SOAPSTONE Text Analysis

Who is the Speaker?

• The voice that is speaking. Identification of the historical person (or group of people) who created the primary source.
• What do we know about this historic or contemporary person?
• What role does he play in an historic event?

What is the Occasion?

• What is the time and place? The context in which the primary source was created?
• What is the Geographic and Historic intersection at which this source was produced?

Who is the Audience?

• The readers to whom this document is directed.
• The audience may be one person, a small group, or a large group; it may be a certain person or a certain people.

What is the Purpose?

• What is the reason behind the text
• Why was it written?
• What goal did the author have in mind?

What is the Subject?

• What is the general topic, content, or idea contained in the text?
• Summarize in a few words or phrase.

What is the Tone?

• What is the attitude expressed by the speaker?
• Examine the choice of words, emotions expressed, imagery used to determine the speaker's attitude.