들을 비교할 수 있어요.

guh-ruh-MYUN hek-SHIM-uhl EEL-chee AHN-koh gwahn-JUHM-duhl-uhl bee-GYOH-hahl soo EES-suh-yoh Then I can compare perspectives without losing the main point.

그렇게 초점을 맞추면 각 문단이 같은 주장을 뒷받침하게 될 거예요.

guh-ruh-keh choh-JJUHM-uhl maht-CHOO-myuhn gahng moon-DAH-nee GAH-tuhn joo-JAHNG-uhl dweet-BAHT-chim-hah-geh twel-KKUH-yeh-yoh That focus will make each paragraph support the same claim.

Word by Word

제 제 means “my” here and refers to the speaker’s essay. It is the possessive form used before a noun, as in 제 에세이. A learner can use it when identifying something as their own in a polite context.

에세이는 에세이는 means “as for the essay,” with the essay as the topic of the sentence. The ending 는 marks what the speaker is talking about, while 제 supplies the meaning “my.” This pattern is useful when introducing or contrasting a topic.

연구를 연구를 means “research” as the object of the following expression. The ending 를 marks research as what the essay is based on in 연구를 바탕으로 하고. Use this object-marked form when describing what supports or informs something.

바탕으로 바탕으로 contributes the meaning “on the basis of” or “based on” in 연구를 바탕으로 하고. It presents the research as the foundation for the essay. This form is useful for explaining the basis of an essay, decision, or analysis.

하고 하고 continues the expression 연구를 바탕으로 하다 and links it to the contrast that follows. In 연구를 바탕으로 하고 있지만, it helps express that the essay is based on research despite another problem. Use this connecting form when one statement leads into a contrasting or continuing statement.

있지만 있지만 marks a contrast, giving the sense “although it is” or “but” in 연구를 바탕으로 하고 있지만. Here it helps contrast the essay’s research basis with the unclear central argument. Use it after a statement when the next statement presents an opposing or unexpected point.

중심 중심 means “central” or “main” and identifies the most important part in 중심 주장. It narrows the meaning of the following noun to the essay’s primary claim. This word is useful when referring to the central point of an argument or discussion.

주장이 주장이 means “the claim” or “argument” as the subject of the description 불분명한. The ending 이 marks the claim as what is unclear. Use this form when describing the condition or quality of a claim.

불분명한 불분명한 means “unclear” in the description of the central claim. It is the form used before 것 in 불분명한 것 같아요, so the description can be evaluated as something that seems true. Use it before a noun when explaining that something lacks clear definition.

것 것 means “thing” or “fact” in 불분명한 것 같아요 and nominalizes the preceding description. The full pattern presents the speaker’s assessment as “it seems that it is unclear,” rather than making a completely direct assertion. This pattern is useful when expressing an impression or cautious judgment.

같아요 같아요 contributes “seems” or “I think” in 불분명한 것 같아요. Together with 것, it softens the assessment that the central argument is unclear. Use this polite expression when giving an opinion or impression without presenting it too forcefully.

근거는 근거는 means “as for the evidence,” making the evidence the topic of the second line. The ending 는 sets it up for the evaluation that follows. Use this form when introducing evidence before explaining its relevance or limitation.

관련이 관련이 contributes the idea of “relevance” in 관련이 있지만. The ending 이 marks relevance as the subject of the following description, while the full expression says that the evidence is relevant. Use it when evaluating whether evidence or information is connected to a topic.

주장의 주장의 means “of the claim” and links the claim to the following noun 범위. The ending 의 marks the relationship between the claim and its scope. Use this form when specifying the scope, purpose, or other feature belonging to a claim.

범위를 범위를 means “the scope” as the object of the action in 범위를 더 명확하게 정해야 해요. The ending 를 marks the scope as what must be defined more clearly. This form is useful when discussing the range of an argument, project, or topic.

더 더 means “more” or “further” and shows that the claim’s scope should become clearer than it currently is. In 범위를 더 명확하게 정해야 해요, it modifies the degree of clarity. Use it before an adjective or adverb when indicating an additional or greater degree.

명확하게 명확하게 means “clearly” and describes how the scope should be set in 명확하게 정해야 해요. It focuses on making the boundaries precise rather than merely choosing them. Use it when describing a clear way of defining, explaining, or organizing something.

정해야 정해야 means “must determine” or “need to set” in 정해야 해요. It expresses the action required for defining the claim’s scope, and 해요 completes the obligation expression. Use this form when explaining what needs to be decided or established.

해요 해요 completes 정해야 해요, making the statement a polite expression of necessity. Here the whole expression means that the scope needs to be set more clearly, rather than 해요 meaning “do” by itself. Use this polite ending when giving advice or stating a requirement.

너무 너무 means “too” or “excessively” in 너무 많은 질문 and 너무 단순하게. It indicates that the number of questions or the degree of simplicity has gone beyond a suitable level. Use it before a description when pointing out an excessive degree.

많은 많은 means “many” and modifies 질문 in 많은 질문. It describes the number of questions the writer is trying to answer. Use this form before a noun when referring to a large number of people, things, or questions.

질문에 질문에 means “to the questions” in 질문에 답하려고 하는 것 같아요. The ending 에 marks the questions as what the answering is directed toward. Use this pattern when describing answering, responding to, or directing an action toward questions.

답하려고 답하려고 means “trying or intending to answer” in 답하려고 하는. It expresses the purpose or intention connected with the attempt described in the sentence. Use this form before a following action or description when saying that someone intends or tries to do something.

하는 하는 means “doing” or “trying to do” in 답하려고 하는 것 같아요. It modifies 것 and helps form the expression that the speaker seems to be trying to answer too many questions. Use this modifying form before a noun when describing an ongoing action or attempt.

주제가 주제가 means “the topic” as the subject of 흥미롭지만. The ending 가 marks the topic as interesting but broad. Use this form when describing the qualities or condition of a topic.

흥미롭지만 흥미롭지만 means “interesting, but” and introduces a contrast with the topic’s broad scope. In 흥미롭지만 범위가 넓을 때, the topic’s appeal is contrasted with the difficulty created by its size. Use this ending when acknowledging one positive point before adding a contrasting point.

범위가 범위가 means “the scope” as the subject of the description 넓을. The ending 가 marks the scope as what is broad. Use it when describing the size or range of a topic, argument, or task.

넓을 넓을 means “broad” or “wide” in 범위가 넓을 때. Its form connects the description of the scope with 때, giving the meaning “when the scope is broad.” Use this form before a time expression when describing a condition that leads to an event.

때 때 means “when” in 범위가 넓을 때. It turns the preceding condition into a time or situation for the statement 그런 일이 자주 생겨요. Use it after a clause when describing what happens when a particular condition holds.

그런 그런 means “such” or “that kind of” and modifies 일 in 그런 일이 자주 생겨요. It refers back to the difficulty just described rather than introducing a new specific event. Use it before a noun when referring to a previously mentioned type of situation.

일이 일이 means “a thing” or “an event” as the subject of 생겨요. In 그런 일이 자주 생겨요, it refers to the kind of problem mentioned in the previous sentence. Use this form when saying that an event or situation occurs.

자주 자주 means “often” and describes how frequently 그런 일이 생겨요. It shows that the problem is a recurring possibility when a topic is broad. Use it before a verb when describing frequent occurrence.

생겨요 생겨요 means “happens” or “arises” in 그런 일이 자주 생겨요. It describes a problem coming about, not a person deliberately creating it. Use this polite form when saying that a situation or issue occurs.

단순하게 단순하게 means “simply” or, in this context, “in an overly simplistic way.” In 너무 단순하게 만들지 않으면서, it describes how the argument should not be made. Use it before a verb when describing the manner in which something is made or presented.

만들지 만들지 supplies the verb meaning “make” in 만들지 않으면서. The object is understood from the context as the argument or topic being narrowed, while the following form adds the meaning “without making it.” Use this verb form before a negative connective when describing an action that should not be done.

않으면서 않으면서 means “without doing” or “while not doing” in 만들지 않으면서. It connects the action that should be avoided with the question about narrowing the argument. Use it when describing one action that is carried out without carrying out another.

어떻게 어떻게 means “how” and asks about the method of narrowing the argument. In 어떻게 범위를 좁힐 수 있을까요, it requests practical guidance rather than a yes-or-no answer. Use it before an action when asking how something can be done.

좁힐 좁힐 means “narrow” or “reduce the scope” in 좁힐 수 있을까요. It describes making the argument’s range smaller, and its form connects to the possibility expression that follows. Use it when discussing how to reduce the range of a topic, claim, or project.

수 수 expresses possibility or ability in 좁힐 수 있을까요. It does not mean “way” independently here; together with the surrounding expression, it asks whether narrowing the scope is possible. Use it in the pattern for asking whether an action can be done.

있을까요 있을까요 helps form a polite question about possibility in 좁힐 수 있을까요. The full expression asks, “How can I narrow it?” or “Would it be possible to narrow it?” Use this ending when politely asking about whether something can be done.

여러 여러 means “several” or “various” and modifies 자료 in 여러 자료에서. It shows that the tension appears in more than one source. Use it before a plural-like noun when referring to multiple items without specifying an exact number.

자료에서 자료에서 means “in” or “from the sources” in 여러 자료에서 나타나는. The ending 에서 marks the sources as the place or origin where the tension appears. Use this form when identifying the material or setting in which information or a pattern is found.

나타나는 나타나는 means “appearing” or “emerging” and modifies 긴장 관계 in 나타나는 긴장 관계. It identifies the tension as something found across the sources. Use this form before a noun when describing a pattern, issue, or feature that appears somewhere.

긴장 긴장 contributes the meaning “tension” in 긴장 관계. Here it refers to an intellectual or argumentative tension found in the sources, not simply a person’s nervousness. Use it when identifying an opposing pressure or unresolved tension in an analysis.

관계 관계 means “relationship” in 긴장 관계, forming the idea of a relationship characterized by tension. The word helps name the kind of tension the tutor recommends selecting. Use it after a noun when describing a relationship or connection between ideas, people, or things.

하나를 하나를 means “one” as the object of 선택해 보세요. The ending 를 marks one tension relationship as the single item to choose. Use this form when selecting one item from several possibilities.

선택해 선택해 means “choose” or “select” in 선택해 보세요. With 보세요, it becomes a polite suggestion to try choosing one tension relationship. Use this form when linking a request or suggestion to a following auxiliary expression.

보세요 보세요 contributes the polite suggestion “please try” in 선택해 보세요. Together, 선택해 보세요 means “please try choosing,” rather than simply “please look.” Use this construction when encouraging someone to try an action.

그러면 그러면 means “then” or “in that case” and introduces the expected result of choosing one tension. It connects the tutor’s suggestion with the student’s ability to compare perspectives. Use it at the start of a sentence when drawing a consequence from what was just said.

핵심을 핵심을 means “the main point” as the object of 잃지 않고. The ending 를 marks the central point as what must not be lost while comparing perspectives. Use this form when describing preserving the central idea of an argument or discussion.

잃지 잃지 contributes “not lose” in 잃지 않고. It supplies the negative verb portion before the connective expression that says the comparison can happen without losing the main point. Use it before a negative connective when describing something that is not lost during another action.

않고 않고 means “without” or “and not” in 잃지 않고. Together with 잃지, it connects the avoided result—losing the main point—to the main action of comparing perspectives. Use it when saying that one action occurs without another action occurring.

관점들을 관점들을 means “perspectives” as the object of 비교할. The ending 들 marks multiple perspectives, and 를 marks them as what will be compared. Use this form when discussing several viewpoints in an analysis or discussion.

비교할 비교할 means “compare” in 비교할 수 있어요. It connects the action of comparing perspectives to the expression of ability that follows. Use it when saying that viewpoints, evidence, or examples can be compared.

있어요 있어요 completes 비교할 수 있어요 and expresses ability or possibility. The whole expression means “can compare,” not simply “exists.” Use this polite form in the pattern for saying that an action is possible.

그렇게 그렇게 means “that way” or “like that” and refers to the method of focusing on one tension and keeping the main point. In 그렇게 초점을 맞추면, it introduces the condition leading to the result. Use it when referring to a method or manner already described.

초점을 초점을 means “the focus” as the object of 맞추면. The ending 를 marks the focus as what is set or directed. Use it when describing what someone concentrates on in an essay, discussion, or task.

맞추면 맞추면 means “if” or “when one sets or focuses” in 초점을 맞추면. Together with 초점을, it describes directing the focus in a particular way before stating the result. Use this conditional form when explaining what happens if a certain focus or arrangement is adopted.

각 각 means “each” and modifies 문단 in 각 문단이. It emphasizes the paragraphs one by one rather than treating them only as a group. Use it before a noun when describing every individual item in a set.

문단이 문단이 means “each paragraph” as the subject of 뒷받침하게 될 거예요. The ending 이 marks the paragraphs as what will support the same claim. Use this form when describing what a paragraph does in relation to an argument.

같은 같은 means “same” and modifies 주장 in 같은 주장. It shows that every paragraph should support one shared claim. Use it before a noun when identifying something as identical or shared.

주장을 주장을 means “the claim” as the object of 뒷받침하게. The ending 를 marks the claim as what each paragraph will support. Use this form when describing the claim that evidence, paragraphs, or reasons support.

뒷받침하게 뒷받침하게 contributes “so as to support” in 뒷받침하게 될 거예요. It describes the role that each paragraph is expected to come to have in relation to the same claim. Use this form when describing an outcome in which something comes to support or reinforce an idea.

될 될 contributes “will become” or “will be” in 뒷받침하게 될 거예요. It links the supporting role to the expected result of focusing the essay. Use this form when describing a future state or a change into a particular role.

거예요 거예요 completes 될 거예요 and gives the polite prediction “will” or “is going to.” Here it presents the paragraphs’ shared support for the claim as the expected result of the proposed focus. Use this ending when making a polite prediction about a future result.

Grammar Points

-지만

주제는 흥미롭지만 너무 넓어요.

joo-JEH-nuhn hoong-MEE-rop-JJEE-mahn NUH-moo NUHL-buh-yoh

The topic is interesting, but it is too broad.

Attach -지만 to contrast two clauses. It means “but” or “although.”

-아/어야 하다

주장의 범위를 명확하게 정해야 해요.

joo-JAHNG-uhl buhm-WEE-ruhl myuhng-HWAK-hah-geh juhng-HAE-yah heh-YOH

You must clearly define the scope of the claim.

-아/어야 하다 expresses necessity or obligation: “must” or “have to.”

Korean Vocabulary

Quiz

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

to be unclear

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불분명한

to be clear

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명확하게

to determine; to set

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정해야

evidence

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근거