Soapstone Lesson and Questions

Explanatory Text with SOAPSTone

Dr. McCain

Definition of explanation text

• A text that is used to describe how and why things happen. It usually includes a sequence of events (explaining How) and provides reasons for a process of phenomenon (Why).

Explanatory features

• Focus on the topic or subject

• Containing an explanation of the process

• Using passive voice

• Use the conjunction to relate the process.

Multiple Choice

A text that explains how or why things happen is called ....... text.

• description

• explanation

• procedure

• recount

Multiple Select

Which statement is the definition of explanation text?

• A text that explains and elaborate some factual information relate to particular objects, matter, or things which are based on empirical, real, and/or scientific facts or information.

• A text which describe what a person or a thing is like.

• A text that is used to describe how and why things happen. It usually includes a sequence of events (explaining How) and provides reasons for a process of phenomenon (Why).

• A text that is explained to describe how something is achieved through the reason why of phenomenon process.

What is SOAPSTone?

SOAPSTone

S=Subject

O=Organization

A=Audience

P=Purpose

S=Speaker

Tone=Tone

●is a way to break down informational texts in order to understand them better.

●helps readers know more about the author’s intentions.

• Ask yourself . . .

• What is this text about?

• What are the main ideas?

• How would I summarize this?

​

​Subject

Audience

• Ask yourself . . .

• Who did the author expect to read this?

• How did they want the reader to feel after reading this?

• Ask yourself . . .

• How are the ideas in this text organized?

• Which text type is used in this text?

• Why did the author arrange this the way they did?

Organization

• Ask yourself . . .

• Why did the author write this?

• Was the author trying to inform, persuade, or entertain the reader?

Purpose

Speaker

• Ask yourself. . .

• Whose voice is being used in the text, the author, or someone else?

• What do they do to make themselves seem more credible or likeable?

• Ask yourself . . .

• Is the speaker speaking formally or informally?

• How does the author feel about the subject of the text?

Tone

Multiple Choice

If someone was using SOAPSTone and they wanted to know the reason that something was written, they would be looking for the:

• Speaker

• Occasion

• Purpose

• Subject

Multiple Select

These 2 questions belong to Audience in SOAPSTone.

• Who did the author expect to read this?

• Why did the author write this?

• How did they want the reader to feel after reading this?

• Which text type is used in this text?

Multiple Choice

What is Subject?

• How the text is written

• What caused the text to be written

• The main idea or topic of the text

• What we should understand about the topic

• J - Jot down notes while you read

J

• P - Preview the text

• B - Break the text into smaller sections

PB

PB&J

Open Ended

What is the Subject and Tone of the following?

In the 2007 World Championships in Athletics in Osaka, one of the high jump competitors was a Bahamian called Donald Thomas, a man notable for the fact that he had done only eight months of intensive training in the sport. A complete outsider, no one expected him to win. Indeed, Thomas had only turned his attention to high jumping after a college bet in which he had been challenged to a high jump competition and succeeded in clearing a bar set at 2.13m wearing ordinary sneakers.