Composition (Insha): Essay and Letter Writing
Insha tests planned writing: essay (mazmoon), letter (khat), application, report, or dialogue. Marks come from relevance, organisation, and correct Urdu, not from length alone.
Essay structure
- Muqaddama: define or limit the topic.
- Badan: two to four paragraphs, one main point each, with examples.
- Natija: sum up without introducing a new point. Types: tafseeli, tanqeedi, sawanehi, mazmoon-e ilmi.
Letter format
- Rasmi: sender's address, date, receiver's designation, subject, salam, body, dua, signature.
- Ghair rasmi: address, date, 'Aziz/Pyare', personal body, dua, name.
- Application: follow the prescribed format and state the request clearly.
Worked example
Topic: 'Ilm ki ahmiyat.' Outline: (1) ilm as light and jahl as darkness; (2) economic value - skills and employment; (3) social value - health, rights, tolerance; (4) natija - individual and national progress. Reasoning: each paragraph answers a different 'why', so the essay does not repeat itself; examples make the argument concrete.
Traps that cost marks
Writing a story instead of an essay; missing the letter format; using informal idioms in a formal application; no paragraphing; irrelevant quotations; spending too long on one section; ignoring spelling and gender agreement.