Essay Two: Profile
Due Dates: 1st Draft:
9/27/01
Final Draft: 10/04/01
In
this essay, you will find an intriguing person, place, or activity in your
community (on or off campus) and write about your subject in a way that both
informs and engages readers.
Choosing a Subject
Here
are some ideas to get you started in your search for a subject.
People:
·
Anyone with an unusual or intriguing hobby or job
·
A prominent local personality
·
A campus personality—popular teacher, coach, student leader
Places
·
A hospital emergency room, birthing center, hospice
·
A used-car lot, used-book store, farmers’ or flea market,
historic site
·
A fire or police station
·
A radio or television station, a newspaper publisher
·
A local diner or restaurant in town, a coffeehouse
Activities
·
A volunteer program
·
A sports event
·
A hobby—folk dancing, rock climbing
Once
you have chosen your topic, you need to spend some time observing your subject
and asking questions. Once you have
this material, you can construct a 2-3-page profile of the subject you have
chosen. Some questions you might ask
yourself at this point include:
·
How do my preconceptions of the subject contrast with my
finding about it?
·
Can I compare or contrast what different people have said
about my subject?
·
How could I consider the place’s appearance in light of the
activity that occurs there?
·
What is the role of this subject in society at large?
Some
questions to ask about your audience (the class, remember), include:
·
Are my readers likely to be familiar with my subject?
·
If not, what details do I need to provide them?
·
If yes, how can I discuss my subject in a new and engaging
way?
Remember
to provide lots of vivid details, dialogue where possible, and clear
descriptions of people and places.
Your
paper will be graded according to the following criteria:
·
Introduction that grabs attention and properly introduces
your subject.
·
Clear thesis statement
·
Use of vivid detail and description
·
Information that both informs and engages the reader.
·
Mechanical and grammatical correctness
·
Well–organized paragraphs