Write a structured extended text of 80–100 words describing their school
F4Lesson 9 of 12◇ F4 Lesson 9 of 12 W Writing
Writing — My School (Extended Writing Task)
الكِتابة — مَدرَسَتي (مَهمَّة كِتابِيَّة مُوَسَّعة)
School Life · Education
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Learning Objectives
Focus on these outcomes rather than trying to memorise everything at once.
Demonstrate a range of F4 structures: subjects, timetable, rules, opinions, descriptions
Use Paper 4 Q3 format (email/letter OR article/blog) as the writing framework
Lesson outline
- 8 minStarterPaper 4 Q3 — what does it look like?
- 10 minMain 1Annotated model — what good looks like
- 25 minMain 2Extended writing — my school (80–100 words)
- 8 minMain 3Peer marking using the mark scheme
- 9 minPlenaryRead the best sentences
Exam connection: Listening: school conversations and descriptions | Reading: timetables, newsletters, notices | Writing: email/article (Paper 4 Q3 format, 80–100 words) | Speaking: role play (school setting) and topic conversation
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Vocabulary
Tap each card to reveal the meaning, category and example.
Three-step recall
- Say the Arabic aloud.
- Cover the meaning and recall it.
- Use six items in your own spoken or written sentences.
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Quizzes
Use the two short checks. Errors show you what to revise next.
Quiz 1 — Meaning check
0 / 61. What does تَوقيع mean?
2. What does تَكميل المَهمَّة mean?
3. What does مَع تَحِيّاتي mean?
4. What does خاتِمَة رَأي mean?
5. What does عَزيزي / عَزيزَتي mean?
6. What does فَقرة mean?
Quiz 2 — Match Arabic and English
العربية
English
Matched: 0 / 6
Stretch challenge
Choose three matched items and combine them into one accurate sentence or short exchange.
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Grammar
Read the rule, notice the pattern and then produce your own examples.
Core rule / strategy
Paper 4 Q3 genre features: email format (عزيزي/عزيزتي [name]، ... مع تحياتي). Article/blog format (title + paragraphs). Extended writing structures: topic sentence + development + opinion/reason. All F4 grammar in extended writing: subjects, opinions, rules (يَجِب/لا يَجوز), descriptions, school day narrative.
Notice the pattern
- اكتب مقدمة قصيرة.
- في الخاتمة، أعطي رأيي.
- فقرة قصيرة
- موضوع الكتابة
Accuracy checklist
- Check the subject and verb or noun/adjective agreement.
- Check gender, number and tense or time frame.
- Use the lesson structure in a complete, meaningful sentence.
- Read the sentence aloud and correct anything that sounds incomplete.
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Skills Practice
Practise listening, reading, speaking and writing with the same lesson language.
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Listening
Listen twice: first for the main idea, then for details.
اكتب مقدمة قصيرة. في الخاتمة، أعطي رأيي. فقرة قصيرة. موضوع الكتابة. عنوان المقال.
- What is the main topic?
- Write three Arabic words you recognise.
- What one detail can you hear or infer?
Teacher/partner guidance and possible answer
Read the Arabic text naturally twice. A successful answer identifies the lesson topic, any three accurate key words and one relevant detail from the text.
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Reading
Underline known words before answering.
اكتب مقدمة قصيرة. في الخاتمة، أعطي رأيي. فقرة قصيرة. موضوع الكتابة. عنوان المقال.
- What is the main topic of the text?
- Find two words or phrases connected with “Writing — My School (Extended Writing Task)”.
- What specific detail can you identify?
- Which grammar structure from this lesson appears, or could be added?
Reading support
Start with names, numbers, repeated words, connectors and familiar verb patterns. You do not need to translate every word.
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Speaking
Build your answer, then ask a follow-up question.
- Explain the topic “Writing — My School (Extended Writing Task)” in your own words.
- Use at least five items from the vocabulary section.
- Give an opinion or personal example and justify it.
- Ask and answer two follow-up questions with a partner.
Useful frame:في رَأيي... لِأَنَّ... أَيضاً... وَمِن جِهَةٍ أُخرى...
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Writing
Plan, write, check and improve.
Task: Write about Writing — My School (Extended Writing Task). Use at least eight vocabulary items, the lesson grammar and two connectors. Target: 60–80 words.
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Activities
Complete the activities in order, or choose the one that addresses your weakest area.
Starter8 min
Paper 4 Q3 — what does it look like?
Look at You a real Cambridge-style Paper 4 Q3 task: "Write an email to your Arabic pen pal describing your school. Write approximately 130–140 words." Explain: this is the type of writing task they will face in Year 11. We are practising a shorter version now (80–100 words). Annotate together: what information should go in each paragraph? You plan: paragraph 1 (school description), paragraph 2 (subjects and timetable), paragraph 3 (rules and opinions). Write paragraph topics in books before writing begins.
Main 110 min
Annotated model — what good looks like
Study a teacher or partner-written model response (85 words, email format, describing a school). Read together. Annotate: box opinion phrases in blue, underline يجب/لا يجوز structures in red, circle time expressions in orange, star connectors in green. Count each category. teacher or partner explains the mark scheme: Task Completion (9) = all required information present. Range (9) = variety of structures. Accuracy (7) = grammar and agreement. You now have concrete targets for their own writing.
Main 225 min
Extended writing — my school (80–100 words)
Task: Write an email OR an article/blog about your school for a young Arabic-speaking reader who wants to know what school is like in the UK. Choose format (email or article). Three levels: Level 1 — use the paragraph planner and sentence starters, produce 70+ words. Level 2 — use paragraph planner only, produce 80–100 words independently. Level 3 (heritage) — no support, 100+ words, aim for Paper 4 Q3 quality with full range of structures. teacher or partner circulates: give live feedback on paragraph 1 before You continue to paragraph 2. Focus feedback on: task completion (is all information present?), then range, then accuracy.
Main 38 min
Peer marking using the mark scheme
You exchange books. Partner marks using a simplified version of the Paper 4 mark scheme: Task Completion (tick each required element: school described ✓, subjects ✓, opinion ✓), Range (count: connectors used / opinion phrases used / structures variety), Accuracy (circle any gender agreement errors, any يجب/لا يجوز formation errors). Partners write a total out of 10 (3+3+4 simplified). Discuss scores — do they agree? This mark scheme literacy is essential preparation for Year 10–11.
Plenary9 min
Read the best sentences
teacher or partner collects and quickly scans — reads out (anonymously or with permission) 4–5 excellent sentences from student responses. After each: "What made this sentence good?" Class identifies: specific vocabulary, correct agreement, effective connector use, opinion with reason. This positive modelling raises the class's awareness of quality without singling out low performers. You make one improvement to their own text before submitting.
Useful resources
- Paper 4 Q3 format guide (email and article templates)
- Writing scaffold (paragraph planner)
- Sample Paper 4 Q3 response (annotated by teacher)
- Self-assessment checklist (F4 + Task Completion + Range + Accuracy)
Stretch / heritage-reader challenge
Heritage readers: after completing the email/article, write a second version in article/blog format (whichever they did not choose first). Compare the two: which format suited the content better? Write 3 sentences (in English or Arabic) reflecting on the difference in register.
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Plenary
Finish with a quick check and one clear next step.
Key takeaways
- Write a structured extended text of 80–100 words describing their school
- Demonstrate a range of F4 structures: subjects, timetable, rules, opinions, descriptions
- Use Paper 4 Q3 format (email/letter OR article/blog) as the writing framework
- Grammar focus: Paper 4 Q3 genre features: email format (عزيزي/عزيزتي [name]، ... مع تحياتي). Article/blog format (title + paragraphs). Extended writing structures: topic sentence + development + opinion/reason. All F4 grammar in extended writing: subjects, opinions, rules (يَجِب/لا يَجوز), descriptions, school day narrative.
Exit ticket
Extended writing (collected — teacher or partner marks against Task Completion/Range/Accuracy framework, returns with written feedback). Peer mark (reference point for student self-awareness).
Optional follow-up
Write a clean final version of your school email/article incorporating all feedback. Then write a second short paragraph (30 words) adding one more aspect of school life you did not include in the main piece.
Confidence check
How secure do you feel after this lesson?
Remember: quick revision works best when you revisit weak vocabulary and correct errors, not when you try to complete everything in one sitting.