Arabic Language Writing and Composition Syllabus

Writing and Composition syllabus — full chapter and topic list

Expand any chapter to see its topics and sub-topics. This is the whole examinable outline for Writing and Composition in Arabic Language, not a summary of it.

1. 1

   Mechanics of Writing

   3 topics

   • Spelling rules and hamza placement
   • Punctuation and paragraphing
   • When to use diacritics
2. 2

   Sentence and Paragraph Writing

   3 topics

   • Building correct sentences
   • Connectors and cohesion devices
   • Writing a descriptive paragraph
3. 3

   Practical Writing

   3 topics

   • Personal and formal messages
   • Emails and letters
   • Filling forms and CVs
4. 4

   Essay and Extended Writing

   3 topics

   • Narrative and descriptive essays
   • Opinion and argumentative essays
   • Summarising and paraphrasing
5. 5

   Style and Register

   3 topics

   • Formal vs informal register
   • Avoiding common writing errors
   • Improving clarity and rhetoric (balagha basics)

Writing and Composition flashcards for Arabic Language

22 of 49 cards from the Writing and Composition deck — real questions with worked answers.

1. What is hamza (الهمزة) and what are its two main types by position?

   Hamza is a consonant representing a glottal stop. Its two main types are: (1) hamzat al-qat' (همزة القطع), which is always pronounced and written (ء / أ / إ / ؤ / ئ), and (2) hamzat al-wasl (همزة الوصل), written as a plain alif (ا) that is pronounced at the start of speech but dropped in connected speech.

2. What determines the seat (carrier letter) of a medial hamza (الهمزة المتوسطة)?

   The stronger of two vowels: the hamza's own vowel and the vowel of the preceding letter. Strength order (strongest to weakest) is kasra > damma > fatha > sukun. The seat matches the strongest vowel: kasra → ya seat (ئ), damma → waw seat (ؤ), fatha → alif seat (أ), sukun → line/none.

3. How is the initial hamza (الهمزة الأولية) always written?

   An initial hamza is always written on an alif. If its vowel is fatha or damma it is hamzat qat' above the alif (أ), e.g. أَكَلَ, أُمّ; if kasra it is placed below the alif (إ), e.g. إِبِل.

4. When is a final hamza (الهمزة المتطرفة) written on a carrier vs. on the line?

   The final hamza's seat depends only on the vowel of the letter BEFORE it: kasra → ya seat (شاطِئ), damma → waw seat (تباطُؤ), fatha → alif seat (قَرَأ), sukun → on the line with no carrier (شيْء, دِفْء).

5. What is the difference in writing hamzat al-wasl on the definite article versus a verb?

   Hamzat al-wasl always appears as a bare alif (ا) with no hamza sign in both cases (e.g. الكتاب, اِستمع). The distinction is grammatical, not orthographic: it occurs in the article ال, in certain nouns (اسم, ابن, امرأة), and in the imperative/past of form VII+ verbs.

6. What is the rule for the taa marbuuta (التاء المربوطة) versus the open taa (التاء المفتوحة)?

   Taa marbuuta (ة) is written at the end of nouns and is pronounced 'h' in pause and 't' when connected (e.g. مدرسة). Open/mabsuuta taa (ت) is a real 't' that is always pronounced 't', found in verbs and some nouns (e.g. كتبت, بنت).

7. When is the alif written as maqsuura (ى) versus mamduuda/qaaimah (ا) at the end of a word?

   A final long-a is written as alif maqsuura (ى) in most trilateral words whose root third letter is ya (رمى from رمي) and in words over three letters unless preceded by ya. It is written as straight alif (ا) when the root letter is waw (دعا from دعو) or when a ya precedes it (دنيا, استحيا).

8. List the primary Arabic punctuation marks and their functions.

   Comma الفاصلة (،): separates short clauses/list items. Semicolon الفاصلة المنقوطة (؛): links clauses where the second is a cause/result of the first. Full stop النقطة (.): ends a complete sentence. Question mark علامة الاستفهام (؟). Exclamation mark علامة التعجب (!). Colon النقطتان (:): introduces speech, lists, or explanation. Quotation marks علامات التنصيص («…»).

9. When should you use the Arabic semicolon (الفاصلة المنقوطة ؛)?

   Between two full clauses where the second explains the cause or the consequence of the first, e.g. «تأخر الطالب؛ لأنه استيقظ متأخراً». It is stronger than a comma and weaker than a full stop.

10. What are the key principles of good paragraphing (التفقير) in Arabic writing?

    Each paragraph develops ONE main idea; it opens with a topic sentence (الجملة الافتتاحية), followed by supporting sentences (الجمل الداعمة), and often a closing/transition sentence. Paragraphs are marked by indentation or a blank line, and ideas flow in logical order (chronological, cause-effect, or importance).

11. What are Arabic diacritics (التشكيل / الحركات) and their names?

    Short-vowel marks placed on letters: fatha (فتحة، a), damma (ضمة، u), kasra (كسرة، i), sukun (سكون، no vowel), and shadda (شدّة، gemination/doubling). Tanwin (تنوين) adds final -n: fathatayn (ً), dammatayn (ٌ), kasratayn (ٍ).

12. When are diacritics (التشكيل) actually required or strongly recommended in modern writing?

    They are used to (1) prevent ambiguity/misreading, (2) mark case endings in the Qur'an, poetry, and religious/classical texts, (3) in children's and learners' materials, and (4) on rare or foreign words. Everyday modern prose is usually written without them, relying on context.

13. What is the difference between a nominal sentence (الجملة الاسمية) and a verbal sentence (الجملة الفعلية)?

    A nominal sentence begins with a noun and has two parts: mubtada' (المبتدأ، subject/topic) and khabar (الخبر، predicate), e.g. «الجوُّ جميلٌ». A verbal sentence begins with a verb and has fi'l (فعل), faa'il (فاعل، doer), and optionally maf'uul (مفعول به، object), e.g. «كتبَ الطالبُ الدرسَ».

14. What agreement rules govern the verb and its faa'il (فاعل) in a verbal sentence?

    When the verb precedes the faa'il, the verb stays singular and agrees only in gender (كتبَ الطلابُ / كتبتْ الطالباتُ). When the subject precedes the verb (nominal order), the verb agrees fully in number and gender (الطلابُ كتبوا).

15. What are the four main categories of cohesion devices (أدوات الربط) in Arabic?

    (1) Additive حروف العطف: و، ثم، الفاء، أو. (2) Causal/reason: لأنّ، إذ، بسبب، لذلك. (3) Contrast: لكنْ، بل، غير أنّ، رغم أنّ. (4) Sequence/time: أولاً، ثم، بعد ذلك، أخيراً. They connect ideas and create textual flow (الاتساق والانسجام).

16. Compare the connectors ثم and الفاء (فـ) as sequencing devices.

    الفاء (فـ) indicates immediate succession with no gap and often causation (جاء المطرُ فابتلّت الأرض = at once). ثمّ indicates succession with a time gap/delay (order but with an interval), e.g. «درس ثم نام». Both show sequence, but الفاء = immediate, ثم = delayed.

17. What is the structure and purpose of a descriptive paragraph (فقرة الوصف)?

    Its purpose is to create a vivid sensory image. Structure: topic sentence naming what is described → details ordered spatially or by prominence, using the five senses → adjectives (نعوت), similes (تشبيه), and precise nouns → a closing impression. Present tense and rich sensory vocabulary dominate.

18. Which figures of speech are most useful for enriching a descriptive paragraph in Arabic?

    Tashbiih (التشبيه، simile: كأنّ، مثل), isti'aara (الاستعارة، metaphor), and majaz (المجاز، figurative usage). They convert plain description into imagery, e.g. «وجهُها كالبدرِ» (simile) or «ابتسمَ الصباحُ» (metaphor).

19. What is the standard structure of an informal/personal message (الرسالة الشخصية)?

    (1) Warm greeting (عزيزي/عزيزتي + name), (2) opening pleasantries/asking after the reader, (3) body with the personal news or purpose in relaxed tone, (4) friendly closing (مع محبتي / في انتظار ردك), (5) sender's name. Tone is affectionate and uses first/second person freely.

20. What is the standard structure of a formal message/letter (الرسالة الرسمية)?

    (1) Date and recipient's title/address, (2) formal salutation (السيد المحترم / سعادة المدير), (3) subject line (الموضوع), (4) opening (تحية طيبة وبعد،), (5) body stating the purpose clearly and politely, (6) formal closing (وتفضلوا بقبول فائق الاحترام), (7) sender's full name and signature.

21. What phrase traditionally opens the body of a formal Arabic letter after the salutation?

    «تحية طيبة وبعد،» (a good greeting, and then to the point). It marks the transition from the greeting to the subject/body of the letter.

22. What are the essential components of a formal email (البريد الإلكتروني الرسمي) in Arabic?

    To/recipient (إلى), a clear subject line (الموضوع), formal greeting (السيد.../ تحية طيبة وبعد)، a concise purposeful body, a polite closing (مع خالص الشكر والتقدير), and a signature block with name and contact details. Keep it brief, single-topic, and professional.

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