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Profile essays involve observation, interviewing, and interpretation of a person, place, or event. Specific details and writing devices like anecdotes and dialogue should be used to create a strong impression. The essay is both objective and subjective, conveying both facts and perspective.
Observation and interviewing are two important aspects of a profile essay. This type of essay can be about a place, a person, or an event, but it’s more than just a description. The profile essay also usually includes the writer’s interpretation of the person, place, or event. It is because of this interpretation that almost any topic can be suitable for a profile essay.
If the profile essay is about a person, it doesn’t necessarily have to be someone well known. For example, profile essays can be used as assignments in college composition classes where two classmates team up and write profiles about each other. They have to prepare interview questions, conduct the interview, and then organize the information to deliver what is known as a dominant impression. This is usually the interpretation of the profile topic that the writer wants to convey. Doing this type of essay in this context not only gives students an opportunity to improve their interviewing and writing skills, but can also introduce them to their classmates.
The interview can also be used if the profile essay is about a place or event. In this case, interviews with people familiar with the place or event may be conducted in order to obtain background information and opinions. Another way to gather impressions in this situation is to go to the site or attend the event and record your observations. This may include observing the environment itself, as well as observing the people who inhabit the place or participate in the event.
A profile essay should include specific ideas and details rather than generalizations. In other words, including descriptive detail provides a stronger overall impression for the reader. Details about a person being profiled may include a character sketch, while details about a place may include a vivid description of what the place looks like or how it affects the senses. The point of view the writer is trying to convey helps determine what details the writer chooses to include in the essay.
There are many different writing devices that can be used in a profile essay. In addition to description, some of these may include anecdotes – or stories about the person, place or event – narrative and dialogue. It is important to make careful notes during the interview if any dialogue or direct quotes will be used in the profile essay, as they should be exactly what the interviewee said.
A unique aspect of profile essays is that they are both objective and subjective. This means that while the writer is stating facts to inform the reader about the person, place, or event, he is also conveying perspective to the reader. One way to learn more about profile essays is to read profiles and interviews. These will demonstrate how the writer uses a combination of facts and observations to convey an impression.
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