presentation for ENGL 318

1. Tips for Writing Your Profile

2. 1.Outline before you start
writing.
• Review your notes: make list of
important points, most interesting
quotes.
• Decide on an angle: what main point or
story do you want to convey about this
person?
• Decide on a structure to convey your
angle (does not have to be inverted
pyramid): could address origin story,
personal history, research process,

3. 2. Write a good introduction.
• Must grab readers’ attention and
convey your angle.
• Try out different introductions:
depending on your angle, you
might tell a story about the
person’s background, provide an
anecdote, present a puzzle,
describe a quirky trait, etc.

4. 3. Remember the rules of writing
for non-scientists:
• Have a good, clear headline (that
shows angle).
• Keep paragraphs short.
• Clearly attribute quotes.
• Write in plain English (minimum of
jargon, or if it’s necessary, explain in
a clause).
• Write straightforward sentences that
rely on nouns and active verbs.