Quality of writing in a timed environment, especially without strategy, is often erratic. SOAPSTone is a strategy for writing that aims to solve this. It is an acronym for:
It is extremely important to define the speaker well. Think of it as the personality of the writing.
The setting of the argument or piece.
Who the text is ultimately directed to.
Typically the thesis, theme, or message of the text.
The topic of the essay.
Displays the speakers attitude or persona, defined by their word choice, sentence construction, imagery, etc.