The online discussion forum (ODF) is one of the many online interactive tools used for educational purposes. This paper discusses a study in a Malaysian university that examined the ODF interactions of students completing an assignment on paraphrasing. A class of 43 English as a Second Language (ESL) students enrolled in a writing course were divided into four forums. Their interactions consisting of 161 posts were collected in the 20‐day period of the assignment. Content analysis found the online interactions have all four elements of the analysis framework, namely, cognitive skills, evaluation, social cues and invitational form. Students were found to do their assignment in a self‐directed and self‐regulated manner within cultural and institutional constraints. The findings have implications for teaching ESL in a university context to tap into the contemporary online literacy practices of the students.