What? An acronym and tool that help readers dig deeper into a piece of writingWhy? SOAPSTone’s different questions help you understand a piece of writing in new ways
SOAPSToneToday’s objective: I will develop and defend my interpretation of subject, occasion, audience, purpose, and tone of a text using SOAPSTone .Today’s GLET: Develops and defends one’s interpretation of a text in a more complex manner (4.d).
What is the Subject? The main idea of the text What is the Occasion?The time and the place of the piece; the context that prompted the writing
Who is the Audience? The group of readers to whom this piece is directed
What is the Purpose?The reason behind the text;What is hoping to be accomplished
Who is the Speaker?The person or identity behind the ‘text’
What is the Tone?The attitude or emotion of the author
SOAPSTone “I Do” “We Do” “You Do”Subject: What is the subject or topic of the piece? What main idea(s) are contained in the text?
Pay attention to large animals that may injure you or your car.
Occasion: What is the time, place, and setting of the piece? Also, what is happening in the world that would give importance or urgency to this writing?
These large animals must be present in this location and must have done this before. Drivers may not do a great job of paying attention to these animals as well.
Audience: Who is the intended audience of this piece? Who else should read it?
Any drivers on this road
Purpose: What is the reason for writing this piece? What was the writer trying to communicate or accomplish?
Speaker: What can you tell about the writer or the “speaker” of the piece? What can you tell about their values or their motivation?
The sign maker is speaking on behalf of the Department of Transportation…PerhapsMany accidents have occurred and the speaker values safety and caution
Tone: What emotion or attitude does the writing have? If the author were to read it aloud, what would it sound like?
This is not a suggestion. The speaker’s tone is commanding and urgent.
Think about this sign and its SOAPSTone.
What is the Subject? The main idea: Pay attention to large animals that may injure you or your car. What is the Occasion?These large animals must be present in this location and must have done this before. Drivers may not do a great job of paying attention to these animals as well.
Who is the Audience? Any drivers on this road
I DO
I DOWhat is the Purpose?Drivers are given advanced warning of a potential problem
Who is the Speaker?The sign maker is speaking on behalf of the Department of Transportation…PerhapsMany accidents have occurred and the speaker values safety and caution
What is the Tone?This is not a suggestion. The speaker’s tone is commanding and urgent.
WE DO!
I will circulate among your groups and take
notes about your responses.
Then I will share out the best ones!
Do your best work!
YOU DO!
Time to try it on your own!If you need a bit of extra help, I can work with a small group at the table.
Who can SOAPSTone this controversial sign placed at borders around the
United States?
A Math example
“I Do, We Do, You Do”
“I Do”
• There are three important steps to writing a fraction, decimal, and percentage from a pictorial model…• Watch me as I show you – and then
write down the steps as we go!
Step One---Finding the Fraction
Count the total number of sections in the model; this is your denominator (bottom number)
Count the total number of sections that are shaded in the model; this is you numerator
The fraction is: 5 12
Step Two—Converting the Fraction into a Decimal
• Take the numerator and divide it by the denominator
• 5/12=.41667
Step Three: Converting the Decimal into a Percentage
• Multiply the decimal by 100• A shortcut is…move the decimal place
over 2 digits to the right• .41667x100=41.667%
“We Do” and “You Do”
• We Do: Same process – new numbers – use dry erase white boards to ensure academic engagement
• You Do: Individuals practice – pull a small group, if necessary
A Science example
“I Do, We Do, You Do”
Science - Given a data table organize data into a line or bar graph (1.5e)
• I Plot - A think aloud with a data table– “I’m looking at this data table and this blank
graph. When I have…then I will…”• We Plot – Table groups get another data table– Formative Assessment: Anecdotal evidence
• You Plot – Individuals get another data table – while teacher pulls a small group of students who need more help in a “We Do”
The “We Do” -- GLET Challenge
• Language Arts—1.d Makes and explains inferences using stated information and prior knowledge.
• Science—3.4.2 d. Explain why offspring are not identical to either parent.
• Math—3.1b Reads interprets and draws conclusions from various displays of data
