It is critical that students should think about what they are reading. SOAPStone analysis asks the student to consider what the subject is, the occasion, or what the setting and time of the work are. Next, the student must think about the audience and purpose of the work are.
Who is it intended for and why? Finally, SOAPStone analysis causes the student to ask who the speaker is and what the tone of the work is. Is the author talking directly to the reader?
A good history assignment might be to pick the journals or diaries of several figures from history. Form the students into groups and assign each group one diary or journal to study.
The students should all take time to read the diary as homework. Then, assemble the students into their groups and have them discuss what they have read using the SOAPStone analysis method. Have them take notes as they discuss the book.
After the students have had their discussion sessions, break the class down and have each student write a short essay about what they have read and discussed. Encourage them to use the notes they took during the discussion session.
They should use the SOAPStone method to first draw up a plan of their essay. Define clearly the speaker, occasion, audience, purpose, subject and tone of their essay. Then have them write the essay and turn in both essay and outline.
This exercise will help to improve the students’ ability to comprehend and retain what they have read as well as to foster better writing skills. SOAPStone is an extremely effective teaching tool.
Another helpful activity is to assign each class a choice of three World History topics. Instruct them to do an Internet search for articles on that topic and use SOAPStone analysis to break down the article.
Explain in detail what the writer is saying and draw a chart on poster board describing the different elements of the article using SOAPStone analysis. Post all the charts on the wall and have the class examine and vote for which ones most clearly used SOAPStone analysis to depict what the writer was trying to say.