Narrowing an Essay Argument | Learn Chinese in English

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

Dialogue

我的论文参考了研究资料，但核心论点不够清晰。

Wǒ de lùnwén cānkǎo le yánjiū zīliào, dàn héxīn lùndiǎn búgòu qīngxī. My essay draws on research, but the central argument feels unclear.

这些证据是相关的，但这个论点需要更明确的范围。

Zhèxiē zhèngjù shì xiāngguān de, dàn zhège lùndiǎn xūyào gèng míngquè de fànwéi. The evidence is relevant, yet the claim needs sharper boundaries.

我觉得我试图回答太多问题。

Wǒ juéde wǒ shìtú huídá tài duō wèntí. I think I am trying to answer too many questions.

当主题很有趣但范围很广时，这种情况经常发生。

Dāng zhǔtí hěn yǒuqù dàn fànwéi hěn guǎng shí, zhè zhǒng qíngkuàng jīngcháng fāshēng. That often happens when the topic is interesting but broad.

我怎样才能缩小范围，又不把它变得过于简单？

Wǒ zěnyàng cáinéng suōxiǎo fànwéi, yòu bù bǎ tā biàn de guòyú jiǎndān? How can I narrow it without making it simplistic?

选择一个在多个资料中都出现的矛盾。

Xuǎnzé yí ge zài duō ge zīliào zhōng dōu chūxiàn de máodùn. Choose one tension that appears across several sources.

这样我就能比较不同的观点，同时不失去主要论点。

Zhèyàng wǒ jiù néng bǐjiào bùtóng de guāndiǎn, tóngshí bù shīqù zhǔyào lùndiǎn. Then I can compare perspectives without losing the main point.

这样的重点会让每一段都支持同一个论点。

Zhèyàng de zhòngdiǎn huì ràng měi yí duàn dōu zhīchí tóng yí ge lùndiǎn. That focus will make each paragraph support the same claim.

Word by Word

我我 means “I” or “me” here, referring to the student speaking about the essay. It appears as the subject in “我的论文” and “我觉得我试图回答太多问题”; a common reuse pattern is 我 + verb or 我 + 的 + noun.

的 In “我的论文”, 的 links 我 to 论文 and marks possession, giving the meaning “my essay.” A common reuse pattern is a person or noun + 的 + noun.

论文论文 means “essay” or “academic paper” here, the piece of writing being discussed. It appears in “我的论文”; a common reuse point is to use 论文 for a formal written assignment or research paper.

参考参考 means “to refer to” or “draw on” in “参考了研究资料”. It shows that the essay uses research materials as a basis, and a common pattern is 参考了 + an information source.

了 In “参考了研究资料”, 了 presents the act of drawing on the research materials as completed in the situation. It commonly follows a verb when an action is viewed as having been carried out.

研究研究 contributes the idea of research in “研究资料”. Here it describes the kind of materials the essay draws on; a common reuse point is 研究 + a topic or information source.

资料资料 means “materials” or “sources” in “研究资料”. It refers to information used for study or writing, and it can commonly follow a subject such as 研究 to identify research materials.

但但 introduces the contrast between using research and having an unclear central argument in “但核心论点不够清晰”. It is useful for joining two statements whose meanings differ or conflict.

核心核心 means “central” or “core” in “核心论点”. It identifies the argument that is most important to the essay; a common pattern is 核心 + a noun.

论点论点 means the essay’s “argument” or “claim”, especially the position that the evidence should support. It appears in “核心论点” and “同一个论点”; a common reuse point is to discuss or support a 论点.

不够不够 means “not sufficiently” in “不够清晰”, so the central argument does not reach the needed level of clarity. A common pattern is 不够 + an adjective or description.

清晰清晰 means “clear” in “不够清晰”, describing how easy the central argument is to understand. It can commonly follow 不够 when something falls short of being clear.

这些这些 means “these” in “这些证据”, pointing to several pieces of evidence under discussion. A common reuse pattern is 这些 + a plural or collective noun.

证据证据 means “evidence” in “这些证据是相关的”. It refers to information used to support an academic claim; a common pattern is 证据 + 是 + an evaluation.

是是 links 这些证据 to the evaluation “相关的” in “这些证据是相关的”. It commonly connects a subject with an identification or description.

相关相关 means “relevant” or “related” in “证据是相关的”, indicating that the evidence connects to the claim. A common reuse point is to describe evidence or information as related to a topic.

这个这个 means “this” in “这个论点”, pointing to the particular claim being discussed. A common reuse pattern is 这个 + a noun for one specific nearby item.

需要需要 means “needs” or “requires” in “这个论点需要更明确的范围”. It introduces what is necessary for the claim to become clearer; a common pattern is 需要 + an object or required change.

更更 means “more” or “even more” in “更明确的范围”, increasing the degree of 明确. It commonly comes before an adjective to mark a stronger degree.

明确明确 means “clear” or “definite” in “更明确的范围”. It describes a scope whose limits are easier to identify; a common reuse point is 更明确 + a noun or description.

范围范围 means “scope” or “boundaries” in “更明确的范围”. It identifies how broadly or narrowly the claim is defined; a common pattern is to narrow or clarify a 范围.

觉得觉得 means “think” or “feel” in “我觉得我试图回答太多问题”, introducing the student’s personal assessment. It commonly follows a person such as 我 and introduces a thought or impression.

试图试图 means “to try” or “attempt” in “我试图回答太多问题”. It presents answering the questions as an intended effort, and a common pattern is 试图 + verb.

回答回答 means “to answer” in “回答太多问题”. It describes responding to questions, and a common reuse point is 回答 + a question or issue.

太多太多 means “too many” in “太多问题”, showing that the number of questions exceeds what is manageable for this argument. A common pattern is 太多 + a countable noun.

问题问题 means “questions” in “回答太多问题”. Here it refers to issues the essay is trying to address; a common reuse point is to answer or discuss a 问题.

当当 begins the time condition in “当主题很有趣但范围很广时”, meaning “when”. A common reuse pattern is 当 + a situation + 时, followed by what happens in that situation.

主题主题 means “topic” or “theme” in “主题很有趣”. It identifies the subject of the essay or discussion; a common pattern is 主题 + an evaluation such as 很有趣.

很很 adds degree in “很有趣”, making the topic “quite” or “very” interesting. It commonly appears before an adjective when describing a quality.

有趣有趣 means “interesting” in “主题很有趣”. It describes the topic as engaging, and a common reuse point is to place it after 很 when evaluating a subject.

广广 means “broad” or “wide” in “范围很广”. It describes the scope as covering a large area, and a common reuse pattern is a noun such as 范围 + 很广.

时 In “当主题很有趣但范围很广时”, 时 closes the time condition and means “when” or “at the time”. The reusable construction is 当 + a situation + 时.

这种这种 means “this kind of” or “such” in “这种情况”. It points back to the type of situation just described, and a common pattern is 这种 + a noun.

情况情况 means “situation” or “circumstance” in “这种情况经常发生”. It refers to the problem of an interesting but broad topic; a common reuse point is to describe a situation as happening or changing.

经常经常 means “often” or “frequently” in “经常发生”. It describes repeated occurrence, and a common pattern is 经常 + a verb.

发生发生 means “happen” or “occur” in “这种情况经常发生”. Here the situation is the thing that occurs; a common reuse point is a situation or event + 发生.

怎样怎样 means “how” in “怎样才能缩小范围”, asking about the way to achieve a result. A common reuse pattern is 怎样 + a verb or action.

才能才能 in “怎样才能缩小范围” asks what way or condition will make narrowing the scope possible. It commonly follows a question word such as 怎样 and comes before the desired action.

缩小缩小 means “to narrow” or “reduce” in “缩小范围”. It describes making the essay’s scope smaller, and a common reuse pattern is 缩小 + 范围.

又又 adds a second requirement in “又不把它变得过于简单”, meaning “while also” or “and at the same time”. Here the student wants to narrow the argument without creating a second problem.

不不 negates the action in “不把它变得过于简单”, meaning “not”. A common reuse point is 不 + a verb when rejecting or avoiding an action.

把把 introduces the object that the action will affect in “把它变得过于简单”. It places the object before the action so the resulting change to it is emphasized; a common pattern is 把 + object + verb phrase.

它它 means “it” in “把它变得过于简单”, referring to the thing being narrowed without naming it again. It is commonly used as an object before the action that affects it.

变得变得 means “become” in “变得过于简单”, describing a change into a particular state. A common reuse point is 变得 + an adjective or description.

过于过于 means “overly” or “excessively” in “过于简单”. It warns that the argument could become simpler than is appropriate, and it commonly comes before an adjective.

简单简单 means “simple”, but in “过于简单” the intended concern is becoming simplistic. It describes the possible result of narrowing the argument too far.

选择选择 means “choose” or “select” in the instruction “选择一个在多个资料中都出现的矛盾”. It introduces the act of selecting one focus, and a common pattern is 选择 + an object.

一个一个 means “one” or “a single” in “选择一个…矛盾”. It limits the choice to one tension, and a common reuse point is 一个 + a noun when referring to a single item.

在在 marks the setting or group in “在多个资料中”, meaning “in” or “among”. A common reuse pattern is 在 + a place, group, or context + 中.

多个多个 means “several” or “multiple” in “多个资料”. It indicates more than one set of materials, and a common pattern is 多个 + a noun.

中中 means “in” or “among” in “在多个资料中”, locating the tension within the collection of materials. It commonly completes the setting pattern 在 + group + 中.

都都 means “all” in “多个资料中都出现”, showing that the tension appears across all the sources under discussion. It commonly follows the relevant group and applies to its members together.

出现出现 means “appear” or “occur” in “都出现的矛盾”. It describes the tension being found in the sources, and a common reuse pattern is 在…中出现.

矛盾矛盾 means “tension” or “contradiction” in “一个…矛盾”. Here it is the recurring conflict that can give the essay a focused analytical center; a common reuse point is to identify a 矛盾 in sources or arguments.

这样这样 means “in this way” in “这样我就能比较不同的观点”. It refers to the strategy of choosing one recurring tension, and it commonly introduces the result of a preceding action or method.

就就 marks the consequence in “这样我就能比较不同的观点”, meaning “then” or “thereby”. It commonly follows 这样 to connect a method with what becomes possible.

能能 means “can” or “be able to” in “我就能比较不同的观点”. It expresses the ability made possible by the focused approach, and a common pattern is 能 + verb.

比较比较 means “compare” in “比较不同的观点”. It describes examining viewpoints in relation to one another, and a common reuse pattern is 比较 + two or more perspectives or items.

不同不同 means “different” in “不同的观点”. It distinguishes the viewpoints from one another, and a common pattern is 不同的 + noun.

观点观点 means “viewpoint” or “perspective” in “不同的观点”. It refers to the positions presented by different sources, and a common reuse point is to compare or support a 观点.

同时同时 means “at the same time” or “while” in “同时不失去主要论点”. It links comparing perspectives with preserving the main claim as two simultaneous aims.

失去失去 means “lose” in “不失去主要论点”. It describes no longer keeping the main claim in focus, and a common reuse pattern is 不 + 失去 + an important object.

主要主要 means “main” or “primary” in “主要论点”. It identifies the claim that should remain central to the essay, and a common pattern is 主要 + a noun.

重点重点 means “focus” or “main point” in “这样的重点”. It identifies the central emphasis created by choosing one recurring tension, and a common reuse point is to describe what an argument or paragraph focuses on.

会会 means “will” or “is likely to” in “会让每一段都支持同一个论点”. It presents the focused approach as producing a likely result, and a common pattern is 会 + verb.

让让 means “make” or “cause” in “让每一段都支持同一个论点”. It introduces the thing affected and the result that follows; a common pattern is 让 + person or thing + verb.

每每 means “each” or “every” in “每一段”. It distributes the requirement across the paragraphs one by one, and a common pattern is 每 + a counted noun phrase.

段段 means “paragraph” in “每一段”. It identifies one section of the essay, and a common reuse point is to refer to sections with 每一段.

支持支持 means “support” in “支持同一个论点”. It describes each paragraph providing support for the same claim, and a common pattern is 支持 + a claim or argument.

同同 means “same” in “同一个论点”. It emphasizes that every paragraph supports one identical central claim, and a common pattern is 同一个 + noun.

Grammar Points

试图 + 动词

论文试图回答问题。

lùnwén shìtú huídá wèntí

The essay attempts to answer the question.

试图放在动词前，表示“attempt to do something”。

过于 + 形容词

主题过于简单。

zhǔtí guòyú jiǎndān

The topic is too simplistic.

过于放在形容词前，表示程度超过适当范围，语气比“太”更正式。

Chinese Vocabulary

参考 verb

cānkǎo to draw on; to refer to

范围 noun

fànwéi scope; boundaries

核心论点 noun

héxīn lùndiǎn central argument

回答 verb

huídá to answer

论文 noun

lùnwén essay; paper

清晰 adj

qīngxī clear

试图 verb

shìtú to attempt; to try

问题 noun

wèntí question; problem

Quiz

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

central argument

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核心论点

research materials

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研究资料

topic

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主题

essay; paper

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论文