1. AN ORGANIZER FOR BETTER READING COMPREHENSION AND BETTER WRITTEN WORK. SOAPSTONE ORGANIZER

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. SOAPSTONE Multi-use organizer Use to analyze literature Use to plan writing

5. 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

6. 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.

7. A Audience Who is the intended audience for this? How does the author appeal to or address this particular audience?

8. P Purpose What the author wishes the audience to think, believe or do in response to his/her writing. Why the author is writing.

9. 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?

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

11. COMMON WORDS TO DESCRIBE TONE angrysadsharpsentimentalcold upsetfancifulurgentcomplimentarycondescending sympatheticpoignantdetachedafraidcontemptuous apologetichollowchildishhumorousjoyful peacefulmockingsarcasticbitterdreamy restrainedsombercandidprouddramatic pitifuldidacticcontemptuoussarcasticmocking sweettiredfrivolousobjectivevibrant confusedplayfuldarkdrearypensive thoughtfulvibrantsillyfearfulsorrowful

12. 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”

13. REFERENCES College Board, The AP Vertical Teams Guide for English, 2 nd ed. 2002. Morse, Ogden. Pre-AP: Strategies in English—writing tactics using SOAPSTone. College Board, 2004