Composition: Essay, Letter, and Applied Writing in Santhali
Two compositions normally appear: a short essay of about 150-250 words and a letter or applied piece (application, notice, report, dialogue). Marks go to structure, relevant content, correct Santhali and format - in that order of visibility to the examiner.
Essay architecture
Four paragraphs: opening statement, two body paragraphs of example and detail, closing reflection. Rehearse the topics that recur: Baha and Sohrai, the Jaher Than and its meaning, Ol Chiki and literacy, the Santhal Hul, village agriculture, Santhali in schools, a memorable person.
Write Santhali, not translated English
Use concrete local nouns (baha, sohray, jaher, Marang Buru, handi), coordinate clauses with aru, and use reported speech for flavour. Prefer short verb-final sentences to long translated ones; a plain correct sentence scores better than an ambitious broken one.
Letters and applied writing
Keep the block format: sender's address, date, receiver's address, salutation, subject line for formal letters, body, closing. In an application, state the purpose in the first line, give one supporting reason, and end with a request. In a notice, use a heading, date and a one- or two-line body.
Worked example
Topic: 'Baha', 150 words. Paragraph 1: Baha is the spring flower festival of the Santhals. Paragraph 2: flowers are offered at the Jaher Than, the Manjhi and the whole village take part, and sereng are sung. Paragraph 3: what the festival teaches - sharing, respect for the sacred grove, renewal. Paragraph 4: one sentence on why it still matters to Santhali children in Assam. That plan already supplies the structure the marking scheme rewards.
Traps
Writing an English essay and sprinkling Santhali words into it; overrunning the word limit and losing time for the letter; omitting the date or subject line; mixing formal and informal salutations; naming festivals loosely (Sohrai is the harvest festival, Baha the spring one).