Reading
Identify the purpose of practical writing
Seemile Easy TOPIK I · reading · pp. 125–128
Understand the task
Practical writing asks readers to learn or do something: apply, attend, confirm, exchange or request a refund. The subject of an announcement is not necessarily its purpose. A notice mentioning cleaning may announce its time or recruit volunteers; identify what the writer expects the reader to do.
Identify the kind of text, then look for what the writer wants the reader to know or do. Separate that purpose from practical details.
How to solve this question type
- Identify the text type: an event notice, application guide, customer email or request suggests a limited set of purposes.
- Find the action requested or information being announced. Look at verbs near the end as well as the title.
- Match the whole purpose phrase, including its object. ‘To ask about a date’ differs from ‘to announce a date’, even though both contain 날짜.
Grammar and expressions
V-(으)ㄹ 예정이다
State a scheduled plan in formal notices. A plan is not the same as a completed event.
토요일에 행사를 열 예정입니다.
We plan to hold the event on Saturday.
V-(으)려면
Introduce a condition for doing what the reader wants to do.
참여하려면 금요일까지 신청하세요.
If you want to take part, apply by Friday.
V-아/어 주시기 바랍니다
Make a formal polite request for an action.
날짜를 확인해 주시기 바랍니다.
Please check the date.
Vocabulary for this type
- 모집하다
- to recruit
- 참가비
- participation fee
- 신청
- application
- 교환
- exchange
- 환불
- refund
- 확인하다
- to check or confirm
A worked example
청소 날짜와 시간을 알려 드립니다. 토요일 오전에 함께 청소할 예정입니다.
We are announcing the cleaning date and time. We plan to clean together on Saturday morning.
- The notice’s purpose is to communicate the schedule.
- Mentioning cleaning does not mean the text explains cleaning techniques or asks why cleaning is necessary.
- Read the action in the answer: 알리다 means to inform; 물어보다 means to ask.
Try it yourself
Practice 1
이번 토요일 청소 봉사에 함께할 분을 찾습니다. 참여하실 분은 금요일까지 문자로 신청해 주세요.
We are looking for people to join cleaning volunteer work this Saturday. To take part, please apply by text message by Friday.
Why was this notice written?
- 청소 방법을 설명하려고
- 봉사 장소를 바꾸려고
- 지난 행사에 대해 감사하려고
- 봉사에 참여할 사람을 모집하려고
Answer and explanation
4. 봉사에 참여할 사람을 모집하려고
The notice seeks volunteers and gives a deadline to apply by text.
- No cleaning instructions or techniques are explained.
- There is no old and new venue or statement that the venue is changing.
- The notice concerns a forthcoming event, not thanks for a past event.
- 함께할 분을 찾습니다 explicitly recruits people to participate.
Review your reasoning
- Option 1: No cleaning instructions or techniques are explained.
- Option 2: There is no old and new venue or statement that the venue is changing.
- Option 3: The notice concerns a forthcoming event, not thanks for a past event.
- Option 4: 함께할 분을 찾습니다 explicitly recruits people to participate.
Try the question again with the explanation closed. Identify the exact phrase that supports the answer, then explain which detail makes each other option unsuitable.