This study focuses on hedge expressions in the argumentative writing task (Question 54) of the advanced-level Test of Proficiency in Korean (TOPIK), aiming to explore the educational value of hedge expressions in TOPIK II writing. To this end, the stu...
This study focuses on hedge expressions in the argumentative writing task (Question 54) of the advanced-level Test of Proficiency in Korean (TOPIK), aiming to explore the educational value of hedge expressions in TOPIK II writing. To this end, the study examines the definition, meaning, and functions of hedge expressions and investigates how they are used in model answers and actual compositions by learners. Based on these findings, the study proposes educational content on hedge expressions that can be applied to argumentative writing in Question 54 of TOPIK II from the perspective of Korean language education. Previous research on hedge expressions has primarily examined their use in academic writing and proposed Korean language educational materials based on those findings. However, learners are required to engage in argumentative writing in various contexts even before writing academic papers. In light of this, the present study focuses on hedge expressions specifically in the argumentative writing task of TOPIK II Question 54. This study reviews existing research on TOPIK II writing instruction and hedge expressions, and based on this, redefines and reclassifies hedge expressions used in argumentative writing from discourse and functional perspectives. First, the necessity of teaching hedge expressions in TOPIK II Question 54 writing was discussed through expert scoring. The evaluation results consistently showed that compositions containing hedge expressions received higher scores, indicating that hedge expressions have a meaningful impact on both the overall writing quality and the writing skill development of intermediate- to advanced-level learners. Next, the study analyzed the usage patterns of hedge expressions found in model answers and actual compositions written by Korean language learners for TOPIK II Question 54. The analysis included a total of eight model answers and 30 essays written by Chinese-speaking learners at TOPIK levels 4 to 6. The findings revealed that the learners did not use a wide variety of hedge expressions and that the frequency of use was generally low. Among hedge expressions used to objectify propositional content, the frequency followed this order: inaccurate quantity expressions > prevention of overgeneralization > indefinite reference expressions > implicit expressions. For expressions that soften or objectify arguments, the frequency order was: possibility expressions > conjecture expressions > subjectivization devices > objectivization devices > combined possibility and conjecture expressions. Expressions used to build rapport between the writer and the reader appeared in the order of: performance-softening > burden-softening. A comparative analysis of the model answers revealed that when teaching hedge expressions, emphasis should be placed on burden-softening and performance-softening expressions. Furthermore, a wider variety of possibility and conjecture expressions should be taught, with a focus on encouraging learners to use more complex and combined forms. Based on these results, the study proposes specific instructional content on hedge expressions for Chinese-speaking learners of Korean. This study is meaningful in that it demonstrates the educational value of hedge expressions for all learners preparing for TOPIK II. Furthermore, it contributes by extracting a list of hedge expressions relevant to argumentative writing-particularly in Question 54 of the TOPIK II writing section-and by suggesting practical teaching content accordingly.