SOAPS (POV) Practice Exercise II The more you practice the easier it will seem.

Examine the example below and see how a good SOAPS analysis will lead to an accurate POV statement. Through consideration of the POV of the author you will be able to assess the document for its reliability and credibility as a source. Seneca, upper-class Roman philosopher and adviser to Emperor Nero in the 1st century C.E. I do not believe that tools for the crafts were invented by wise men. The question of whether the hammer or the tongs came first does not seem important to me. Both were invented by someone with a mind that was nimble and sharp, but not great or elevated. S O A P S = inventing stuff does not take a great mind = 1st century C.E, Roman Empire, no current situation is evident = the elite classes, perhaps Nero = to elevate those who think, and downplay those who work = Seneca, philosopher, wealthy

Summary - Seneca is condescending about people who work with their hands and thinks that they are not highly intelligent. POV Statement: As an educated man from the upper class it is not hard to see why Seneca would favor those who think and denigrate those who toil. Mary and Rachell Enock, ages 11 and 12 years. Mine workers in Wales, UK during the first half of the 19th century. Here they are providing testimony to the government commission investigating conditions for women and children in the mines. "We are door-keepers in the four foot level. We leave the house before six each morning and are in the level until seven o'clock and sometimes later. We get 2p a day and our light costs us 2 1/2 p. a week. Rachel was in a day school and she can read a little. She was run over by a tram a while ago and was home ill a long time, but she has got over it." S O A P S Summary POV:

Abul Kalam, Indian Muslim leader, imprisoned several times by the British for political activism, article in a Muslim newspaper, India, 1912. It drives me mad today to see the deplorable sight among Muslims where there are only two kinds of leaders. For traditionalists there are the ulama; for the modernist group, the Western-educated intellectuals. Both are ignorant of religion and both are paralyzed limbs of the community. The first group is beset by religious superstitions, prejudices, and stagnancy, while the other is caught in atheism, imitation of the West, and love of power and position. S O A P S Summary POV:

Wang Xijue, Ming Dynasty court official, a report to the Emperor, 1593. The venerable elders of my home district explain that the reason grain is cheap despite poor harvest in recent years is due entirely to the scarcity of silver coin. The national government requires silver for taxes but distributes little silver in its expenditures. As the price of grain falls, tillers of the soil receive low returns on their labor, and thus less land is put into cultivation. S O A P S Summary -

POV:

Ramana, an Indian indentured servant, reported in Documents of Indentured Labour in South Africa, 18511917. Office of the Protector of Immigrants Ramana, Indentured to T. T. Poynton states: I complain that I am not allowed proper time to eat my meals during the day. I have to commence work at about 5:30 in the morning and finish off about 8:30 p.m. daily. I work on Sundays up to 2 oclock. I am overworked and the wage paid me is not sufficient. Whenever I stop away a day in a month, it is deducted from my pay and I am told by my master that I will have to make up these days at the expiration of my indenture. Ramana, X (his mark) S O A P S Summary POV:

SOAPS II Practice POSSIBLE ANSWERS In document 1, Abu Kalam complains about the deplorable state of Muslim politics in India in the early 20th century. Kalams credibility is due to the fact that he has obviously taken an active role in Muslim politics and has even been imprisoned for his political actions. However the degree of frustration may be due to anger about his treatment and this could explain his criticism of both the religious Muslim leaders and also those that were more westernized. In document 2, Wang Xijue explains, in a report to the emperor, how a lack of silver is causing problems for the economy of his home district. Wang Xijue has great credibility as he is a court official - a high rank at the time. He is obviously trusted by the Chinese Emperor as an educated, honest man. Yet his credibility may be questioned due to the personal aspect of the report, indicating that he may have something to gain personally if he receives help from the government. In document 3, Ramana complains about the terrible working conditions he has to suffer in his position as a servant in a South African household in the late 19th century. Ramana, the indentured servant, has some credibility because he is actually working in South Africa and there has been much evidence prior to this of mistreatment of servants. However his credibility may be questioned, because we are given no information of his agreement with T.T. Poynton, and because he is illiterate there is no evidence that the scribe has written precisely what Ramana intended.