Composition and Creative Writing: mazmoon, khat and darkhwast
The composition question rewards form more than brilliance. Whether you write a mazmoon (essay), a khat (letter) or a darkhwast (application), the examiner first checks that the format is right, then that the content is organised, and only then that the Urdu is correct.
Formats to reproduce exactly
- Mazmoon: title, opening paragraph stating the topic, two or three body paragraphs each carrying one point with an example, closing paragraph. One idea per paragraph.
- Khat-e-dostana (personal letter): sender's address, date, salutation such as 'Pyare dost', body in two or three short paragraphs, closing 'Tumhara dost' and name.
- Darkhwast (application): 'Bakhidmat', 'Janab-e-Aali', a one-line subject, body stating the reason and the request, then 'Aap ka tamizgar' with name and class.
Worked example
Task: application for leave on account of illness. Reasoning: the addressee is the headmaster, so the tone is formal; the subject line states the purpose in one phrase; the body gives the reason (fever, doctor's advice) and the exact dates requested; the closing uses the formal subscription, not 'Tumhara dost'. Every one of those four elements is a separate mark.
Traps that cost marks
- Writing an essay as a list of bullet points, which loses the paragraph marks.
- Using a warm, personal salutation in an official application.
- Leaving out the date or the sender's address in a letter.
- Padding with unrelated material until the requested length is exceeded and the topic is lost.
- A closing paragraph that introduces a brand-new argument instead of concluding.