As The Norton Field Guide says, “Profiles are written portraits” of a person, place, or event. Norton also says that “A profile presents a subject in an entertaining way that conveys its significance, showing us something or someone that we may not have known existed or that we see every day but don’t know much about.”
Prompt
Write a profile essay about a significant person from the list of people provided.
(Please let me know if you would like to write about someone who is not on the list.)
Purpose
Writing profile essays can help improve future writing skills by allowing writers to practice techniques such as conducting interviews, synthesizing information, creating a narrative structure, and presenting a compelling story. It also helps writers develop observational and descriptive skills, as well as the ability to engage readers with vivid details and personal experiences.
Overall, profiles can be a valuable tool in academic writing to provide a nuanced and in-depth analysis of a specific subject, allowing for a more comprehensive understanding of its significance and impact.
A profile essay is a form of academic writing that focuses on describing and analyzing a specific person, place, or event in depth. In a profile essay, the writer aims to provide a comprehensive and detailed portrayal of the subject, often incorporating interviews and personal observations to enhance the narrative. This type of writing requires strong analytical skills, attention to detail, and the ability to creatively weave together information to create a compelling narrative. As with any academic writing, it is important to adhere to proper structure, documentation guidelines, and formatting to ensure clarity and credibility in the final essay.
Profiles can be used in various academic disciplines, such as sociology, psychology, history, and literature, to provide a deeper understanding of the subject being studied.
For example, in history, profiles can be used to examine the lives and contributions of historical figures or to explore significant events in detail. By delving into the personal experiences and motivations of key individuals, researchers can gain insights into the broader historical context.
Guidelines
Steps to Take
Study examples of profile essays.
Study the Profiles section of The Norton Field Guide on pages 245-257
Choose your person to write about for Essay 1.
Conduct research to find two or three sources that support your profile.
Include at least one source from Santa Fe’s databases.
Describe by using specific details such as examples, quotations, sensory details, and anecdotes.
Look for an overall idea about your subject to create a dominant impression.
Essay Development
Here are some questions to help develop content for your essay:
Ask questions about your subject, starting with the five Ws: who, what, where, when and why.
What or who were the major influences in the person’s life?
Who or what shaped them?
What obstacles did the person have to overcome?
In general, what is the public’s opinion or view of this person?
If the person is not well-known, why or why not?
Who has this person inspired?
There are many other questions you might ask. These are some examples to help get you started.
Review Examples of Profile Essays
Paperclip Man by student Christian Danielsen
Examples of profile essays from students and professionals in The Norton Field Guide (922-938)
Follow Word Count
Write 800 to 900 words.
Review Ways of Organizing Your Profile
You decide how to organize your essay. Here are some possible organizational structures:
Chronologically, front start to finish
Narrative
Description
Basic Essay Structure
Keep in Mind Key Features of Profiles
An interesting subject
Any necessary background information
An interesting angle
A firsthand account by the person
Engaging details
Conduct Research
Find two or three sources that support your profile. Include at least one source from Santa Fe’s databases.
Document your source using MLA documentation.
Talk to a Librarian at Santa Fe
Present your paper using MLA paper format.
Proofread your essay.
State points directly not using filters such as we/us/or you/your/you’re.
Refrain from referring to yourself throughout the essay by not using I/my/me/we/us/our.
Checklist for Essay 1: Profile
Checklist for Essay 1: A Profile
This checklist covers the required parts of Essay 1: Profile.
Use this checklist to review your own essay. Next, write two paragraphs or more explaining changes you have made as a result of this final check to earn up to five extra points on your grade for your essay. Include your explanation after the Works Cited page on the same document as your essay.
Word Count
Have I followed the word count of 800 to 900?
MLA Style
Have I presented my essay in MLA paper format?
Have I created an interesting and original title?
Have I included a Works Cited page?
Have I followed MLA documentation by using in-text citations and signal phrases.
Evidence
Do I have two or three sources? Is at least one source from Santa Fe’s databases?
Are my sources credible?
Introduction
Have I included background information on my subject?
Is my introduction three to eight sentences.
Angle/Thesis
Have I included a thesis/angle for my profile?
Is the thesis assertive and specific?
Structure
How is my profile organized?
Does my essay follow one of the structures shown on page 256 in The Norton Field Guide?
Does my essay follow basic essay structure?
Body Paragraphs
Do my body paragraphs focus on the subject?
Have I included description with specific details, examples, quotations, and anecdotes?
Is the dominant impression am I trying to convey clear?
Conclusion
Is my conclusion four or five sentences?
Does it focus on the thesis/angle?
Is it memorable?
Academic Writing
Have I stated points directly not using you/your/you’re?
Have I refrained from referring to myself throughout the essay by not using I/my/me/we/our/us?
Proofreading
Have I proofread my essay? Have I read my essay aloud to listen for errors?
Favorite Part
What part of my essay do I like the most?
Faith
Mary McLeod Bethune
Dalai Lama
Billy Graham
Joel Osteen
Mother Teresa
Martin Luther King, Jr.
Athletics
Simone Biles
Caitlin Clark
Brittney Griner
Katie Ledecky
Caeleb Dressel
Nick Saban
Mary Wise
Jackie Robinson
Allyson Felix
Tomekia Reed
Politics
Liz Cheney
Mike Johnson
Mitch McConnell
Kamala Harris
Hillary Clinton
Tammy Duckworth
Nelson Mandela
Rosa Parks
Ketanji Brown Jackson
George W. Bush
Volodymyr Zelenskyy
Vladimir Putin
Giving
Diana Frances Spencer
Oprah Winfrey
Eleanor Roosevelt
Satya Nadella
Bill Gates
Dahabo Ahmed-Omer
Warren Buffett
Denzel Washington
Elton John
Science
Jane Goodall
George Washington Carver
Mae Jemison
Marie Curie
Albert Einstein
Isaac Newton
Ayana Elizabeth Johnson
Charles Darwin
Nikola Tesla
Rosalind Franklin
Sally Ride
Patricia Bath