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Unit 2 Profile_Interview Essay Prompt

Unit 2 focuses on writing a Profile/Interview Essay, requiring a minimum length of 1,000 words and adherence to MLA formatting. The essay should provide a detailed examination of a chosen subject through an interview, integrating vivid descriptions and quotes to create an engaging narrative. Key steps include selecting a subject, conducting the interview with careful note-taking, and citing the interview appropriately in the final draft.

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2 views

Unit 2 Profile_Interview Essay Prompt

Unit 2 focuses on writing a Profile/Interview Essay, requiring a minimum length of 1,000 words and adherence to MLA formatting. The essay should provide a detailed examination of a chosen subject through an interview, integrating vivid descriptions and quotes to create an engaging narrative. Key steps include selecting a subject, conducting the interview with careful note-taking, and citing the interview appropriately in the final draft.

Uploaded by

fuhaha474
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Unit 2: The Profile / Interview Essay

Main Guidelines
Length: Minimum of 1,000 words.

Rough Draft (at least 500 words) Due: Thursday, February 20 by the start of class

Final Draft Due: Tuesday, March 4, by the start of class

Format: MLA – Times New Roman 12pt font, double-spaced, sources cited appropriately.

What is a Profile Essay?


A profile essay closely examines a person, place, event, or thing (a film, book, game, etc.) and
tells a story in a unique and interesting way. Some academic sources define a profile as a
“written portrait.”

Rhetorical Situation (Who your audience is!):


Remember, all writing is done for an audience, and in this case, your audience comprises
individuals who are interested in people, places, or events in their communities and beyond. Who
should they know about and why? What dynamic places may have slipped beneath their attention
radar? Are there any events (current or historical) your audience should be made aware of?
Sometimes the most influential people, places, and events go unnoticed. Your job is to bring a
unique story to the community’s attention by reporting primary evidence gathered through the
interviewing process.

Things to Consider:
Profiles and interviews are written in the first person POV (using “I”) with the additional use of
third person (he/she/etc.) to reference the subject. The writing should contain vivid, specific,
engaging language written with concrete details and the five senses in mind. The writing should
be able to place your audience inside the interviewing moment to leave a lasting impression of
the importance of your subject. Let’s veer away from the instinct to merely tell; remember, there
is power in showing!

1
For this assignment, you will choose a person and conduct an interview.

1. Interview a person that has a job you are interested in pursuing or you are intrigued by. If
you choose to interview and profile a person you know, such as your roommate or your
grandparent, you may struggle to eliminate bias from your profile, and a good profile will
contain no presence of bias. While I will be evaluating essays to assess indications of
bias, I also understand the journalistic function of subjectivity. So, please try to balance
any personal bias with objective questions and consideration. Profiles are best written
when you let the story take it where it needs to go–not where you personally feel it
should go, so please keep this in mind when crafting your profile. If you choose to
interview someone you know (which is fine), one tactic might be to approach the
interview as if you do not yet know this person.

Getting Started:

Step 1 – Pick a Subject to Profile:


 Person – A teacher, coach, friend, family member, etc. There may be a lot of public
knowledge about this person that everyone knows, but what is it about them that
people don’t know—and should? Is there something surprising in their past that
makes them extra interesting? Perhaps you could meet them for a walk while you
chat, and then you could use the stroll through the environment as a sort of backstory
to the main profile. The possibilities are endless and open to your creativity!

Step 2 – Conduct Your Interview While Observing and Taking Notes:

Taking notes is crucial for the profile. Your notes may include quotes,
descriptive/sensory observations about your subject, and anything else that will enhance
your profile. Keep in mind you will need to include quotes and paraphrases from your
interview in your profile.

Do not wait to conduct your interviews. Planning and coordinating your interview is part
of the writing process for this assignment, so please do not wait until the last minute. If
you are recording interviews on your phone (recommended) you MUST let your
interviewee know about the recording while also getting their permission before an
interview.

**You do not need to upload any audio recordings or attach any notes from your
interview. This step is recommended for your own benefit.

You can definitely conduct your interview over Zoom if you’d like, but keep in mind you
still need to focus on setting and description of the physical space and your interviewee.

Describe the place (atmosphere, descriptive details about décor, how does traffic flow,
lighting, the floor, furniture, smell, hear, taste, touch)

2
Spend some time with your subject. It works well if you are able to interact with them at
a time when they are in their “natural habitat” (ex. at their home, in a public place they
often frequent, etc.)

Step 3 – Cite your Interview:

Don’t forget to include a reference citation of your interview on a Works Cited page at
the end of your essay. Please visit our class Canvas page to access documents regarding
MLA citation practices.

Here is the general format if you were interviewing me, for example:

Name of person interviewed. Type of interview. Date of interview.


Winchell, Jonathan. Personal interview. 28 June 2023.

Also, here is a link to the Purdue Owl about how to cite interviews:

https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/mla_style/
mla_formatting_and_style_guide/mla_works_cited_other_common_sources.html

A Stellar Profile Essay Will Include Attention to the Following Categories:


Description: Your essay should include a combination of specific smell, sight, sound, and
touch descriptors throughout. The use of dialogue alongside precise descriptors creates a
strong, impactful scene.

Interview Integration: It should be clear by reading your essay that you conducted an
interview. The interview material should be seamlessly worked into the story you create
about your subject. A mix of direct quotes and paraphrasing of the subject’s words must be
included throughout. However, do not simply transcribe your interview – the profile must
read like a cohesive story. Please visit our class Canvas page to access sample profiles that
might help give you a better idea of the genre.

Appropriate Form: The essay’s form should be thoughtful, appropriate to the subject matter
of the essay, and creative. Aim to craft your essay as a well-organized, invigorating piece
with a cohesive, compelling, narrative arc.

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