WCU - Spring 2006 Writing the Profile Essay

Magazines and newspapers are usually filled with profiles that tell us about interesting people, places, activities. They’re usually called “human interest” stories.
They are interesting to us because they take us behind the scenes of familiar places, giving us a glimpse at their inner workings. The writer usually conveys an interesting interpretation or perspective that gives us something interesting or something provocative to respond to. (“Memphis Minnie”)
They may be interesting to us, also, because they introduce us to the exotic—peculiar hobbies, unusual professions, bizarre personalities.
The writer may attempt to probe the social, political, moral significance of our institutions by closely profiling them. (“Soldiers of Christ,” “The Five Bedroom, Six-Figure Rootless Life”)

About the Profile

The purpose of the profile essay is to present the subject vividly to your readers. Your role is to supply a well-defined, well thought-out perspective, to orchestrate your presentation of the details so that your essay conveys a particular attitude towards your subject—your interpretation of it.
The profile essay, therefore, is very much part expressive, part objective; it’s an interesting hybrid between the two. It’s expository in that you want to inform your readers about your subject—you want readers to learn something about your subject they might not have known otherwise—your unique observations and/or analysis. At the same time you are also conveying a kind of personal interpretation, a personal perspective, your own attitude towards this subject; so in that sense, it’s expressive.
It shares many features with autobiographical and biographical writing—you can use narrative, anecdote, description, dialogue—yet it also differs significantly: autobiography is about remembered experience whereas profile is (usually) about newly acquired observation—acquired firsthand or through research.
This kind of writing helps you practice the field research methods used across many disciplines: observing, interviewing, and notetaking are all techniques commonly used by investigative reporters, social scientists, and naturalists. The challenge once you’ve acquired your materials is to analyze and synthesize what you’ve gathered effectively—to give it shape in an essay that communicates a dominant impression.

Basic Features of the Profile

An intriguing, well-focused subject: a person, place, or activity. The familiar or the exotic. Even the mundane can look interesting if you look closely and have a unique perspective to offer. Whatever your subject, you goal is to bring out its uniqueness, show what’s amazing or fascinating about it to you.
A vivid presentation: particularize instead of generalizing. Instead of writing about “teenagers” in general, a profiler will show us a vivid portrait of one in particular, and leave it to readers to draw their own generalizations, if they wish.
A dominant impression: convey your personal interpretation or impression of your subject, your own special insights—what you’ve gained by having spent time observing the scene and talking to people. This interpretive element is what separates the profile as a “genre” from other forms of descriptive and narrative writing, like biography. Select your details carefully and arrange them in such a way that they convey your attitude.
An engaging and informative plan: you are master of ceremonies; you control the flow of information—how much and in what order. What do you want your readers to fully understand?

Some general ideas for writing profiles: events, places, people

Attend a special event, or see an ordinary event in a special way (a peace rally, a college party) and closely observe the place, the people, and the activities to write a profile of the event…try avoiding obvious events like concerts or sporting events unless you have a fresh perspective to share or a definitive reason for wanting to profile this particular event—did something make it extra special?
Go to a familiar place (the quad, a dorm lounge, the library, a favorite hangout) and closely observe the details of the physical space, the people, and the kinds of activities going on to write a profile of the place.
Think of a unique person you know, or someone you know about, who has an unusual or interesting hobby or personality and write a profile about this person. You may even conduct an interview…
Closely observe someone from a different generation, or in a certain occupation, and write a profile of that person or that occupation based on an interview you conduct…
Write a profile of someone already well known, but present this individual from your own unique perspective.

Questions? Contact me.

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