SOAP

SOAP the Document:  Making Primary Source Documents
Come Clean!

Source

•
Who wrote the document?
•
What is the author’s background/point of view?

Whose point of view, given the topic, is
missing?
•
Do you consider the source a reliable one on this topic?  Why/why not?

Occasion
•
When was the document written?
•
What does the date of the document tell you about its content?

What other historical events were going on during this time?

Audience
•
To whom is the author writing?
•
What type of document is this (diary entry, personal letter, public speech,
etc.)?  
•
Does the private/public nature of the document inform you about its content
(is the author sharing private thoughts, making a public pronouncement,
etc.)?

Purpose
•
Why was the document written?  What is the purpose of the document?
•
What is the document saying?