Genre Overview: 

The “Profile” writing genre serves as a lens through which readers gain insight into the subject. Unlike Argumentative or Critical Analysis papers, Profile essays don’t necessarily have to present an argument in any sort of specific tone. Instead, they focus on revealing specific aspects of the subject, often from a unique angle chosen by the writer. This allows the audience to learn, relate, empathize, and learn about the chosen topic.

Genre in Action: 

Profiles are commonplace in contemporary rhetoric. For example, due to the rise in technology, a large portion of the world uses some sort of social media, dating app, or job hiring site like LinkedIn. In all these examples, users are asked to create personal profiles of themselves. Though these profiles may be brief, they follow the same conventional writing structure of the genre. Likewise, documentaries, podcasts, reality TV, and the news, use the profile genre as their main apparatus. Take a show like PBS’ Rick Steves’ Europe, every topic choice is a different place in Europe and the cultural insights that are focused on are usually filtered through visual art (All episodes available for free at https://www.ricksteves.com/watch-read-listen/video/tv-show). Likewise, every True Crime podcast is predicated on either a primary person, or a specific event. For example, the podcast True Crime Garage covers topics such as missing persons like Maura Murray and Brian Shaffer, unsolved mysteries like the Delphi murders, and infamous serial killers like Ted Bundy and John Wayne Gacy. Documentarians, bloggers, and social media influencers will often use an object as their primary subject. Take the iPhone vs. Android, everything from the specific users, cultural viewpoint, technological, historical, political, etc. are different between the objects. Of course, countless films have been made on objects such as guns, automobiles, clothes, etc., which allots a plethora of potential writing content to be created. From lawyers in the courtroom to the carpenters who designed and built the courtroom - on a more practical level - uses of the profile genre are bountiful. Finally, always remember that the primary topic you choose is just the roots of your profile paper. Anytime you choose one (Person, Place, Event, or Object), you will inherently talk about the others. For example, the work of Anthony Bourdain would have never been so unique if his only focus was on the food, his voice was born out of how he used that subject as means of discovery and insight into the People who made it, the Objects used to cook it, the Place where the food was cooked, and of course, the Event of eating it. At its worse, profiling has been used to persecute and subjugate, however, the antithesis to that is how the profile genre is also used to open the eyes of audiences by teaching them about different beliefs, cultures, traditions, and histories. This can be done in a varity of different angles, tones, and approaches. For instance, the show Drunk History foretells historical events accurately, yet the tone of the show is one hundred percent comedic. The choice is yours! 

Remember - Profile essays aim to offer a well-rounded, insightful portrayal of the subject. Thus, the writer’s unique perspective and observations are integral to this genre as are the sources found within whether these be print, online, or empirical. Your profile essay should not only inform but also engage and most times inspire the reader. It should reveal the subject in a way that allows the reader to see it from a new angle or appreciate it in a deeper way.

Genre in Practice:

Free Write

1. If you could profile any person, place, event, or object, who or what would it be and why? What aspects of their life or personality make them an interesting subject for a profile?  

2. Why are specific details important in profile writing? Can you think of an example where a small detail significantly enhanced a profile?

3. What are some effective techniques for interviewing a subject for a profile? How would you make your subject comfortable while also obtaining the necessary information?

4. What ethical considerations should a writer keep in mind when creating a profile? How would you handle potentially sensitive information?

5. : How can a writer make a profile engaging for the audience? What techniques can be used to draw the reader in and keep them interested throughout the piece?

Mini-Activity: Portrait of an Artist 

Step 1: Select an artist that interests you. This could be a painter, sculptor, photographer, or any other type of visual artist.

Step 2: Use online resources to research your chosen artist. Look for information about their life, their work, their influences, and their impact on their field.

Step 3: Write a Brief Profile: Based on your research, write a brief profile of the artist. This should include:

1. 1. 1. An introduction that provides basic information about the artist and engages the reader’s interest.

      2. A body section that delves into specific aspects of the artist’s life and work. This could include discussion of their most famous works, their unique style or techniques, their influences and inspirations, and their impact on their field.

      3. A conclusion that summarizes the key points and provides a sense of closure.

Step 4: Review your profile for clarity, coherence, and grammar. Make revisions as necessary to improve the quality of your writing.

Step 5: Share your profile with the class and discuss what you learned from your research. How did this activity change your understanding of the artist and their work? What new insights did you gain?

 Questions to ask AI 

1. Can you provide examples of effective profile essays?

2. How can I make my profile more engaging?

3. What are some unique angles I can explore in my profile?

4. How can I effectively incorporate my research into my profile?

5. Can you help me improve the structure and flow of my profile?

6. Can you provide feedback on my profile essay?

7. How can I effectively conclude my profile essay?

8. What are some common mistakes to avoid when writing a profile essay?

9. Can you help me brainstorm ideas for my profile essay?

10. How can I effectively use descriptive language in my profile essay?