Writing basicsWriting basics

When addressing others (whether it is an When addressing others (whether it is an essay, in a speech, in a text, or in any essay, in a speech, in a text, or in any other method), one should always other method), one should always consider SOAPS. consider SOAPS.

SOAPS is an acronym.SOAPS is an acronym. An acronym is where each letter of a word An acronym is where each letter of a word

stands for a word. stands for a word. Example: SCUBA, PETAExample: SCUBA, PETA

SOAPS:SOAPS:SubjectSubject – the topic you are addressing– the topic you are addressingOccasion – what prompted the speech or Occasion – what prompted the speech or essay besides being assignedessay besides being assignedAudience – to whom you are addressing Audience – to whom you are addressing the piecethe piecePurpose – Why are you communicating? Purpose – Why are you communicating? Common purposes are to persuade, inform, Common purposes are to persuade, inform, entertainentertainSpeaker – who is presenting the Speaker – who is presenting the information (Are you writing as a student? information (Are you writing as a student? As a citizen of the U.S.? Etc.)As a citizen of the U.S.? Etc.)

Why is SOAPS important?Why is SOAPS important? The different factors help you judge how The different factors help you judge how

best to express yourself. best to express yourself. Factors such as audience and occasion Factors such as audience and occasion

might influence things such as your tone of might influence things such as your tone of voice and word choice. It can even affect voice and word choice. It can even affect what pieces of evidence will be more what pieces of evidence will be more useful. useful.

Certain occasions may require you to Certain occasions may require you to be more precise and to stay on topic be more precise and to stay on topic more than a chat with your friends. more than a chat with your friends.

Methods of writingMethods of writing

There are three main ways to address There are three main ways to address your audience.your audience. Formal speechFormal speech Informal speechInformal speech Familiar speechFamiliar speech

Formal writing/speechFormal writing/speech Purpose: to inform, instruct, or convincePurpose: to inform, instruct, or convince Tone: dignified and impersonal Tone: dignified and impersonal

3rd person3rd person Language: formal diction and tightly Language: formal diction and tightly

structured syntaxstructured syntax uses full sentencesuses full sentences contains no slangcontains no slang contains no colloquial expressionscontains no colloquial expressions

What are some uses?What are some uses?

Informal writing/speechInformal writing/speech

Purpose: to entertain (more than to inform)Purpose: to entertain (more than to inform) Tone: less serious and lighter than a Tone: less serious and lighter than a

formal essayformal essay Language: less formal diction with more Language: less formal diction with more

flexible syntaxflexible syntax What are some uses?What are some uses?

Familiar writing/ speechFamiliar writing/ speech Purpose: often used to express innermost Purpose: often used to express innermost

thoughts and feelings (reflections)thoughts and feelings (reflections) Tone: use of first person may create a Tone: use of first person may create a

warmer, more confidential tone rather than warmer, more confidential tone rather than impersonal styleimpersonal style

Language: less formal diction and relaxed Language: less formal diction and relaxed syntax (may be more like a journal, for syntax (may be more like a journal, for example)example)

What are some uses?What are some uses?

ExamplesExamples

Think of an example of when you would Think of an example of when you would write formally in the classroom.write formally in the classroom.

When might you write informally in the When might you write informally in the classroom?classroom?

When might you write in the familiar in the When might you write in the familiar in the classroom?classroom?

Essay expectations:Essay expectations: For most classroom essays, you will be For most classroom essays, you will be

expected to write a expected to write a formal formal essay.essay. This means you need to follow the This means you need to follow the

department Do/ Don’t sheet. department Do/ Don’t sheet. I will also expect you to have two pieces of I will also expect you to have two pieces of

evidence for every inference.evidence for every inference. Evidence should be as specific as Evidence should be as specific as

possible, so direct quotations from the text possible, so direct quotations from the text are most often the best choice. are most often the best choice.

Other basics:Other basics: The thesis should be at the end of the The thesis should be at the end of the

introduction.introduction. Each paragraph should have a topic Each paragraph should have a topic

sentence (TS)sentence (TS) The thesis should be reiterated at the The thesis should be reiterated at the

beginning of the conclusion.beginning of the conclusion. You need to cite all of your direct You need to cite all of your direct

quotations (DQ)quotations (DQ) This means you should have parenthetical This means you should have parenthetical

citations as well as a works cited page citations as well as a works cited page

Wrap it upWrap it up What does SOAPS stand for?What does SOAPS stand for? When do you need to consider SOAPS?When do you need to consider SOAPS? What are the three ways to address an What are the three ways to address an

audience?audience? What font should you use?What font should you use? What size should the font be?What size should the font be? What kinds of words should not be in a What kinds of words should not be in a

formal essay?formal essay?