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SOAPStone

When you read a particular text in school, chances are good that you will also be required to write about it. Another effective reading and writing strategy is called SOAPSTone. The acronym stands for:

  • Speaker,
  • Occasion,
  • Audience,
  • Purpose,
  • Subject, and
  • Tone.

Speaker

The speaker is the voice that tells the story. This voice could be a fictional character or a historical person, depending on the text. Don't confuse the speaker with the author.

The author, of course, is the writer of the story. The speaker is the voice that is trying to tell the reader something or influence the reader in a certain way.


Point of View

Point of view is the vantage point in which the narrator tells a story. So the point of view can affect the information you are given in a story, especially if it is told by a biased unfairly prejudiced for or against someone or something narrator.

  • First person point of view is told from a character in the story. You can tell it's first person point of view based on the first person pronouns that are used in the text (I, me, my, we, us, our). Readers see events from this character's perspective, so you know only what the narrator knows and feels. This point of view is biased.

  • Limited third person point of view has a narrator outside the story looking into one particular character's thoughts, feelings, and actions. Third person pronouns are used (he, him, she, her, they, them, their). The character followed is generally the main character. Look at the example below.

    Example:

    Trisha liked Lance since elementary school; however, she never had the courage to tell him. One spring day, Trisha found the nerve to ask, "Lance, will you go to the prom with me?" Lance smiled and accepted her invitation. Trisha was thrilled!

    This paragraph tells thoughts and feelings of Trisha.


  • Third person omniscient is a narrator who is all-knowing. The outside narrator is not a participant in the story; however, he can tell you everything about all of the character's thoughts and feelings. More information can be shared with the readers since the narrator knows everything. Look at the example below.

    Trisha liked Lance since elementary school. Little did she know that he liked her, too. They both dreamed of going to this year's prom together, but they were waiting for the right chance to ask. One spring day, Trisha found the nerve to ask, "Lance, will you go to the prom with me?" Lance was beyond words. He was so excited yet embarrassed that he wasn't the first one to ask. Lance smiled and said, "Absolutely!" Trisha was thrilled!

    The paragraph changes to an all-knowing point of view. You now can see the thoughts and feelings of both Trisha and Lance.


Occasion, Audience, Purpose, Subject, and Tone

Occasion is the time and place of the piece. This is not just the time and place, or setting, of the story. Writers are influenced by what is going on around them: their environment. Consider the bigger idea that may have inspired the text.

The audience is to whom the selection is intended. This may be one person, a small group, or a large group. It could also pertain to a certain person or people

The purpose is the reason behind the writing. Why was it written? Did the author have a certain goal in mind? Is the author's aim to inform, to persuade, to entertain, to complain, to describe, to reflect, to explain?

The subject is the general topic, content, or idea contained in the text. This should be easy to summarize in a few words or phrases. The subject could be a one word topic like racism, poverty, freedom. Then you build on that idea to a bigger idea and thematic statement.

Tone is the author's attitude toward the writing, the characters, and the situation. Tone can be serious, empathetic, funny, and silly all in the same story. The tone is set by the author's choice of setting, vocabulary, and details.

Have you ever gotten into trouble with someone because of your tone? Read the scenario below.

Six o'clock. Time for dinner. The family sits down to a nice meal that their mother has made for them. During the family conversation, the son's cell phone shakes the kitchen table alarming the boy that he has made plans with his friends. The son gawks at his phone and immediately begins texting a reply.

"Son, put away your phone. You can talk to whomever after dinner," his mom gently declares.

"I will when I'm finished," the son sharply retorts.

"Don't you take that tone with your mother," the dad commands.

"Oh, sorry, Mom and Dad, I didn't mean for it to sound that way," apologizes the son. "It's just that I really don't want the guys to leave me before they head to the gym."

What was the boy's tone with his mom? Did you notice the son's attitude changed when he got into trouble?