Write a structured argumentative essay of 150–165 words on a social issue in Paper 4 Q3 format
P5Lesson 9 of 12◇ P5 Lesson 9 of 12 W Writing
Writing — Social Issues and Opinions (Paper 4 Extended Writing)
الكِتابة — القَضايا الاجتِماعِيَّة والآراء (كِتابة مُوَسَّعة)
Social Issues & Opinions · Ideas and opinions
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Learning Objectives
Focus on these outcomes rather than trying to memorise everything at once.
Demonstrate the full P5 grammar range plus concession-refutation architecture
Apply the complete IGCSE Paper 4 Q3 mark scheme to produce the most sophisticated writing of the programme
Lesson outline
- 8 minStarter160-word model — full essay architecture visible?
- 8 minMain 1Planning — essay architecture + grammar integration
- 38 minMain 2Extended writing — 150–165 words — the programme's most ambitious task
- 7 minMain 3Full mark scheme application — argument + grammar
- 6 minPlenaryThe P5 writing peak
Exam connection: Listening: academic argumentative texts, concession-refutation structures in speech, all subjunctive triggers (Paper 1 all formats) | Reading: social mobility, migration policy, digital rights (Paper 2 R1–R4, Q4 concession vs subjunctive gap-fill, R3 argument architecture analysis) | Writing: 150–165 words argumentative essay (Paper 4 Q3 — complete essay architecture required for TC, all grammar in Range) | Speaking: international conference role play (concession in prompt 2, refutation in prompt 3, subjunctive in prompt 4) + topic conversation (Type 2 Q3, concession-refutation Q2)
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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 الاِستِشهاد بِالأَدِلَّة mean?
2. What does التَّسليم بِالحُجَّة المُضادَّة mean?
3. What does أُسلوب الإِقناع mean?
4. What does نَصّ جَدَلي mean?
5. What does البِنية البَلاغِيَّة mean?
6. What does مَوثوقِيَّة المَصدَر 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 at P5 — the most demanding writing task in the programme: TC 9 (full essay structure: thesis, evidence, counter-argument, refutation, conclusion). Range 9: reported speech different verb (1), past perfect (1), conditional Type 1 (1), conditional Type 2 (1), subjunctive trigger Type 1 لِكَي (1), subjunctive trigger necessity (1), subjunctive trigger volition/insistence (1), concession structure صحيح أنَّ/بالرغم من (1), formal conclusion connector (1). Accuracy 7: subjunctive ـَ marker (2), Type 2 لـَ prefix (2), concession verb form (1), agreement (2).
Notice the pattern
- الكِتابة المَقالِيَّة
- البِنية البَلاغِيَّة
- الإِتقان اللُّغوي
- الصَّوت التَّحليلي المُتَزِن
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.
Saved automatically in this browser.
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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.
الكِتابة المَقالِيَّة. البِنية البَلاغِيَّة. الإِتقان اللُّغوي. الصَّوت التَّحليلي المُتَزِن. أَعلى مُستَوى في البَرنامِج.
- 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.
الكِتابة المَقالِيَّة. البِنية البَلاغِيَّة. الإِتقان اللُّغوي. الصَّوت التَّحليلي المُتَزِن. أَعلى مُستَوى في البَرنامِج.
- What is the main topic of the text?
- Find two words or phrases connected with “Writing — Social Issues and Opinions (Paper 4 Extended Writing)”.
- 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 — Social Issues and Opinions (Paper 4 Extended Writing)” 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 — Social Issues and Opinions (Paper 4 Extended Writing). Use at least eight vocabulary items, the lesson grammar and two connectors. Target: 80–100 words, extending to 130–140 words for an extended exam-style task.
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Activities
Complete the activities in order, or choose the one that addresses your weakest area.
Starter8 min
160-word model — full essay architecture visible?
Study teacher or partner-written model (160 words, argumentative essay on youth unemployment). Annotate with two colours: GRAMMAR structures (orange = each specific P5 grammar marker), ARGUMENT structures (blue = thesis, evidence, concession, refutation, conclusion). Count each. "This 160-word essay has 9 grammar Range markers AND a complete argument architecture (5 structural elements). In IGCSE Paper 4, TC marks reward the WHAT of your argument; Range marks reward the HOW of your grammar. You now have tools for both."
Main 18 min
Planning — essay architecture + grammar integration
Task: Argumentative essay (150–165 words) on a social issue. Topics: (A) "الهِجرة تُثري المُجتَمَعات أَكثَر مِمَّا تُضعِفُها — هَل تَتَّفِق؟" (B) "الإِنتِرنِت يُوحِّد العالَم أَكثَر مِمَّا يُفرِّقُه — هَل تَتَّفِق؟" (C) "تَمكين الشَّباب لا الحُكومات هو الحَلّ لِلقَضايا الاجتِماعِيَّة — هَل تَتَّفِق؟" You plan: Introduction (thesis), Evidence P2 (reported speech + cause-effect + conditional), Counter-argument P3 (صحيح أنَّ + refutation غير أنَّ), Conclusion P4 (وبناءً على ما سبق + subjunctive). Must label in plan: where ALL 9 Range markers will appear. 4 minutes. teacher or partner checks 5 plans — any missing concession or subjunctive?
Main 238 min
Extended writing — 150–165 words — the programme's most ambitious task
Write. This is the most demanding writing task in the five-year programme. 150–165 words, complete essay architecture, full P5 grammar Range. Level 1: Range checklist + essay structure frame + first sentence of each paragraph. Level 2: Range checklist + essay structure labels. Level 3 (heritage): full IGCSE conditions. teacher or partner circulates: P1 (check thesis is clear — not just a topic statement but a position). P3 (check صحيح أنَّ is used correctly as genuine concession, not just as a linking phrase). P4 (check وبناءً على ما سبق + subjunctive at conclusion — this is the most common missed element). Do NOT interrupt P2 once You begin. Target: every student completes all four paragraphs.
Main 37 min
Full mark scheme application — argument + grammar
You apply the full IGCSE Paper 4 Q3 mark scheme: TC 9 (simplified to 5 for unit purposes) — check: thesis (1), evidence (1), counter-argument صحيح أنَّ (1), refutation غير أنَّ (1), conclusion connector + subjunctive (1). Range 9 (simplified to 5) — tick all 9 Range criteria with line number. Accuracy 7 (simplified to 5) — circle any subjunctive verbs and check ـَ marker; check Type 2 لـَ prefix; check overall agreement. Predicted score /15. Partner verifies the TC essay architecture (all 5 elements present?) and the Range (are all 9 markers visible?).
Plenary6 min
The P5 writing peak
teacher or partner scans 5 books and reads the most complete sentence from each — one that uses the most grammar structures and argument elements simultaneously. After each: "This sentence combines [specific structures]. In the IGCSE exam, a sentence like this earns marks across TC, Range AND Accuracy simultaneously. You have reached the peak of P5 Arabic writing." You submit writing and portfolio pieces.
Useful resources
- Paper 4 Q3 full mark scheme (student-facing)
- Annotated model (160 words — social issue argumentative essay)
- P5 Range checklist (full essay architecture + grammar)
- Peer assessment rubric (argument quality + grammar)
Stretch / heritage-reader challenge
Heritage readers: write a 165-word academic essay — "القَضِيَّة الأُم: هَل يُمكِن تَحقيق العَدالة الاجتِماعِيَّة في المُجتَمَعات المُعاصِرة؟" Using the complete essay architecture, all 9 Range criteria, full subjunctive system, and the highest academic Arabic register. Mark against the complete IGCSE Paper 4 Q3 mark scheme (TC 9 + Range 9 + Accuracy 7 = 25). This should be the finest piece of Arabic in the heritage reader's P5 portfolio.
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Plenary
Finish with a quick check and one clear next step.
Key takeaways
- Write a structured argumentative essay of 150–165 words on a social issue in Paper 4 Q3 format
- Demonstrate the full P5 grammar range plus concession-refutation architecture
- Apply the complete IGCSE Paper 4 Q3 mark scheme to produce the most sophisticated writing of the programme
- Grammar focus: Paper 4 Q3 at P5 — the most demanding writing task in the programme: TC 9 (full essay structure: thesis, evidence, counter-argument, refutation, conclusion). Range 9: reported speech different verb (1), past perfect (1), conditional Type 1 (1), conditional Type 2 (1), subjunctive trigger Type 1 لِكَي (1), subjunctive trigger necessity (1), subjunctive trigger volition/insistence (1), concession structure صحيح أنَّ/بالرغم من (1), formal conclusion connector (1). Accuracy 7: subjunctive ـَ marker (2), Type 2 لـَ prefix (2), concession verb form (1), agreement (2).
Exit ticket
Extended argumentative essay (collected — teacher or partner marks against TC 9 + Range 9 + Accuracy 7 = 25 with argument architecture as primary TC criterion). Self-assessment accuracy. Portfolio piece.
Optional follow-up
Write the clean portfolio version incorporating all feedback. Write a 50-word Arabic critical reflection: "أَقوى عُنصُر في مَقالَتي كان... أَضعَف عُنصُر كان... في الامتِحان سَأُركِّز على تَحسين... لأَنَّ..."
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.