The PQRS Method:

From Problem to Solution

in 4 Simple Steps

What is it?I created this step-by-step plan for ESL and / or EFL students and have used it in Toronto and Tokyo, Japan.

It will work for native speakers and will get results on any issue.

Just download this PowerPoint (or the ‘Fancy’ one) and remove this slide. Copy and Paste the last two slides for the worksheet. Show the PPT, give the worksheet after Brainstorming. Have fun!

What is it?

The PQRS Method is a four-step plan to examine Problems,

ask important Questions,get answers through Research,

and present Solutions.

What is it?P is for Problem : Think of a problem

Q is for Question : Ask Who, What, Where, When, Why and How?

R is for Research : Find Answers

S is for Solutions : Make suggestions

How do you do PQRS?

1: Brainstorm problems

2: Get into groups of 4

3: Do Q, R, and Present your S

3: Choose a problem

Problem

Question

Research

Solutions

Step 1: Brainstorm

In your university, your town, or city, or globally; Anything!

Think of a problem, a plight, a predicament, an issue, a situation …

Now, make groups of 4

Problems:

Each group choose a different one

Task 1: Define your Problem

Discuss and write the problem into one sentence or question

Task 2: Questions and Answers

Research: Use your phones if you have to.

Take turns reading the supplied questions. Everybody work together to answer them.

Task 3: Make your own Questions

Make one of each type and answer them.

Tip: This is a formal presentationorganized like a 5 Paragraph Essay:

Introductory Paragraph Body 1 Body 2Body 3

Concluding Paragraph

Task 4: Solutions – Presentation:

Presenter presents first and last

Questioner asks all the questions

Responder reads all the answers

Suggester reads the suggestions

Choose your Group Roles:

Presenter: Introductory ParagraphSay members names, roles, Problem defined

Questioner: Body 1 – ask all questions Responder: Body 2 – read all answers

Suggester: Body 3 – give top 3 SolutionsPresenter: Concluding Paragraph

Thoughts, feelings, opinions, what you learned

PQRS Method

Problem to Solution in 4 Simple Steps

The

From

Problem

THANKYOU!

The PQRS Method Group Worksheet Problem Chosen by this group: _________________________________Task 1: Define the Problem: ______________________________________________________________________________

Task 2: Questions and Answers (Use your phones for Research if you need to)

*Some questions may not fit some Problems. If you can’t find the answer, just write “We don’t know.” Who does this Problem affect? _______________________________________________________________________ Who is creating it? _____________________________________________________________________________________

What are the effects of this Problem? ________________________________________________________________ What are the financial costs of it? _____________________________________________________________________

Where does the Problem happen? ____________________________________________________________________Where can people avoid it? ___________________________________________________________________________

When does the Problem happen? ______________________________________________________________________When did it start? ________________________________________________________________________________________

Why does the Problem happen? _________________________________________________________________________Why do people not fix it? _________________________________________________________________________________

How can you learn more about this Problem? _________________________________________________________How can you teach other people about it? ______________________________________________________________

Task 3: Create and Answer your Group’s QuestionsYour “Who” Questions & Answer:

Who Q1: _______________________________________________________________________________________________________Who A1: _______________________________________________________________________________________________________Your “What” Questions & Answer:

What Q1: _______________________________________________________________________________________________________What A1: _______________________________________________________________________________________________________

Your “Where” Questions & Answer:

Where Q1: _______________________________________________________________________________________________________Where A1: _______________________________________________________________________________________________________Your “When” Questions & Answer:

When Q1: ________________________________________________________________________________________________________When A1: ________________________________________________________________________________________________________Your “Why” Questions & Answer:

Why Q1: __________________________________________________________________________________________________________Why A1: __________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Your “How” Questions & Answer: (How much, how many, how long, etc.)

How Q1: _________________________________________________________________________________________________________How A1: _________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Task 4: Write your Top Three Suggestions for Solutions: ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Task 5: Presentation:

Choose roles and use the following guidelines for what you will sayPresenter: Introduce each person’s name & Role, Problem defined, Why you chose this problem)Questioner: Read each QuestionResponder: Read each ResponseSuggester: Read your groups suggestions and say Why you created themPresenter: Conclusion (Say your group’s opinions, thoughts, Websites used, say what you learned)Your Role: _______________________________