Essay 1: Profile

Profile Essay Assignment—ENGL 1110—Prof. Parks

Write an essay about an intriguing place or activity in your Campus or Surrounding community. Observe your subject closely, and then present what you have learned in a way that both informs and engages readers.

Requirements: 3+ pages in MLA format, double-spaced, 12pt, Times New Roman font.

__ Exploring Preconceptions Assignment

__Notes and Research on Your Subject

__Visual/Audio Materials (pictures, recording from interview, etc.)

__Rough Draft (2.5+ pages)

__Peer Critique

__Final Draft

I would encourage you to interact with and participate with your subject if at all possible. These tend to make the liveliest essays, because you are a part of the action.

Tips/Examples for how to Ace your Profile Essay:

1.      Use Multiple Angles of Inquiry.

Example: If you are profiling a veterinary clinic, make sure you conduct some short interviews with pet owners as well as the veterinarians. Of course, you should always get permission first. Most people will be very open to working with you.

2.      Get the Facts Straight.

Example: If you are profiling a baseball game, pick up the rosters of the teams and read the team websites so that you have plenty of accurate facts to draw from when profiling players, field dimensions, and the average attendance.

3.      Use Fresh Eyes: Even if you know a place well, you want to write your essay as though your reader                  
                                has never been there.

Tip: Make multiple visits, take pictures, and go at different times. If you are profiling a coffee shop, you should know what it’s like at the busiest moment of the day as well as the quietest.

4.      Plan you Work and Be Open to Surprises: Write down a ton of questions before you make your visit. Have some goals in mind. If something really unusual or out of the ordinary occurs, be sure to capture that as well. Think of yourself as a field journalist. Anything is possible!

Tip:  If you go into a place to profile it without your notebook, computer, camera, etc. it’s going to be difficult to capture the nuances of your topic.