DBQ Document Analysis S.O.A.P.S.

Tone
Whenever you encounter a document, whether primary or secondary sources, one of the most
important skills youll need to have is the ability to determine the points-of-view (POVs) that are
present in the document !o write effective POV statements on "ocument #ased $uestions,
be%in by applyin% &O'P&!one to each document you look at 'lways formulate (uestions that the
document elicits
Letter Ideas to Think About
Subject
What is the documents content and subject (ie what is it sayin%))
*ow do you know this)
*ow has the sub+ect been selected and presented by the author)
What ideas or alues does the document presuppose in the audience)
Occasion
What local, re%ional and,or %lobal events prompted the author to create this piece)
What events led to its publication or development)
What conditions needed to e-ist in order for this document to be created, disseminated
and,or preserved)
Audience
"oes the speaker identify an audience)
.f not, who was the likely audience for this piece) /or whom was the document
created) Was there an unintended audience)
o What assumptions can you make about the audience in terms of social class,
political affiliations, %ender, race,ethnicity, occupation or relationships to foci of
power)
"oes the speaker use lan%ua%e that is specific for a uni(ue audience (&0'12))
o Why is the speaker usin% this type of lan%ua%e) What is the mode of delivery)
o 're there any words or phrases that seem unusual or different (3'42O1))
"oes the speaker evoke 2od) 1ation) 0iberty) *istory) *ell) &cience) *uman
1ature)
"oes the speaker allude to traditional, provincial,urbani5ed, classical, pre-modern or
modern themes) Aboe all! "hat is the author tryin# to achiee or #ain "ith this
document$
Purpose
.n what ways does he,she convey this messa%e)
*ow was this document communicated to the audience)
*ow is the speaker tryin% to spark a reaction in the audience)
%hat is the speaker and&or author's purpose$
Speaker
.s there someone identified as the speaker)
.s the speaker the same as the author)
%hat in(erences can you make about this person$
6% What class does he,she come from) What political party) What %ender)
Tone
What is the authors tone)
What is the authors mood and how is it conveyed) /or what purpose)
What is the emotional state of the speaker and how can you tell)
*ow is the document supposed to make the reader,viewer feel)
Questions
Once youve analy5ed the document with all the lenses of &O'P&!one, youre ready to
ask your own (uestions and make assertions of your own What are they)
What else would you like to know about the author,speaker, or about the
society,historical era in which he,she lived)
Based on all o( the aboe! "hat are potential biases that the document contains$
)our ans"er to this *uestion "ill shape a PO+.
%hat other types o( documents "ould you need in order to better understand the
document's point o( ie"$