'But every question is a cry to understand the world. There is no such thing as a dumb question...'

07 August 2000 | On Questioning!

#memoriesfromdiaries 💛

[This day, 21 years ago] 😍

Our class was really blessed! 

We used to have a special PG Library back then meant exclusively for the use of PG students and Staff members! (Funded by the UGC, I guess!)

07 August 2000, from my personal diary

We also had those solemn library hours when we could borrow any two books of our choice from the resourceful stacks of the PG Library, and sit at our favourite desks to engage in some silent reading! Mr. SP was in-charge of the PG Library, and hence he gave us two books of our own sweet choosing! 😍

On this particular day, 07 August 2000, we had our usual Seminar Hour, and today it was my turn to present a paper.

I presented a paper on the topic, ‘Marlowe’s Contribution to English Drama’.

Prof. EM was our moderator. He gave me a good score of 9/10. 

Seminar hours for us were highly interactive hours, wherein we had the opportunity to ask thought-provoking questions.

All thanks to our vibrant professors who cultivated in us such a vibrant spirit of enquiry.

Prof. EM had this beautiful knack of pointing to students in particular, thereby encouraging us all to come out of our inhibitions and ask our questions.

Gradually, students came out of their inhibitions and engaged themselves better with the subject under discussion.

On this particular day’s seminar hour, as can be gauged from my personal diary entry, there were lots of questions up for grabs - both from me (to my class) and from our class (to me). Our moderator Prof. EM, for his part also asked me very insightful questions.

Well, I should confess with all sincerity that, these Seminar hours really helped us a lot, as they enriched us with diverse points of view to approaching a particular topic.

Now for a short anecdote for us all –

Well, on 12 December 2007, I had been invited to my alma mater to chair a technical session [session IV] in the good ol’ AVE Hall, as part of the UGC-Sponsored Seminar on “Nature in Literature”, organized by Dr. SF!

Participants were all geared up - lined up as usual in the front rows, ready to take their turn in presenting their papers, to the call of the Chairperson.

The AVE Hall was also packed to capacity.

After every paper presentation, I for my part, in order to ably fulfil my duties as chairperson, uttered those grand ol’ phatic lines,

Thank you Ms/Mr…….

I now intend to throw the forum open for deliberations and discussions. The floor is now open for questions. If you have any questions, suggestions or clarifications, you may now ask the presenter. Just raise your hands, and after the chairperson gives you the nod, introduce yourself, and ask the delegate your question! Thank you.

An eerie silence followed my call to the audience. Since a sizeable majority gathered there were students, I encouraged them to come forward with their questions.

‘There’s no such thing as a silly question’, I said, and added,

‘Without any questions, deliberations or discussions, a prestigious UGC-Sponsored Seminar such as this would not have served its intended purpose at all!’

Still there was no response forthcoming! 🙃

In the lines of Pope - Alexander Pope, some were - 

Willing to wound, and yet afraid to strike!

Now, I quietly went up to the lectern, pulled out a ‘hundred rupee note’ from my pocket, and showed it to them! Then, placing it on the desk right in front of me, I put forth my fervent call yet again -  

‘If you could ask just one good question, I would gift you this 100 Rupee note!’

Now two hands slowly raised up!

I was so happy that at least this ‘incentive’ method worked.

At the end of the technical session, by means of this inventive ‘incentive’ method, I managed to bring out six very good questions - and all of them from our student participants - by expending a sum of 600 rupees! 😍

A real ‘reward’ing day by all means! 

This made me reflect on the state of affairs as regards paper presentations and publications!

Why on earth, do we make a paper presentation? Or write a paper for publication?

What is the real motive behind this venture?

Well, as we all know, a spirit of enquiry is the first ever step that a learner takes, towards advancement in their learning.

Hence it becomes all the more important to cultivate this vibrant spirit of enquiry in the minds and hearts of our learners.

Added, the classroom space is the very first place where this spirit of enquiry could be cultivated!

Yes! The Classroom space not only facilitates learning, but also provides a beautiful space for some real vibrant enquiry!

The only time in your life, when - as a student - you can come out full throttle, without any inhibition whatsoever, with your ‘spirit of enquiry’ is this sacred classroom space!

So now - how do I get this spirit of enquiry on me?

Very simple! The moment I take a pause to think and to reflect on a subject or an idea, the spirit of enquiry automatically catches up on me!

For self-introspection’s sake, I need to ask myself this question –

When was the last time I paused to think and to reflect on a subject or an idea?

Right from the times of the sages from ages past, from Confucius and Plato onwards to Descartes and Hegel downwards, the spirit of enquiry [or the gentle art of questioning] has been highly encouraged and valued in all of academia.

It is this vibrant spirit of enquiry which makes possible an equally vibrant learning environment.

So how do I start?

Again, quite simple. You could start by trying to categorise questions into two types –

Essential Questions

&

Non-essential questions

It’s quite easy for any Tom or Harry to ask non-essential questions.

But to ask an essential question requires a lot of thinking and reflecting on your part!

And the two are like chalk and cheese!

So before you proceed to ask a question, make sure your question comes under the ‘Essential question’ category!

What, pray, is an Essential question then?

An essential question is one that has the capability of expanding and enlarging the learner’s understanding on a particular subject!

Essential questions therefore seek to empower the learner and subsequently help them in applying their learning to creative, and innovative ways!

In short, as eminent critic Scupin Richard rightly says,

Essential questions help the learner in having an enhanced engagement with the subject, facilitating a comprehensive mastery of the content!

Example of an essential question –

How does language shape and reflect culture?

Non-essential question –

What is the language used by Selvon’s characters in his 1956 novel titled, The Lonely Londoners?

Well, Jay and Grant, in their very insightful book titled, Essential Questions highlight the seven defining characteristics of an essential question, which are as follows –

A good essential question, according to Jay and Grant -

1. Is open-ended; that is, it typically will not have a single, final, and correct answer.

2. Is thought-provoking and intellectually engaging, often sparking discussion and debate.

3. Calls for higher-order thinking, such as analysis, inference, evaluation, prediction. It cannot be effectively answered by recall alone.

4. Points toward important, transferable ideas within (and sometimes across) disciplines.

5. Raises additional questions and sparks further inquiry.

6. Requires support and justification, not just an answer.

7. Recurs over time; that is, the question can and should be revisited again and again.

Would love to end this post with a lovely, inspirational quote from Carl Sagan.

He says,

There are naive questions, tedious questions, ill-phrased questions, questions put after inadequate self-criticism. But every question is a cry to understand the world. There is no such thing as a dumb question.

How beautiful! Ain’t it?

To be continued… 

[Acknowledgements: Sincere thanks to Jay and to Grant for their awesome takes on the topic of Essential Questions.]