Please compose a proposed outline, in MLA format, of your Profile piece. I posted samples for you to see. Please include your thesis statement and main points/sub points, as well as a concluding statement. Please phrase in complete sentences. You are note required to add the interview questions, although please feel free to if you have them.
Please include a list of all those you will or have already interviewed: your subject and two people who can speak about this person’s characteristics.Assigned media:
Robin Williams
The Best Interview In The History Of Television [Robin Williams] (Links to an external site.)
Harry Styles
Harry Styles – Zane Lowe ‘Fine Line’ Interview (Links to an external site.)
A few essentials for any profile:
1) Basic information — full name, age, professional title, occupation, interests, and usually marital status and children.
2) What the subject says — use direct quotes and paraphrases, as it gives a personality and energy to the subject.
3) How the subject looks – use your best judgment here, but consider not only routine facts about height, build and color of eyes and hair, but also the details that make the subject come to life: how he or she walks, talks, gestures and uses body language or facial expressions. When you are interviewing your subject, FaceTime/Zoom, Skype to get a sense of visuals and non-verbals. If you are comfortable, exchange social media accounts, as well.
4) Background or history of the subject — although this is a story of who the subject is now, often a subject’s background tells a lot about how the subject has become who he or she is. This might include education, upbringing, hobbies and interests. Note: it is usually a mistake to begin your profile with history — use it as background.
5) What others think and say about the subject — talk to the subject’s friends, bosses, professors, etc. Find out what they think makes the subject special. Often you can find out a great deal more talking to others about your subject than by talking to the subject. (At least two additional interviews are necessary for this assignment)
6) Details – anecdotes, quotes, real-life examples or events, images, that reveal the person’s personality or unique attributes.
Structure and a few tips:
Profiles are feature stories, and they employ creative writing concepts to “bring to life” the person you’re profiling for your readers. Avoid starting your story with a straight news lead. Instead, try to entice readers by opening with key details, anecdotes or real-life examples that “show” the theme(s) of your story and capture the essence of your subject.
Profiles attempt to dig beneath the surface and get at what makes the subject interesting, special, and different. They are not promotion pieces, focusing only on the wonderful traits of your subject. Sometimes profiles can be serious or sad, depending on the person being profiled. Personality profiles are the ultimate human interest stories, and strive to bring forward the interesting elements of the person being profiled even if they are serious, sad, tragic, eccentric or funny.
Leave yourself out of the story. This is a profile about the person you interviewed, not about you. Avoid constructions such as “When asked about….” or “When I interviewed…”
