ENHANCING THE ART OF SELF-QUESTIONING FOR PRE-WRITING ACTIVITY THROUGH “OCPD”

The first 5-10 minutes before an essay is written is very crucial as ESL learners have to think critically and decide what is best for them to write. Besides having to think and decide fast, learners must also ensure all the content requirements in the essay are fulfilled. These tasks are indeed demanding and absolutely not all learners are able to fulfil them well. Nonetheless, if given the right coaching and tool, I am positive, most learners will be able to handle the thinking, deciding and planning processes well.

In this write-up, I wish to address the above-mentioned issue by sharing a tool called “OCPD”. “O” stands for “OPTIONS”, “C” for “CHOICE”, “P” for “POINTS” and lastly “D” for “DETAILS”. “OCPD” offers learners crucial questions which they have to ask themselves before writing their essay as a written task or in examination. No doubt, some learners are independent; they are able to think and decide on their own; they are also capable of providing mature and convincing ideas and details in their essay. Nevertheless, we cannot deny the fact that majority of our learners need guidance from their ESL teachers. Moreover, they also require some practices to think and make decisions before they can be independent.

The following are more details and explanations about “OCPD”. I use some Continuous Writing questions to explain about the tool. Let’s say, they get this question – “Describe your most favourite activity with your siblings on a public holiday. Explain about the activity and convince your friends to do the activity with their siblings too.” Of course, they must underline all the keywords in the question. Personally, I believe learners have to spend a few minutes (OVERALL, NOT MORE THAN 10 MINUTES) to question themselves with relevant questions during the PRE-WRITING ACTIVITY. One of the questions will lead them to “THE DETERMINER” which will influence the responses to the other keywords in the question. Getting THE DETERMINER may not be easy to some learners, therefore, they need to be coached on how to question on their own. These questions (in column 2 below) should be posed by them:

The following are a few more sample relevant questions and planning for essay writing which apply “OCPD”.

SAMPLE of OCPD 1:

Describe your most favourite activity with your siblings on a public holiday. Explain about the activity and convince your friends to do the activity with their siblings too.

QUESTIONS TO BE ASKED AND ANSWERED BY LEARNERS ON THEIR OWN:

QUESTION 1: What options do I have for the most favourite activity with siblings on a public holiday?

QUESTION 2: Which choice (idea/activity) do I know best?

QUESTION 3: Do I have strong / valid / convincing points to support what I choose?

QUESTION 4: Do I have enough details to elaborate each of the points?

QUESTION 5: How can THE DETERMINER be linked to all the essay requirements?

SAMPLE OF OCPD 2:

What is the birthday gift that you really wish to get? Describe the gift, explain the reasons for wanting it and your plans after getting the birthday gift.

QUESTIONS TO BE ASKED AND ANSWERED BY LEARNERS ON THEIR OWN:

QUESTION 1: What options do I have for the birthday gift that I really wish to get?

QUESTION 2: Which choice/topic (gift/idea/activity) do I know best?

QUESTION 3: Do I have strong / valid / convincing points to support what I choose?

QUESTION 4: Do I have enough details to elaborate each of the points?

QUESTION 5: How can THE DETERMINER be linked to all the essay requirements?

SAMPLE OF OCPD 3:

How can unity be promoted in your neighbourhood? Give a suggestion and reasons for suggesting the activity.

QUESTIONS TO BE ASKED AND ANSWERED BY LEARNERS ON THEIR OWN:

QUESTION 1: What options do I have for the activities that promote unity?

QUESTION 2: Which choice/topic (idea/activity) do I know best?

QUESTION 3: Do I have strong / valid / convincing points to support what I choose?

QUESTION 4: Do I have enough details to elaborate each of the points?

QUESTION 5: How can THE DETERMINER be linked to all the essay requirements?

SAMPLE OF OCPD 4:

Describe a cartoon television show that you like. Explain the reasons why you like the show and a lesson children can learn from the main cartoon character in the show.

QUESTIONS TO BE ASKED AND ANSWERED BY LEARNERS ON THEIR OWN:

QUESTION 1: What options do I have for the cartoon television show?

QUESTION 2: Which choice/topic (cartoon tv show/idea/activity) do I know best?

QUESTION 3: Do I have strong / valid / convincing points to support what I choose?

QUESTION 4: Do I have enough details to elaborate each of the points?

QUESTION 5: How can THE DETERMINER be linked to all the essay requirements?

CONCLUSION

I really hope this sharing on “OCPD” has offered some insights on the importance of ESL teachers to coach and guide their learners to prepare and plan well before any essay is written. Perhaps, this “OCPD” may not be perfect for all Continuous Writing questions and teaching and learning contexts. However, it is still an option to be considered. With sufficient practices and improved self-questioning skills, I am confident our learners will be better thinkers, decision makers and planners. If this takes place, they will be able to write better essays, in shaa Allah.