A N O R G A N I Z E R F O R B E T T E R R E A D I N G C O M P R E H E N S I O N A N D B E T T E R W R I T T E N W O R K .

SOAPSTONE ORGANIZER

INTRODUCTION

• To misinterpret tone is to misinterpret meaning.

• Why are emails and texts so ambiguous?• We rely heavily on a person’s inflection, intonation, and

tone of voice to communicate their attitudes toward subjects.

• Emoticons are the “solution” to this tone issue.

WHAT IS TONE?

• Emotional attitude of the author or speaker toward the subject of the piece of writing.• Tone is addressed on every reading test. • Tone is a part of every writing test.

SOAPSTONE

• Multi-use organizer• Use to analyze literature• Use to plan writing

S

• SUBJECT• What is the subject of the writing?• What words does the author use to describe it?

Keep in mind that there are literal and metaphoric subjects—more about this later

O

• Occasion• What is the IMMEDIATE occasion? This is the specific

context for the writing itself. Time and place also matter.• What is the LARGE occasion? This is the climate of ideas

and the culture the author is engaging.

A

• Audience• Who is the intended audience for this? How does the

author appeal to or address this particular audience?

P

• Purpose• What the author wishes the audience to think, believe or

do in response to his/her writing.• Why the author is writing.

SPEAKER

• What kind of person is the speaker?• Not just a name—background matters• What is he/she concerned with? Time period? Age?

Philosophical ideals?

TONE

• Author/speaker’s attitude toward the subject• Words to describe tone linked with emotion• Can use a phrase to describe tone

COMMON WORDS TO DESCRIBE TONEangry sad sharp sentimental cold

upset fanciful urgent complimentary condescending

sympathetic poignant detached afraid contemptuousapologetic hollow childish humorous joyful

peaceful mocking sarcastic bitter dreamyrestrained somber candid proud dramaticpitiful didactic contemptuous sarcastic mocking

sweet tired frivolous objective vibrantconfused playful dark dreary pensive

thoughtful vibrant silly fearful sorrowful

PRACTICE SOAPSTONE• During the whole of a dull, dark, and soundless day in

the autumn of the year, when the clouds hung oppressively low in the heavens, I had been passing along, on horseback, through a singularly dreary tract of country, and at length found myself, as the shades of the evening drew on, within view of the melancholy House of Usher…I reined my horse to the precipitous brink of a black and lurid tarn that lay in unruffled luster by the dwelling…[with] vacant and eye-like windows.• E.A. Poe “The Fall of the House of Usher”

REFERENCES

• College Board, The AP Vertical Teams Guide for English, 2nd ed. 2002.• Morse, Ogden. Pre-AP: Strategies in English—

writing tactics using SOAPSTone. College Board, 2004