Writing basics

 When addressing others (whether it is an essay, in a speech, in a text, or in any other method), one should always consider SOAPS.  SOAPS is an acronym.  An acronym is where each letter of a word stands for a word. Example: SCUBA, PETA Example: SCUBA, PETA

Why is SOAPS important?  The different factors help you judge how best to express yourself.  Factors such as audience and occasion might influence things such as your tone of voice and word choice. It can even affect what pieces of evidence will be more useful.  Certain occasions may require you to be more precise and to stay on topic more than a chat with your friends.

Methods of writing  There are three main ways to address your audience. Formal speech Formal speech Informal speech Informal speech Familiar speech Familiar speech

Formal writing/speech  Purpose: to inform, instruct, or convince  Tone: dignified and impersonal 3rd person 3rd person  Language: formal diction and tightly structured syntax uses full sentences uses full sentences contains no slang contains no slang contains no colloquial expressions contains no colloquial expressions  What are some uses?

Informal writing/speech  Purpose: to entertain (more than to inform)  Tone: less serious and lighter than a formal essay  Language: less formal diction with more flexible syntax  What are some uses?

Familiar writing/ speech  Purpose: often used to express innermost thoughts and feelings (reflections)  Tone: use of first person may create a warmer, more confidential tone rather than impersonal style  Language: less formal diction and relaxed syntax (may be more like a journal, for example)  What are some uses?

Examples  Think of an example of when you would write formally in the classroom.  When might you write informally in the classroom?  When might you write in the familiar in the classroom?

Essay expectations:  For most classroom essays, you will be expected to write a formal essay.  This means you need to follow the department Do/ Don’t sheet.  I will also expect you to have two pieces of evidence for every inference.  Evidence should be as specific as possible, so direct quotations from the text are most often the best choice.

Other basics: TTTThe thesis should be at the end of the introduction. EEEEach paragraph should have a topic sentence (TS) TTTThe thesis should be reiterated at the beginning of the conclusion. YYYYou need to cite all of your direct quotations (DQ) This means you should have parenthetical citations as well as a works cited page

Wrap it up  What does SOAPS stand for?  When do you need to consider SOAPS?  What are the three ways to address an audience?  What font should you use?  What size should the font be?  What kinds of words should not be in a formal essay?