This helpful academic writing guide focuses on the definition and specifics of how to write a profile essay. When you are asked to compose an essay on a particular person or a place, thus creating a profile, you are in the right place. Read on to find out how to write a perfect profile paper and earn the best grades!
What is the purpose of a profile essay?
While it will always depend on your subject and the type of writing you must complete, a profile essay is a piece that aims to provide a detailed description of an individual, a concept, or a place. As long as it can become detailed, it is sufficient to write a profile well. It can also become an essay where a student has to interview a specialist by focusing on a specific problem or a subject. In terms of tone, it must be descriptive, with examples and details to keep the target audience inspired. Most such essays are written by college students majoring in Journalism, Political Sciences, and Psychology, among other subjects. As a rule, such writing requires in-depth research and analysis to determine what elements must be included to create a comprehensive and well-balanced piece.
The primary purpose of a profile essay is to provide your audience with a complete description of a certain subject or matter. Now, in learning how to write a profile essay on a person, the most challenging part is to describe things in a way that can keep the subject interesting. Even if the topic is popular, your main objective is to offer something new and innovative as you research. Keep in mind that your audience may not be on the same scientific level as you are, so certain bits of explanation or a glossary might be necessary! If you can add more skills and knowledge to your readers’ arsenal, consider the profile essay task already accomplished.
How to start a profile essay correctly?
Before you start writing a profile essay, you must go through several preparation stages to ensure that you collect sufficient bits of information and know about most things related to the subject explored. Since every assignment will require some preparation, you must determine what kind of work must be done. If it’s a person’s interview, to start a profile essay, come up with a list of questions and know your limitations precisely as you write. Therefore, the preparation aspect must be addressed as it will help you to save time and do everything correctly!
Checking successful profile essays matters
When you are in doubt and do not know how to start a profile essay, the most efficient solution is to check several examples of writing on a topic you wish to approach. If it’s an interview profile writing, you may check out professional writing in newspapers or the companies’ websites that talk of this or that person. This way, you can check the formatting or see how the magazines narrow down the subject to address a certain question or a personality type. Make sure to read as much as possible to note the differences before writing!
When you start reading, look at how these are written regarding structure, subject lines, inspiring headers, etc. Notice how the subject is introduced initially and how the content is divided into smart paragraphs. Take notes of words and styles related to your subject, as it will help you later. Note how the introduction part in profile essays also deals with the general subject’s introduction before an interview starts.
The more you read, the better you will understand all the subtle nuances of writing and the differences that may provide you with an outline for your work. This way, you will gain all the necessary information to narrow things down and start writing an excellent profile essay.
Choosing your profile essay subject
Without a doubt, it’s not possible to start with a profile essay without choosing your subject first. It has to reflect what you are trying to accomplish and reflect the main argument or purpose. It will always depend on whether you already have a prompt in your grading rubric or have enough freedom to write and choose one. If the latter is true, you must brainstorm ideas or discuss several options with an academic advisor.
When you compose personal profile essays on a celebrity, a politician, or a military veteran who has significantly contributed to a certain field, things can get more complex. It will require providing something unique and fully reflecting on a person’s merits without making it overfilled with cliches. The trick is to keep the readers interested and inspired.
If the subject of choice is not about a popular event or a person, choosing a catchy subject line is essential. You should not make it overly long as you have to make it just like a newspaper headline, where it instantly catches a person’s attention. Play with the word order, write down several options, and see how you would describe your subject to a good friend. If you can choose a topic or a particular person, think about descriptive keywords or imagine how it would look if you wrote it for a magazine!
Determine the style and tone of your writing
Although most profile essays must provide a descriptive tone, the style can also be explanatory within professional writing standards. Still, profile essays are more flexible than other types of academic writing. Writing in the first person in your profile paper is mandatory when interviewing a person, with relevant interview guidelines. This way, you can write down a brief description of your subject in the beginning before an actual interview starts. While readers will expect the same writing style and tone, keeping it in the first tone is recommended.
The use of the first person will help with this type of essay because of the nature and structure we shall explore soon. While at it, do not overuse all the “I think” and “in my opinion” phrases as you write since it will decrease the effectiveness of your profile essay. The focus must be on the subject, not on the author. Use descriptive language and examples to keep the right balance if unsure about the writing mechanics.
Profile essay structure and outline
Before diving deep into a profile essay’s structural matters, you must think about those elements that will help you attract the readers. The aspects to focus on include an inspiring subject line and initial sentences for each body paragraph. Still, the strong introduction holds the most important impression as it will remain in a person’s memory, especially if the subject is relatively unknown. Therefore, the introduction of your profile essay outline should have a sentence that serves as an attention grabber that motivates you to read further. Once you handle this part well, all the coming paragraphs must provide information to meet these expectations.
Remember that your writing should reflect the subject matter and create information based on a person’s profile or a place you are describing. Therefore, in structuring your profile essay, you may provide an anecdote, write about unusual facts about a person, or provide statistical information to stir up the interest of your audience. If it’s something surprising, humorous, or even thought-provoking, it can work well for you and provide a solid ground for what will come.
Profile essay mandatory sections
As you might assume, a profile essay will have certain obligatory sections, except for interview formatting, where other rules apply. Still, the most common parts include an introduction, several body paragraphs, and a strong conclusion. We shall describe all that must be included in a profile essay on a person in the following paragraphs:
- An Introduction. Under ideal conditions, it should contain several sentences and provide background information about the subject.
- Body Sections. This part should discuss all the points mentioned in the introduction paragraph yet in greater detail.
- Conclusion. It is where you provide a summary of all the key points.
Step-by-step writing guide
1. Determining your profile
You must define what kind of profile you plan to approach by collecting as much information as possible. Take notes of the facts, check statistical information, and interview a person of choice before you start writing.
2. Choosing your profile essay subject
Create a strong and reflective title for your profile essay that reflects the main points.
3. Writing an introduction
An introduction paragraph serves the role of a special preview of your essay writing that shows your readers what to expect. The information that you provide must be precise and clear. Do not introduce anything overly complex here! Writing a profile essay, keep your writing informative and descriptive by telling of a person, a place, or an event approached. It is where your leading statement should appear that reflects the main argument and a reason why your profile essay is written. Make sure to structure your points correctly, as you must address them in the same order as you work on the body paragraphs.
Remember to add unusual and surprising information for a dramatic or emotional effect. Since there are many good ways to start an essay, like quotes or surprising facts, take time to explore the possibilities. Finally, you should provide a thesis statement at the end of an introductory paragraph that showcases the main purpose of the interview or your descriptive work, thus explaining why one must read further.
4. Working on body paragraphs
The body part of your profile essay must provide detailed information about a person, a place, or an event in the same order mentioned in your introduction. To write a good profile, keep the narration flow clear and accessible with relevant explanations and footnotes if something is not common knowledge for your target audience.
5. Conclusion part
The conclusion part must reflect on all the things that have been discussed in the prior paragraphs. It should provide a summary of what has been learned in several sentences. The purpose is to make readers see why it is important and meaningful. Do not introduce any new profile essay ideas here! Using quotes or proverbs can efficiently provide a final message and a moral conclusion for a profile essay. Remember that this part must be done in line with the main statement in the introduction part. This way, you will remind of the main essay purpose and state your main objectives, stating whether they have been achieved.
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6. Final editing and proofreading
Editing and proofreading are essential in a successful profile essay, as grammatically correct assignments without spelling or logical mistakes always earn better grades. When your profile essay has repetitions or unverified facts crumpled in the same paragraph, it will not be efficient. Do take your time to proofread and edit your writing more than once before you submit it! When in doubt, as you have had to write an essay about someone, you can ask a friend or a college friend to help you check things. When you receive honest feedback, you can make minor improvements and have a special pre-grading with a trusted person.
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Profile essay formatting tips
Formatting your profile essay, you must keep up with the following rules as you write:
- Keep information accessible and clear to your readers.
- Your sentences should not be overly long. Write to the point.
- The structure of paragraphs must implement topic sentences as you write.
- Choose your words and phrases wisely to convey the main meaning.
- Offer details and examples along with key facts or an interview.
- Offer a summary sentence in each paragraph to make smooth transitions.
- Write in a focused and enjoyable manner by avoiding overexplaining things.
- Use creative narration methods to keep things more inspiring.
- When you are confused, approaching a cheap essay writing service with experienced writers may help you narrow things down.
- Keep your writing balanced and offer explanations and glossary points for all the elements that may require an additional explanation.
Helpful profile essay examples
Check out these websites for helpful examples and formatting specifics before you write and come up with ideas:
- 10+ Profile essay examples. These contain free expository and interview examples available free of charge.
- Profile essay composition examples by Washtenaw Community College.
- Purdue OWL Writing Lab formatting and writing style guides help.
A profile essay, in general, will have formatting rules already outlined in a grading rubric.
Now, if you are looking for research paper assistance, formatting rules will be a bit different from the methodology and other parts.
