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Profile Essay Guide

A profile essay is a type of essay that centers on one person, place, or event. One of the most common profile essay assignments is one in which the author “profiles” a certain person, offering information about who that person is and why they are important, so it is similar to an informative essay in its goals.

Main characteristics and purpose

The main purpose of a profile essay is to present an objective profile of a person, group, or basically anything in a way that readers find interesting and informative. The profile essay can be either factual, presenting information based on direct observation and research, or it can be fictional, presenting information based on the author’s imagination.

When you write a profile essay, present the subject in a manner that is both objective and subjective. Objective information presents the facts without any type of interpretation, while subjective information presents the facts with some type of interpretation.

The characteristics that make a good profile essay:

• Focusing on a single individual, group, or place
• Including a detailed description and explanations
• Offering insight into the subject’s importance, meaning, or significance
• Utilizing a variety of research methods (interviews, surveys, observation, etc.)
• Showing behind-the-scenes information that others may not be aware of

If you want to find out more about essays in general, check our or other guide: Academic Essay Definition

How to write a profile essay

There are a few things to keep in mind when writing a profile essay. First, choose a subject that is interesting to you and that you have some knowledge about. It is also important to make sure that the subject is someone or something that can be adequately described in a short essay .

Next, you will need to do some research on your subject. This can be done through interviews, observation, or surveys. Once you have gathered your information, you will need to organize it in a way that makes sense and is easy for readers to follow.

Note: If you want to know how to write an essay in general, we suggest checking out our corresponding guide: How to Write an Essay .

Choosing a topic and developing a thesis statement

When writing a profile essay, you can choose not only a person as your profiling subject but also a place or an event. Profiling a place can be especially interesting, as it will allow you to explore the history and culture of the area. If you are profiling a person, you will want to focus on their personality, accomplishments, and any other unique characteristics that make them interesting.

However, before deciding on the final subject, consider if you have the time and resources to do the necessary research. You will need to have access to the subject in order to interview them and observe their behavior. In addition, you will need to be able to find enough information on the subject to write a comprehensive essay.

Ideas for profiling people:

• A person with an unusual job (e.g., a professional clown, a pet psychic, etc.)
• A person who has overcome adversity (e.g., a homeless person, a person with a disability, etc.)
• A person with an interesting hobby or talent (e.g., a competitive eater, a quilter, etc.)
• A prominent person in your community (e.g., the mayor, a police chief, etc.)

Ideas for profiling places:

• A local business (e.g., a family-owned restaurant, a mom-and-pop shop, etc.)
• A historical landmark in your town or city
• A local festival or fair
• A commonly unpleasant place (e.g., the DMV, the dentist’s office, etc.)
• A rarely visited place in your town or city (e.g., an abandoned building, a remote park, etc.)
• A place you like to go to (e.g., your favorite store, your grandmother’s house, etc.)

Ideas for profiling events and activities:

• A sporting event (e.g., a marathon, a football game, etc.)
• A musical performance (e.g., a concert, a school play, etc.)
• A community service project (e.g., a food drive, a park clean-up, etc.)
• A volunteer event (e.g., working at a soup kitchen, Habitat for Humanity, etc.)
• An annual event in your town or city (e.g., a parade, a festival, etc.)

Various Essay Topics – here, you will find a list of different essay topics divided by essay type and educational level.

Once you have decided on a subject, you will need to develop a thesis statement . Your thesis statement should briefly summarize the main points you will be making in your essay. This should be a brief sentence that sums up the main point of your essay. For example, your thesis might be “John Doe is an interesting person because of his work in the community and his dedication to his family.”

Keep in mind that your goal is to provide an accurate and insightful portrayal of your subject. Avoid writing a paper that is purely flattering or one that only focuses on the negative aspects of your subject. Instead, strive to provide a balanced and fair portrayal to come up with a successful profile essay.

Creating an outline of the essay

Once you have decided on a topic and developed a thesis statement, you will need to create an outline for your essay . This will help you determine the main points that you want to include in your paper. An outline should include an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion.

Here’s an example of a simple but detailed outline of a profile essay about a person:

Subject: A profile of my high-school History teacher, Mr. Smith.

• A. Hook: Describing how Mr. Smith has impacted my life in a positive way.
• B. Background information: When I first met Mr. Smith, I was a sophomore in high school. He was my History teacher, and I quickly developed a respect for him as an educator and a person.
• C. Thesis statement: Through his teaching, mentorship, and personal example, Mr. Smith has instilled in me a love of learning and a desire to make a difference in the world.
• A. Topic sentence : Mr. Smith’s dedication to his students is evident in the way he teaches.
• B. Supporting details: He makes sure that we understand the material, but he also challenges us to think critically about the world around us.
• C. Topic sentence: Mr. Smith is more than just a teacher; he is also a mentor.
• D. Supporting details: He has taken an interest in my personal life and career goals, and he has helped me to stay on track when I’ve faced challenges.
• E. Topic sentence: Mr. Smith is a role model to me in the way he lives his life.
• F. Supporting details: He is a man of integrity who treats others with respect, and I strive to emulate his example in my own life.
• A. Restating the thesis: I am grateful to have had Mr. Smith as a teacher and mentor, and I know that his influence will continue to be a positive force in my life.
• B. Closing thoughts: Mr. Smith has made a lasting impact on me, and I will always remember the lessons he taught me both in and out of the classroom.

Writing the profile essay

The outline example above shows a simple essay structure consisting of five parts (an intro, three body paragraphs, and a conclusion). However, a profile essay can be written in a more free model of organization, which makes it somewhat similar to narrative or descriptive essays in this regard.

The main difference is that while narrative and descriptive essays are typically written in the first person, a profile essay is usually written in the third person. This is because you want to maintain an objective, unbiased perspective when describing your subject. However, if you are a part of the story, it is okay to write in the first person to show that you were involved in the scene.

Point-by-point approach:

Some profile essays will take the form of a point-by-point list of facts about the person, also known as a topical approach. This might be appropriate if you are writing about someone who has many different facets to their life (for example, a celebrity or public figure). The outline we presented earlier is an example of such an approach.

Narrative approach:

Another common way to structure a profile essay is to write it in the form of a story. This might be appropriate if you are writing about someone who has done something newsworthy or has an interesting backstory. In this approach, you will typically start with a brief introduction of the subject, followed by a series of events or anecdotes that illustrate its different aspects.

For example, if you are profiling an event, you might choose to write in chronological order, starting with the preparations and leading up to the event itself.

Or, if you are profiling a person, you might start with their childhood and then move on to their adult life.

In a profile essay about places, you can either write about different parts of the place in separate paragraphs (for example, the history, geography, and culture), or you can choose to write about the place as a whole.

Note: The number of body paragraphs is usually higher than three in such essays due to the narrative writing nature.

Introduction

The introduction of a successful profile essay should give the reader an idea of who you are writing about. You will need to provide basic background information about your subject, as well as any significant facts that will help to introduce it. You can also start with a hook , a good way to keep the readers interested in your essay.

Introduction example of a profile essay about a local Hippotherapy center:

Did you know that horses can help people with physical, emotional, and mental health problems? That’s what Hippotherapy is – using horses to help people heal. And there’s a place right here in our town where you can experience it. The Harmony Horse Center is a non-profit organization that provides Hippotherapy services to people of all ages. Founded in 2006, the center has helped countless people in our community improve their physical, emotional, and mental health.

Body paragraphs

Your body paragraphs will be the meat of your profile essay, so you will need to choose the most interesting and relevant facts about your subject. These should be arranged in a logical order – for example, if you are writing about someone’s life, you might start with their childhood and move on to their adulthood. Or, if you are writing about a place, you might start with its history and then move on to its present-day features.

Here’s what the first body paragraph of that Hippotherapy profile essay may look like:

If you’ve never heard of Hippotherapy, you’re not alone. I hadn’t either until I started researching for this profile and went to the center myself. Once it was in view, I saw the barn and the arena and knew exactly what it was. As I approached, I could hear the horses neighing and the sound of hooves against the ground. I walked in and was immediately greeted by the staff. They were all so friendly and welcoming, and they answered all of my questions about Hippotherapy.

To end a profile essay, write a conclusion that ties all of the different elements of your essay together and leaves the reader with a strong impression of your subject. You might want to reiterate and rephrase some of the key points that you made in your body paragraphs, or you might want to briefly describe what your subject’s life is like now. You might also want to include a call to action – for example, if you are writing about a cause that you care about, you might encourage the reader to get involved.

The conclusion of that Hippotherapy profile essay might look like this:

Hippotherapy is an incredible experience, and the Harmony Horse Center is a wonderful place to try it. I highly encourage anyone who is interested in Hippotherapy or who is looking for an alternative form of therapy to check out the center. The staff is incredibly knowledgeable and welcoming, and the horses are absolutely gorgeous.

Key Takeaways

When writing a profile essay, remember to:

• Choose an interesting subject: Your subject should be someone you’re curious about and want to learn more about.
• Stick to a clear organizational pattern: The introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion should all serve a specific purpose and support your topic.
• Show your role as a writer from the start: You should either write in the first person and show your direct participation or write in the third person to maintain a more objective perspective throughout the essay.
• Interweave quotations and evidence with your narrative: Strengthening your argument with direct quotes from your subject or secondary sources will make your essay more convincing.
• Conduct research: You will need to do some research on your subject in order to write a well-rounded essay. This can include interviews, observation, and secondary sources.
• Create an outline: As with any type of essay, you will need to create an outline of your thoughts before you start writing. This will help you to organize your ideas and ensure that your essay flows smoothly.
• Use details and sensory language: A profile essay should be written with plenty of detail and usage of descriptive and sensory language. This will help to paint a picture of your subject for the reader.
• Reveal the significance of your subject: In addition to providing information about your subject, you should also explain why they are important or interesting.
• Have a clear angle: Your profile essay should have a clear angle or focus so that it is not just a general overview of your subject. Analyzing what most people think about your subject will help you pick a good angle.
• Cite your sources: Be sure to cite any interviews, observations, or secondary sources that you use in your essay, following the conventions of the situation style in the assignment.
• Edit and proofread: As with any type of writing, be sure to edit and proofread your essay before you submit it. This will help to ensure that there are no errors and that your essay is well-written.
• Anoka Ramsey Community College – Portfolio #1: Profile Essay
• Washtenaw Community College – Profile Essay (Assignment Sheet)
• Ohio State University – ENGL 1113 Essay 2: Profile (Assignment Sheet)

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How to Write a Stellar Profile Essay?

09 February, 2021

13 minutes read

Author:  Tomas White

A profile essay, or article, is a piece of journalistic-cum-literary writing. The aim is to present factual information on a given topic (person, place, animal, or event) while writing with an individual tone and style. In this article, we will expand on the concept of a profile essay. We will also tackle what a profile is and what purpose profiles serve. Finally, we will present strategies for preparing your research and strengthening your writing technique, as well as offer tips on structure and potential topics.

What Is a Profile Essay?

A profile essay can be considered a literary piece of writing, in which the writer mainly delivers a descriptive account of a person, place, or event. The goal of the profile essay is to be informative. It usually conforms to standards found in journalism – that is to say, using facts and offering impartial reportage – while conveying this information in a literary style.

Literary style means offering more to the reader than a revised press release or stenographed interview. Offer insight and immersion to the reader, show them the layers of character and environment, and run these underlying factual happenings through your individual interpretation of it all. 

The Purpose of Profile Essays

The purpose of a profile essay is to be read and well-received by an audience. It is not an obscure technical writing piece, although it may cover obscure figures or events. In general, profile essays appear in magazines and newspapers – in either their print or digital formats. They also appear in scholarly or trade journals, usually covering rising or established people within these niches.

For the writer, a profile essay is a piece of writing aimed at joining the journalistic and literary style. As mentioned in the previous section, journalistic writing must be factual and rigorously checked for errors. Literary writing has some joy involved in its reading; in what way that joy comes out in ‘writing style’ is up to you.

Ultimately, with those two concepts in mind, the purpose of a profile essay is to get you, the writer, some more work. Profiles are highly prevalent and serve as a fantastic way of adding more pieces to your portfolio, whether you’re a new essay writer or a seasoned pro.

Prepare for your essay

Preparing for a profile depends on how close you are to starting writing. Writers coming to this article with a stretch of time ahead of them have the luxury of doing some background reading that is not directly related to the matter at hand. Finding a good profile essay example has the hidden benefit of looking like a lazy weekend afternoon; get a stack of magazines and read.

Some of the most common places to find quality profiles are The New Yorker, The New York Review of Books, the London Review of Books, Esquire, or National Geographic. Another perspective is to look for writers, head to your bookshelf or local book store, and do some digging. Again, read and make some notes on the qualities you enjoy and dislike in a range of profiles.

Lastly, in terms of reading, examine the differences between an essay or article profiling a person and one that profiles an event.

That form of preparation is more akin to education. It is needed to bolster your understanding of the broad picture and what is essentially the marketplace for your piece of work. 

Preparing for your actual essay, not the skill of writing an ambiguous profile essay, is another matter. The research and reading that are highly relevant to your subject matter will make or break your profile essay. 

To begin with, you must find all profiles of your subject that are in existence and don’t require a transatlantic flight to a dusty library archive – in this instance, simply email the library and ask if they’ve considered digitizing their collection, starting with your desired piece. 

One of the most surefire organization tactics for research is timelining. Start at the beginning; be sure to go into ‘negative digits’ and look at the parent’s history or the town’s history, or anything else that emerges in your research.

After ‘time’ as a category of thinking comes ‘significance.’ What were the defining features of this person’s life, and to what sort of ‘movement’ might they belong? Add this into your timeline research and press on.

Have you selected a person or place that is feasible to contact and ask for a quote or interview? You may also want to reach out to other players in the story you’re telling and see what they have to say on things.

Preparing all this research can get messy and cluttered. The best way to solve this problem is to  follow a system from the start, as mentioned above; time is a great organizer. Also, keep a running bibliography in a separate file on your computer. Keep tabs on everything you’ve read, and be as forensic as possible with maintaining records. Who knows what might happen in the future regarding the focus of your essay? They might run for president, or they might fade into obscurity. 

Profile Essay Outline

As a profile essay combines qualities of journalism and literary writing, the ideal outline doesn’t exist. Literary writing can take the reader on a journey; in fact, the only requirement of the structure is to guide this journey as magnificently as possible.

Were we to suggest a general profile essay outline, it would contain these sections and ingredients. The order is flexible to an extent. It depends on the content of your profile. Have you got an interview to draw upon, or are you using your storytelling powers to deduct and infer from other sources?

In your introduction, if you’ve conducted an interview, use a quote for your lede. A good quote is an excellent way to set the tone and give an impression of your subject to the reader. Those without an interview might consider a bold statement; be sure that you use something here to act as a powerful lede and bring the reader on board. 

Alluring mysteries are one thing; though the crunch point for this gambit is to make the pay-off worthwhile. Else, the cliff-edge and the tension you create will be for nothing in the end. 

There will be time to provide things like background and biography in the main body of a profile essay. These tend to follow the lede as they’re a nice cool-down; they give the reader a chance to build knowledge on an obscure topic. Whereas for the writer, both the background and biography offer an opportunity to peg in some facts, figures, and breadcrumbs to draw upon later.

The body of a profile essay is tricky. You, first of all, need to engagingly tell your readers the story in it. Remember to build tension and really ‘let go’ when it comes to releasing that tension. Tell it to a friend, read it aloud. Move around the paragraphs. Remember that the profile is following an arc and in your conclusions, hook back in the initial qualities of the opening part. This technique is like cadence in music, and it will please your audience as long as it isn’t too trite. 

Profile Essay Topics

A suitable subject or topic depends on your qualities as a writer and the desired outcome of writing such a profile essay. Now, it does not have to include an interview, but many profile essays do include them. Some profile essay topics may be inanimate objects or complex emergences of human life (events). If this is the case, you can still interview 

For interviews, considering you’re likely a lowly reporter on a college paper, getting an interview with a high-flying sportsperson, politician, or musician is unlikely. In any event, the lower-flying specimens of these species could make a good target. 

The most important thing to consider when choosing the topic or subject is to work with your gut and instinct. If you’re interested in the story, you’re going to have much more to put into it, and your excitement and verve will show through in writing. It may also make it easier to stomach the long hours of tedious research that can emerge when trying to prove or disprove an obscurity of some kind. 

If you haven’t decided on the topic, there’s still room for maneuver. You can look at the subject matter and present your perspective on the case; that’s the subjective element of a profile, your view.

This perspective of yours can focus on just one specific aspect of a person or event. By removing the duller or more well-trodden elements of a character, you open up the chance to explore a new side of a topic. It’s also a fantastic skill for writers to be able to recap well-known things or facts quickly. Writing in this style for a very general audience should be a skill in any writer’s arsenal. 

Profile Essay Examples 

Properly digesting the advice and points made in this article can be aided by reading some profile essay examples. Look for examples given out in your class, or search around using the main keyword – profile essay examples. 

Here are a few examples for you to get a catch on how to write profile essays excellently:

https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/profiles

https://longreads.com/2019/12/17/longreads-best-of-2019-profiles/

https://longreads.com/2017/12/18/longreads-best-of-2017-profile-writing/

Writing Tips for a Profile Essay

How to write a profile essay in three steps; pick a subject, do your research, and start writing. Remember that a profile essay is a literary and a journalistic piece of writing. It’s non-fiction, so your facts and figures must be accurate, and any discrepancies or controversies surrounding your data can form a part of your analysis.

Always write with your reader at the forefront of your mind. Visualize your reader, even if it’s a college essay, and think of how you could pitch your piece to a publication. The natural home of a profile is in the media, not in the college textbook. So write the essay with publication in mind. 

 Here are some essential tips for a profile essay composition:

• Conduct thorough research on your topic, look for potential interviews or aspects not covered in previous profiles if they exist. Also, make sure you’ve read all of the profiles on or related to your subject matter; a profile is an evolving topic, and new facts can emerge.
• Profile examples are available online, as well as those posted by educational institutes, and of course, those featured in the media. Reading these serves as excellent preparation and inspiration.
• The structure and overall outline of a profile essay is something with a degree of flexibility. While the introduction and rounding off of the essay will look familiar, tracking a person’s profile or event can involve highly unique pieces of information. Unlike many other papers, profiles don’t have to strictly conform to the thesis, antithesis, and synthesis structure. However, this familiar form of writing still works in part when writing a profile. 

Write a Profile Essay with HandmadeWriting

HandmadeWriting can help with the development, construction, and polishing of a profile essay. As an organization, we draw on academics and writers’ expertise from across the spectrum of the written word. 

Getting started can be difficult, but consulting with HandmadeWriting offers a way to get the ball rolling. The writers at HandmadeWriting are used to working on a countless number of topics and essay styles. The staff is also familiar with working under a tight deadline, not to mention those tasks where the endpoint is less defined. 

HandmadeWriting makes composing an essay or profile piece simple. Talk with a skilled writer and editor today on your topic, and you can make a start immediately.

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Profile Essays: Overview

Introduction to the profile essay.

The purpose of a profile is to give the reader new insight into a particular person, place, or event. The distinction between a profile and, for example, a memoir or a biography is that a profile relies on newly acquired knowledge. It is a first-hand account of someone or something as told by the writer. You have probably read profiles of famous or interesting people in popular magazines or newspapers. Travel and science publications may profile interesting or unusual places. All of these are, in effect, observation essays. A curious writer gathers as much information as s/he can about a subject, and then presents it in an engaging way. A good profile shows the reader something new or unexpected about the subject.

Dialogue, description, specific narrative action, and vivid details are all effective means of profiling your subject. Engage your reader’s senses. Give them a sense of what it’s like to be in a particular place. Try to show your reader what’s behind the scenes of a familiar place or activity, or introduce them to someone unique.

A profile is not strictly objective. Rather than merely reporting facts, a profile works to create a dominant impression. The focus of a profile is on the subject, not on the writer’s experience. However, the writer is still “present” in a profile, as it is s/he who selects which details to reveal and decides what picture they want to paint. It is the writer’s job to use the information and writing strategies that best contribute to this dominant impression, which was a concept discussed in the narrative introduction as well.

Above all, a profile should have a clear angle. In other words, there should be an idea or purpose guiding it. Why do you think your subject is something other people will be interested in reading about? What is the impression you hope to convey? The answer to these questions will help you discover your angle.

Writing Strategies for Profiles

Conducting research.

Observation

The best way to conduct research about your subject is to observe it firsthand. Once you have decided on a topic, you should spend some time gathering information about it. If you decide to profile a place, pay a visit to it and take notes. Write down everything you can; you can decide later whether or not it’s relevant. If you have a smartphone, take pictures or make recordings to refer to later. Most people think of observing as something you do with your eyes, but try to use of all of your senses. Smells, sounds, and sensations will add texture to your descriptions. You may also spend time observing your subject at his/her work or in different contexts. Again, write everything down so you don’t forget the key details. Remember, it’s the specific details that will distinguish the great profiles from the merely proficient ones.

Interviewing If you choose to profile a person, you will want to conduct an interview with him/her. Before doing so, plan what you are going to ask. You probably have a good idea of why this person will be a good subject for a profile, so be sure your questions reflect that. Saying “tell me about yourself” is unlikely to get your subject talking. Saying, “tell me what it was like to be the first person in your family to go to college,” will get a much more specific answer.

Organizing your profile Once you have gathered all of your information, it’s time to start thinking about how to organize it. There are all different ways to write a profile, but the most common organizational strategies are chronological, spatial, and topical. Most profiles are some combination of the three.

Chronological order  is presenting details as they happened in time, from start to finish. A chronological profile of a person might talk about their past, work up to their present, and maybe even go on to plans for the future. A chronological profile of an event might begin and end when the event itself does, narrating the events between in the order they happened. If you’re profiling a place, a chronological profile might begin with your first impressions arriving there and end with your departure. The advantage to writing in chronological order is that your writing will unfold naturally and transition easily from start to finish. The disadvantage, though, is that strict chronological order can get tedious. Merely recounting a conversation or experience can be dry, and can also pull focus from the subject onto the writer’s experience.

Spatial organization  is presenting information as it occurs in space or by location. This is a great choice if you’re writing about a place. Think of it as taking your reader on a tour: from room to room of a house, for example. For an event, you might move your reader from place to place. If you are writing about a concert, for instance, you might describe the venue from the outside, then the seating area, then the stage. Spatial organization can even work for a person, depending on your focus. Try profiling a person at home, work, and school, for example.

Topical organization  is just what it sounds like: one topic at a time. Think first of what you want to say about a person or place and organize details and information by subject. A profile of a person might talk about their home life, their work, and their hobbies. A topical profile of a place might focus on the physical space, the people who inhabit it, its historical significance, etc. Look at the information you gather from observation and/or interviewing and see if any topics stand out, and organize your paper around them. Most profiles are some combination of chronological, spatial, and topical organization. A profile might begin with a chronological narrative of a hockey game, and then flashback to provide some background information about the star player. Then it might go on to talk about that player’s philosophy of the sport, returning to the narrative about the game later on. As you read the sample essays, notice how the writers choose details and arrange them in order to create a specific impression.

Using description Vivid descriptions are key in a profile. They immerse your reader in the subject and add texture and depth to your writing. However, describing something is more than deploying as many adjectives as possible. In fact, the best descriptions may not have any adjectives at all. They rely instead on sensory detail and figurative language. Sensory detail is exactly what it sounds like: appealing to as many of the reader’s senses as possible. Adjectives can be vague, and even subjective. Think about this example:

“My grandmother always smelled good.”

What does good mean? What does good smell like? Do we even agree on what kinds of things smell good? Instead, try this:

“My grandmother always smelled good: like Shalimar, Jergen’s lotion, and menthol cigarettes.”

Now your reader knows much more. Perhaps they are even familiar enough with those scents that they can imagine what that combination would smell like. Moreover, you have delivered some emotional information here. Not every reader would agree that the smell of cigarettes is “good,” but perhaps that smell is comforting to you because you associate it so strongly with someone you care about. Of course, smell is not the only sense you can appeal to. Sights, sounds, temperatures and tastes will also enliven your writing.

Figurative language can add depth and specificity to your descriptions. Use metaphors, similes, comparisons and images creatively and purposefully. Consider the following:

“She was so beautiful.”

“Beautiful” just doesn’t tell us much. It is, like “good,” both vague and subjective. We don’t all have the same standards of beauty, nor is beauty one particular quality. Try a comparison instead:

“She was so beautiful that conversation stopped every time she entered a room.”

True, we don’t know much about what she looks like, but we do know that nearly everyone finds her striking.

Similes (comparisons using like or as) are not only efficient, but are also more vivid than adjectives. Compare these two sentences:

“He was short and muscular.”   vs.   “He was built like a bulldog.”

Write With Clarity

Considering point of view Because a profile is a first-hand account, you will need to consider point of view carefully. Many profiles are written entirely in third person. Others use first person. Different instructors may have different expectations, so be sure to consult your assignment guidelines to see what your options are. In a third-person profile, the writer is not “present” in the writing. S/he does not refer to his/her own actions or use first-person pronouns, but is more of an objective observer or “fly on the wall.” Most journalistic profiles are written from this point of view. The advantage of using third person is that it places your subject firmly at the center of your paper. In a first-person profile, the writer is an active participant, sharing his/her observations with the reader. First person narration closes the distance between writer and reader and makes the subject feel more personal. On the downside, it can pull focus from your subject. If you use first person, be sure you’re not intruding on your subject too much or making the piece about you.

Using appropriate verb tense Often, profiles will be written in present tense. This gives the reader the sense that s/he is “there,” experiencing the subject along with the writer. Present tense lends a sense of immediacy and intimacy that past tense may not. It may also help the writer stay focused on the “here and now,” rather than reflecting on the past, as s/he might in a memoir. Other times, writers may need to shift tenses to talk about previous events or background information. Be sure to use verb tenses carefully, shifting only purposefully, correctly, and when the subject demands it. You can read more on tense shifts here.

Finding a topic and an angle Virtually anything can be the subject of a profile. What matters is that you have something to say about it. People are an endless source of material; everyone has a story. Make a list of people you know who

– have lived through important historical events: war, the civil rights era, the Depression, etc. – have been through challenging experiences: survived a major health crisis, difficult childhood, etc. – have an unusual job or hobby, or special talent or skill. – have unique personalities: they are eccentric, funny, selfless, energetic, artistic, etc.

Places can be equally interesting. Consider a local establishment, a natural wonder, a festival or celebration, a landmark, a museum, a gathering place, etc. What makes that place interesting and worth visiting? What makes it special or noteworthy?

Don’t just think about what you want to write about; instead, think about what you want to say about it. Why is it interesting to you, and why might your audience find it worth reading about?

Student Paper Rationale

For an assignment to write a profile essay, Joshua Dawson described his purpose and audience: “This essay is about my grandmother and how she overcame the hardships of life. [. . .] The purpose of this essay is to show how a woman can be tough and can take anything life throws at her. I hope the essay reaches students who have a single parent and those who don’t know what a single parent goes through.” Joshua showed a clear idea of what he wanted his essay to do.

Sources Used to Create This Chapter

The majority of the content for this section has been adapted from the following OER Material:

• Write What Matters by Liza Long and Amy Minervini, and Joel Gladd, which was published under a CC-BY-NC-SA 4.0 license.

Starting the Journey: An Intro to College Writing Copyright © by Leonard Owens III; Tim Bishop; and Scott Ortolano is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License , except where otherwise noted.

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How to Write a Profile Essay from start to end like a pro

Many people do not realize that a biography is a profile essay, but it is. It is a profile essay because it is essentially the profile or the detailed description of a person.

You can be assigned to write an informative essay where you describe a person, place, event, or whatever subject. If that is the case, you should write a profile essay. A profile essay is basically a descriptive essay.

It is a common assignment in college for journalism and media studies courses. However, students pursuing other courses can also be assigned to write a profile essay. Although writing one can be challenging, we will show you in a bit how it can be enjoyable and what steps you need to take.

In this post, you will learn everything you need to know to write the perfect profile essay. Oh! You can buy a profile essay from us and have it customized to your instructions or rubric. Otherwise, let’s begin.

What is a Profile Essay?

The hallmark of writing a staller profile essay is knowing what it means.

In the academic context, a profile essay is basically a descriptive essay or informative essay about a person, place, location, activity, item, institution, organization, or event. Within the journalism context, profile essays refer to compositions about a person.

It is an essay that provides a detailed description of someone or something. The essay is usually between 600 and 850 words long and can be longer than 1000 words. The best way to write it is in such a way that it gives the reader a complete picture of the subject.

For example, if you are asked to write a profile essay on your best friend, you should write it so that when someone reads it, they will quickly gain a comprehensive understanding of your best friend.

There are two basic types of profile essays – descriptive profile essays and analytical profile essays .

Descriptive profile essays offer a comprehensive description of someone or something, while analytical ones provide in-depth analysis/evaluation of someone or something while describing it. The most common type of profile essay is the descriptive one. You can be asked to write a descriptive profile essay on a movie character, a story character, a politician, a celebrity, or someone you know personally. You can also be asked to write one on a location, an event, or even an idea.

What Is the Purpose of a Profile Essay?

The purpose of a profile essay is to provide a comprehensive view of a subject. The subject could be virtually anything.

When you are asked to write a profile essay, you should try to write it so that it leaves no important information.

For example, if you choose to write an essay on Barrack Obama, it should describe everything about the man from his origin to his Harvard experience, his senatorial experience, and finally, his presidency. This will help the reader to know everything crucial they need to know about Obama, including his life before the presidency.

When writing a profile essay, you should try as hard as possible to make it as interesting and informative as possible. Because profile essays that are not interesting tend to have too boring and too dull to read. So if you want the reader to read your essay from the first word in the introduction to the last word in the conclusion paragraph, ensure it is an exciting read.

The 6 main steps for writing a Perfect Profile Essay

Writing a successful, stellar, and grade-worthy profile essay needs some quality work. Here are some insights from our top profile essay writers who have completed many profile essays for clients. These essay writers are widely experienced in writing such essays and use these steps to produce the best profile essays. 

When assigned to write a profile essay for your class assignment, follow these six steps: (1) get inspired by professionally done examples, (2) choose a topic and a subject of focus, (3) research, (4) plan your essay, (5) write the essay, and (6) edit and proofread the essay before submitting.

Now let’s expound on each point to make it further easier for you to write a profile essay that attracts the best grades/score.

1. Get inspired by Examples

You need to research, plan, and write it better to ensure that it has no flaws. To write better, you can get inspiration through reading professional profile essay examples . These professionally written profile compositions are common in magazines such as The New York Times, Esquire, Washington Post, and The Guardian, among others.

While reading these examples, note how the details are presented, the ordering technique used, the use of transitions, hooks, and other aspects of formal writing, formatting, paragraphing approach, and the general choice of words.

You could read as many examples of profile essays as you can. However, be keen on selecting the best to benchmark as you write your profile essay based on the prompt from your professor.

2. Choose a topic and the subject

When asked to write a profile essay, you will most probably be asked to choose a topic by your professor. If this is the case, you should choose a topic that is interesting to you. Sometimes you are given a topic and told to write about it.

Because by choosing an interesting story, you get a chance to tell this story in your essay.

Of course, telling an interesting story is something you should be greatly interested in doing because interesting profile essays are almost always excellent profile essays.

After selecting the topic, ensure that you also choose a subject (the person, place, activity, or event of interest). The subject you choose to write about in your essay can either make or break your profile writing.

3. Gather information about the subject

Once you have chosen a topic for your profile essay, the next thing you need to do is to gather information about the subject.

For example, if the subject is a person, you should research information about them online at this stage. Gather as many important details about the person as you can. These details will be useful in the next step. In some cases, if you have access to the person you want to write an essay on, you can organize an interview with the person to find out more about them directly from them.

If you are writing a profile essay based on an interview, be sure to capture some of the responses the subject gave. It would be best to have open-ended questions on the interview plan to find as much valid information as possible. You need to corroborate the information using information available from credible sources.

4. Create an outline

Although sometimes an outline is not mandatory for an essay, you need to have a quick outline to arrange the ideas and thoughts and define the structure of your paper. Stick to a specific outline format for your essay.

If you feel you have gathered as many details about the subject as possible, you should create a profile essay outline. The outline should highlight what you want to write in each essay section. It should be as comprehensive as possible to make the next step easier. There is a profile essay outline example later in this post. You should use its structure to create your own outline.

5. Write the first draft of your essay

With the nice profile essay outline, the next thing you need to do is to start writing your profile essay. You can do this easily by following your outline like a map.

You see, if you did your outline correctly, it should contain sentences or instructions on how to start each paragraph in your essay and what to include in the paragraph.

When writing the first draft, follow your outline to start writing your essay and write all the paragraphs. As you are writing, remember this is a profile essay. You should try to keep the tone conversational and be as descriptive, informative, or vivid as you can. Write first and edit later.

As long as the ideas are flowing, keep on writing.

6. Edit and Proofread your Essay

After you are done writing your essay, the next thing you need to do is to proofread and edit it. We always advise taking a break to cool off from writing, develop an objective mind, and be ready to self-critique as you edit.

When proofreading, read it twice or thrice to identify and edit errors, mistakes, and weak statements or arguments. Once you have edited your essay to the level where you feel it is perfect, send it to a friend to read it one more time and catch the mistakes you might have missed.

Ask them to highlight any mistakes or errors they see. When you get your essay back, edit it one more time to eliminate the mistakes and errors identified. You can also hire a professional proofreader  if you need it done first and professionally.

After you are done editing as detailed above, your profile essay should be ready for submission.

The Structure and Format of a Profile Essay

You now know exactly what to do to write a profile essay. You know all the steps you need to take to write a good profile essay. In case you did not know the structure, it is presented below with its three key parts – the introduction, the body, and the conclusion.

1. Introduction Paragraph

Like every other essay, the profile essay has an introduction. In the introduction part of the essay, you must present what you will talk about in the body part. And you must do it in a summarized manner. Two statements are very important when writing the introduction paragraph – the hook statement and the thesis statement .

The hook statement is the opening statement. It should be interesting to grab the reader's attention and make them want to read your essay. And the thesis statement should be the last statement in your introduction paragraph. It should contain your main argument or the position you support in your essay.

2. Body Paragraphs

The body part of the profile essay is usually made of three or more body paragraphs.

When writing body paragraphs in your profile essay, you should ensure each body paragraph describes or analyzes a different part or aspect of the subject of your essay.

Furthermore, you should ensure a good flow between your body paragraphs and the sentences that make them up.  

The most important thing to remember when writing this part of your profile essay is to present your ideas chronologically. This will make this part of your essay easy to understand. Use sensory details to relate to your readers' senses and create a vivid picture.

3. Conclusion Paragraph

At the end of the profile essay, there is a conclusion paragraph . The purpose of this part of the essay is to wrap it up.

So, after providing a detailed description of your subject in the body paragraph, you should summarize everything and then provide a powerful closing statement. This is the most effective way to conclude a profile essay or any other type of essay for that matter.

Remember, the conclusion part is only supposed to contain your conclusion or and not any new argument, evidence, or claim.

Profile Essay Outline Example

Follow the example profile essay outline below to discover how exactly to create a profile essay outline.

Title: My best friend

I. Introduction

• Hook sentence: My best friend has always stood up for me from the very first day.
• Background info: What makes your friend special and unique? And my friend’s biographical information.
• Thesis statement: My best friend is someone I can count on even if the whole world is against me.

II. First body paragraph (Appearance and personality)

• Major point: My best friend is a tall, well-built, and laidback person.
• Description and evidence: Provide a comprehensive description of the major point above and use evidence such as quotes and examples.
• Concluding sentence

III. Second body paragraph (Major event in your friend’s life)

• Major point: My best friend lost his younger brother at age 10, hugely impacting his life.

IV. Third body paragraph (What distinguishes your best friend from others)

• Major point: My best friend is loyal to the core and very dependable.

V. Conclusion paragraph

• Thesis restatement
• Restatement of major points
• Closing sentence

Topic ideas for a Profile Essay

When tasked with choosing a profile essay topic to write about, consider choosing an interesting topic, has a favorite subject, and something that has information in case you need to corroborate facts.

Below is a list of profile essay topic ideas. Use the list as inspiration to develop your profile essay topic.

• President Obama’s Profile: His early life, his senatorial career, and his presidency
• Turkey and its place in Middle Eastern politics
• Africa: A continent with resources but also with global poverty
• Europe: A cycle of war and devastation
• King Solomon and his mighty empire
• Mandela: The man who changed the world
• Adolf Hitler: His ideology and his beliefs
• My dog is my best friend
• UNHCR: A history of taking care of refugees
• United Nations: Successes and challenges over the years
• Why Zanzibar is a must-visit country
• My favorite movie
• The diet of the residents of Loma Linda
• The best celebrity role model
• The best summer camp for kids in the USA
• The most stunning animal park in the USA
• Stalin: How the Russian leader helped defeat the Nazis
• Moscow: The capital of the Russian Federation
• The United States: the greatest economy in the world
• MV. Aurora: The conqueror of the seven seas
• Adidas: A history of challenges and successes
• Jane Austen: A high-achieving woman
• Nike Success’s Story
• The best Air Jordan Stores
• The real personality of Princess Diana
• The US Senate and its responsibilities
• Queen Elizabeth: The longest serving female head of government
• The sport I love the most
• Stephen King: The most elegant writer of our time
• The best classic car ever

Example of a Process Essay

My favorite elementary school teacher A few years ago, I ran into Mrs. Penny while escaping some school bullies who gave me a hard time. When I ran into her, I just burst into tears, and she did not know what to do. She just hugged me. She later escorted me to a small bench and asked me to tell her everything. I did exactly that, and she made sure the boys were suspended. I did not know it then, but she was about to play a key role in molding me into who I am today. Mrs. Penny was a tall, big and strong woman. She always walked with authority about her. Some students said she was into powerlifting, but I don’t think she was. While she had a big physique and she was very kind and motherly. Everyone loved her for this. She always treated every single student with respect and tried to listen and reason with you rather than impose her beliefs. For example, she once talked to our class and convinced everyone to stay in class for about five minutes long to finish explaining something. This is something that had never happened before, yet she achieved it. One day while in class, Mrs. Penny caught another student in the middle of a nasty fight. Since the last time she had saved me from bullies, she had always thought I was a well-disciplined boy. So she was very disappointed when she caught me fighting as it was strictly against school rules. We were sent to detention and then came back to class later. As everybody was leaving class in the late afternoon, she asked me to stay behind and told me to sit down. She talked to me, motivated me, and told me that I could only succeed in life by being disciplined. I promised her always to be disciplined, which has helped me in life. It has helped me to become a much better person. If other teachers found me fighting or doing something else, they probably couldn’t have cared. This is because they could have simply assumed I was a bad kid. However, Mrs. Penny was not like other teachers. She was kind, empathetic, and motherly. She saw me as someone I was not and took her time to help show me the right direction in life. I believe I am now in college because of what she told me, especially about discipline being the key to success. As you can see, Mrs. Penny played a very important role in molding me into who I am today. She helped me to become a better person and to take discipline as one of my guiding principles. It is my hope that Mrs. Penny is still alive and is still helping guide elementary students to become better versions of themselves.

Tips to Use when Writing a Profile Essay

By now, you can already see that writing profile essays can be fun; it is fun! When you select a subject of interest, you can only write the best things about them as long as you meet the scope of the rubric. Like any other comprehensive academic essay , a profile essay has three sections: the introduction, body, and conclusion. And for you to write one that appeals to your readers and markers, here are some tips and tricks that actually work:

• Edit your work. After you are done writing your essay, you should thoroughly edit it to ensure it has no grammatical errors, punctuation errors, and so on. This will ensure it gets a good grade.
• Show respect. When writing a profile essay about someone, you must show respect even if you hate them. You must strive to be objective and to use objective language. This will make your essay to sound more professional than an anger-ridden essay.
• Try to balance your paragraphs. This may seem trivial, but it is not. You must try to balance your paragraphs to make your essay appear structured and organized. This will increase your probability of getting a good grade.
• Create an outline before you start. Creating an outline before writing an essay will help you stay focused and organized.
• Keep your tone professional. You should strive to keep your tone professional throughout the essay. This is especially true when you are writing about someone close to you. Keeping your tone professional will help you get a good grade on your essay.
• Watch your tone and style . As you compose the paragraphs of your profile essay, you should use both formal and informal approaches. It should not be written in the second person. Rather, use first-person and think of creative ways to make your written piece fun to read. Although you are writing an academic piece that should be done professionally, you have the flexibility of flouting the academic writing rules. Describe the subject and maintain a tone that creates a vivid image of the subject.

Final Words

We are sure that by now, our professional writers at EssayManiacs, through their insights, have made composing a profile essay as simple as it should be. The knowledge we have shared in this post is enough to enable you to write the perfect profile essay or composition.

Remember to bring in your creativity, presentation, and organization skills when writing. Write preferably in the first person and have the flexibility of expanding your creativity. That said and done, you should now be able to get an excellent grade whenever you are asked to write a profile essay.

If you need help writing and polishing a profile essay, you should know that we are here for you. We have a team of English essay writing experts who can write a profile essay on virtually any topic. Order your essay from us to get a high grade on your essay assignment.

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How to Write a Profile Essay (+ Examples to Check)

In the article, you’ll find the profile essay definition and structure. Several examples are also here to help you see how to create a brilliant one.

What is a Profile Essay?

Such papers have two primary goals:

•  Stay informative
•  Provide as many exciting details about the subject as possible

Another essential detail is that you shouldn’t stray from the topic. Mention only the relevant things, and don’t be afraid to keep the focus as narrow as possible.

That’s the point of any profile essay.

Profile Essay Example

Profile essays look personal, but their style is matter-of-fact and academic. It seems challenging, but you can do that with appropriate examples at hand.

There are two common types of such papers: on a person and a place . Since each has its specifics, let’s jump right into the samples!

Profile essay example on a person 

Lucky you are when a professor assigns an essay about yourself. After all, it’s a person you know best, right? When writing about someone else, the key is to treat them how you’d treat yourself if you wrote your story.

Here’s an example of a profile essay on a person :

Profile essay example on a place  

Another profile paper is the one describing a specific location. It can include its history, spots, and the famous people who visited it. 

Choose the places you find exciting, but consider how much information you can dig up. Remember that a stellar profile essay must be informative. Put your emotions about what you’re describing aside.  Example:

How to Write a Profile Essay: Outline and Tips

One of the profile essay challenges is making it long enough  to meet the word count.

You can do it through research and adding extra info during the writing process. Imagine you’re a detective compiling a case file!

More details:

Craft a profile essay outline before writing. It’s a plan for an intro, a body, and a conclusion [1]. Important: Outline the thesis and topic sentences for each paragraph. That way, you’ll get a template for your essay to fill in with relevant information.

How to start a profile essay

The best way to start your essay is a so-called attention grabber. Tell the most intriguing fact about your topic and elaborate on it in the following sentence.

As a finishing touch, focus on a thesis statement. That last sentence reveals all the details you’ll discuss in the upcoming paragraphs.

Body paragraphs

You need several main points, whether writing about a personality or describing a location. Derive topic sentences (your paragraphs’ first sentences) from research and make them informative.

The last sentence of each section should be a transition to the next one. It will make your essay easy to read.

Writing a profile essay conclusion

Unlike an interview or expository essay , your conclusion restates the thesis and summarizes the core info from your paper.

While it sounds simple, this part of your paper is the most significant. Ensure you end it with a relevant sum-up.

Practical tips on writing profile papers  

Profile papers are all about research and editing your essay to perfection. Below are three fruitful tips [2] on how to do that.

• Use a reference finder . This tool works like a filter, removing all irrelevant sources from your search. It will help you invest less time in finding the materials you need.
• Spend several hours resting before editing your paper . If you look for mistakes in your essay right after you’ve finished the draft, you’re likely to miss them. Give your brain time to refocus, and you’ll find more typos and inconsistencies.
• Ask parents or friends how informative it is . If unsure about how your paper turned out, ask someone who doesn’t know much about the topic. If they find your draft engaging, it’s a success.

Bonus: Profile Essay Topics Ideas  

If a tutor doesn’t provide a specific topic for your profile essay and you struggle to find one, try any of these:

•   My Hometown’s History: The Hero of People
•   The Writer Who Shaped My View of Life
•   The Best Five-Star Hotel In Our Country
•   An Unusual Millionaire With a Kind Heart
•   A Touching Story of a Famous Animal
•   My Favorite Painter: A Biography
•   My Favorite Touristic Location
•   The Spookiest Location I’ve Ever Visited
•   The Teacher Who Was My Role Model
•   The Landmark I’ll Never Forget
•   My Pet Animal: Facts and Stories
•   My Hero: The Person I Want to Become
•   The Most Impressive Water Body I’ve Seen
•   The Place I Dream to Visit
•   The Fictional Character I Learned Most From

Profile essays can be challenging. Yet, they’re great for training your writing and research skills. You pay attention to details so that a text flows and presents information logically.

It’s okay if you don’t create a masterpiece on your first try. Just remember to have fun in the process.

References:

• https://www.adelaide.edu.au/english-for-uni/essay-writing
• https://www.wccnet.edu/webfiles/writing-center/web/essay-structures/ProfileEssay.pdf
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