SOAPSTone Analysis Worksheet

The following is a graphic organizer similar to the one used in the Analysis Activity to be used for
primary document analysis prewriting. All of the elements in the organizer must be included in the
Textual Analysis Essay; students can add to this worksheet from the Analysis Activity organizer(s).

What is the subject of the piece?

What are the general

topics/and/or/ideas contained in the
text?
S
Summarize in a few words or phrase.

What is the occasion?

What are the time, place, and setting

of the piece?
O
What is the Geographic and Historic
intersection at which this source was
produced?

Who is the audience?

To whom does the piece seem to be

directed?

The audience may be one person, a

small group, or a large group; it may
be a certain person or a certain
people.
A
What understanding would the
audience need to understand the
text?

What demographic seems to be

targeted?

What interests, knowledge, and

experiences might the audience
have?
What is the purpose?
P
 What seems to be the purpose or
reason this piece was written?

Why might it have been written?

What appears to be the author’s

goal?

Who is the speaker?

Who is the voice that tells the story;

the voice that is speaking?

Identification of the historical person

(or group of people) who created the
S primary source.

What do you know about this

historic or contemporary person or
group?

What role does speaker play in the

text? The context of publication?
What is the tone of the piece?

What is the attitude or emotional

characteristics present in the piece?
T
Examine the choice of words,
emotions expressed, imagery used to
determine the speaker's attitude.

Make a claim about the text using the template:

I think ______________________ + because + why_______________________________________