Cracking The SAT Premium

• use of textual evidence (quotations, paraphrases, or both) to demonstrate understanding of the
  source text

When you start this task, the very first thing you have to do is read the text. Obvious, right? But reading for
the essay is unlike leisure reading, when all you need to worry about is whether or not Katniss is going to
make it to the end of the Games. As you read the essay prompt, you need to consider the central idea
(SOAPS) and important details that support that idea (types of appeals and style elements).

SOAPS—Like in the Tub?

SOAPS is an acronym to help you remember the five things you need to look for in order to establish the
central idea of a passage or argument.

Speaker

Occasion

Audience

Purpose

Subject

SOAPStone:  Ever

Hear    of  It?

You may have    learned

SOAPStone   in  your    English

class.  It’s    almost  the same

thing   as  SOAPS.

Speaker

Who is  speaking    or  writing?

Knowing whose voice you are reading is very important for understanding the text thoroughly. It will help
you understand their motivations as well as the reason(s) they are speaking or writing in the first place.
As you read, ask what makes this person credible? What are the speaker’s credentials?

• What gives a doctor the authority to speak about medical issues, or a politician the authority to
  speak about political issues? (Be specific.)

For the doctor, you might mention medical school and many years studying medicine. Passing tests and
acquiring hands-on experience give a doctor credibility on medical issues. The longer a doctor has been
practicing medicine, the more experience he has, lending even more credibility. For the politician, you
might mention experience working in government and policy. Many study political science in college. The
politician may have run successful campaigns previously.

• Would you rather hear a stockbroker or an athlete speak about financial investing? Why?