ProfilesProfiles

English 1301English 1301

Paint a portrait or tell a storyPaint a portrait or tell a story Snapshots (in words)Snapshots (in words) Biographical sketch Biographical sketch BiographiesBiographies ““About Us” About Us” ““Our Team” Our Team”

Profiles are written portraits of people, Profiles are written portraits of people, places, events, or other things.places, events, or other things. CelebritiesCelebrities Travel destinationsTravel destinations Offbeat festivalsOffbeat festivals

In magazinesIn magazines NewspapersNewspapers RadioRadio TVTV

Used to describe those topics and Used to describe those topics and their significance.their significance.

ProfilesProfiles

Should be entertaining.Should be entertaining. MustMust conveyconvey significancesignificance.. Show your audience something or Show your audience something or

someone that they may not have someone that they may not have known existed or may have seen known existed or may have seen every day but do not know much every day but do not know much about.about.

ThemeTheme

Focus on an issue that goes beyond the Focus on an issue that goes beyond the surface and identify factual details to surface and identify factual details to larger questions.larger questions.

Examine not only the actual person but Examine not only the actual person but also what the person stands for or also what the person stands for or typifies.typifies.

Can involve some sort of tension or Can involve some sort of tension or important questionimportant question

Should provoke the audience.Should provoke the audience.

Key FeaturesKey Features An interesting subjectAn interesting subject

Provide descriptions that allows the readers to Provide descriptions that allows the readers to visualize and imagine your subject.visualize and imagine your subject.

Necessary backgroundNecessary background Describe setting or broader social context in Describe setting or broader social context in

which the subject lives and works, or exists.which the subject lives and works, or exists. Reveal a fundamental quality of your subject.Reveal a fundamental quality of your subject. ““What larger idea about this person do I want What larger idea about this person do I want

to emerge from the profile?”to emerge from the profile?” Interesting angleInteresting angle Firsthand accountFirsthand account Engaging detailsEngaging details

Choosing a SubjectChoosing a Subject

Person, place, or eventPerson, place, or event A person whose experiences allow you to explore a A person whose experiences allow you to explore a

topic, issue, idea, or theme that is interesting to topic, issue, idea, or theme that is interesting to you and your readers.you and your readers.

Make sure it is something that arouses your Make sure it is something that arouses your curiosity but something you are not too familiar curiosity but something you are not too familiar with.with. Can blind you to interesting details.Can blind you to interesting details.

Make sure it is a subject you can carry out Make sure it is a subject you can carry out firsthand research. firsthand research. Make sure you can interview people.Make sure you can interview people. Make sure that places you need to visit are available.Make sure that places you need to visit are available.

PurposePurpose

Why are you writing the profile?Why are you writing the profile? What angle will best achieve your purpose?What angle will best achieve your purpose?

Capture something essential (dominant Capture something essential (dominant impression) through:impression) through:

InsightInsight IdeaIdea ThemeTheme Social causeSocial cause

How can you inform and engage your How can you inform and engage your audience?audience?

AudienceAudience

Who is your audience?Who is your audience? How familiar are they with your How familiar are they with your

subject?subject? What expectations of your profile What expectations of your profile

might they have?might they have? What background information or What background information or

definitions do you need to provide?definitions do you need to provide? How interested will they be—and how How interested will they be—and how

can you get/keep their interest?can you get/keep their interest?

StanceStance

What view of your subject do you What view of your subject do you expect to present? expect to present? SympatheticSympathetic CriticalCritical SarcasticSarcastic

Will you strive for a carefully Will you strive for a carefully balanced perspective?balanced perspective?

Design/OrganizationDesign/OrganizationAs a narrativeAs a narrative Introduce your subject and your angle. Introduce your subject and your angle.

Provide necessary background.Provide necessary background. Tell about various incidents or Tell about various incidents or

characteristics (one by one) that bring your characteristics (one by one) that bring your subject to lifesubject to life

Conclude by stating your overall impression. Conclude by stating your overall impression. Anecdote (Can reveal the person’s character Anecdote (Can reveal the person’s character

through actions and dialogue.)through actions and dialogue.) QuoteQuote Summary commentSummary comment OtherOther

As a descriptionAs a description Introduce your subject and your angle Introduce your subject and your angle

providing necessary background providing necessary background information.information.

Present details that create some dominant Present details that create some dominant impression of your subject.impression of your subject. Sensory detailsSensory details ExamplesExamples DialogueDialogue AnecdotesAnecdotes OtherOther

State your overall impression.State your overall impression. Anecdote Anecdote QuoteQuote Finish a description (that you began earlier in Finish a description (that you began earlier in

your paper)your paper)

Think about…Think about…

People who have influenced youPeople who have influenced you Historical figuresHistorical figures People you have met at work or while People you have met at work or while

volunteering volunteering People you know through social and cultural People you know through social and cultural

groupsgroups People who are doing things that you would like People who are doing things that you would like

to be doing one dayto be doing one day People whose lifestyles are different or unusualPeople whose lifestyles are different or unusual People who have done something wrongPeople who have done something wrong A group of people rather than an individualA group of people rather than an individual

Today’s AssignmentToday’s Assignment

Page 73. Page 73. PrudenciaPrudencia 1, 2, 3, 4 1, 2, 3, 4 Page 75. Page 75. The Near Fame Experience 1, 2, The Near Fame Experience 1, 2,

33 Page 76. “Talk About This” 1, 2, 3Page 76. “Talk About This” 1, 2, 3 Page 77. “Try This Out” 1, 3Page 77. “Try This Out” 1, 3