3. Community Profile: Preparation
According to The Norton Field
Guide, a profile is a written portrait
of a place. It presents a subject in an
entertaining way that conveys its
significance, showing us something
that we may not have known existed
or that we see everyday but don’t
know much about.
GET STARTED: Read Chapter 16 -
Profiles
Also read Chapters 37, 38, and
40 – Describing, Dialogue, and
Narrating.
Read the example essay (On
Blackboard)
4. Understanding the Assignment
All academic
essays MUST
have:
1. Introduction
Paragraph
with a Thesis
Statement
2. Body
Paragraphs
3. Conclusion
Paragraph
Per the assignment sheet, your essay
MUST contain the following features in
the body paragraphs:
Background Information
Description of firsthand observations using
sensory details
Examples of community impact or use
Anecdote(s)
Dialogue
Be sure not to include too much of one
feature, and not enough of another. Use a
well-balanced combination of each!
5. Background Information
This feature informs the reader of all pertinent
information about this place. This is factual
information.
Examples of background information include:
What the place is/does
Where the place is
When the place was created
Why the place was created and by who
Why the community needs or wants this place
Remember – this is NOT a report, so don’t
include too much background information.
6. Example(s) of Community Impact, Use,
or Importance
Find a true and specific example of how this place is
impacting the community, being used by the
community, or of importance to the community.
Examples – a specific example of how a non-profit is benefiting
people receiving services, a specific example of community use
for trail systems, an example of a restaurant serving as a
gathering place for community groups.
You can find this information from talking to people or
from your own personal experience.
7. Description Using Sensory Details
You MUST visit your place to gain a further understanding of
your subject. While there you should record your firsthand
observations.
In your paper you must include descriptions of your firsthand
observations using sensory details. Sensory details help to bring
your subject to life by appealing to the different senses of the
reader.
In academic writing you are typically discouraged from using
the word “I.” You should refrain from using it. After all, this is
a paper about a place, not you.
NO - When I walked into the office, the smell of coffee
overwhelmed me.
YES - The smell of coffee overwhelms the senses immediately upon
entering the office.
8. Dialogue
You need to talk to other people about your place. Ask
them questions about your place to discover what they
think about the place and what their experiences with the
place are. Include quotes (both direct and indirect) from
your conversation.
Be sure that the dialogue that you include helps support
your angle!
Integrate the dialogue into your writing. For more
information on the importance of using quotations and
how to integrate them, see Chapter 38 on page 376.
9. Anecdote(s)
An anecdote is a short and interesting story about a
specific incident, person, or place
Interesting does not necessarily mean funny. The
anecdote should help define and support the angle
you are taking.
The anecdote could be about the place or maybe even
someone who works there.
The anecdote can be based on your own experience or
that of someone else.
10. Did you:
Read the Unit #1 Assignment Sheet
Read Chapter 16 in The Norton Field Guide to Writing
Read the example essay (on Blackboard)
Now it is time to GET STARTED WITH THE WRITING PROCESS
Writing Process Step #1
Pre-Writing
Choose a Subject
Choose an Angle
Brainstorming/Outlining –
what you already know
Research – what you need
to find out
Later Writing Process
Steps to Consider
Writing
Revising
Editing
Publishing
11. Choosing a Subject
For this
assignment, you
will write a profile
of an interesting
place in your
community that is
worth talking
about.
If you are having
trouble getting
started, any of the
places on the
assignment sheet
would make great
subjects. Or, you
might as a friend
and write about
somewhere that is
new to you!
Choose a place that you!
The best wrought papers evolve from
writing about a subject that you are
intrigued by.
You’ll be spending a LOT of time on this
assignment over the next three weeks…
don’t start the assignment bored.
Sometimes (not always) it is best to write
about a place that you don’t know too
much about.
This allows you a fresh perspective and a
chance to research and investigate before
you begin writing.
Remember – this has to be a place that
anyone can visit without needing an
invitation.
12. Choosing an Angle
A good profile
captures its
subject from an
interesting
ANGLE.
For an example,
look at the next
slide of a profile
introduction
paragraph written
by an English 111
student.
When writing your profile, do NOT try to tell
the reader everything about the place. You
need to write on a narrow topic.
Your profile needs to be organized around
ONE specific idea or theme. This idea is
called your angle, and your angle will help
unite the various paragraphs of your essay.
When choosing an ANGLE, consider the
following question: What ONE aspect do
you want to tell the reader about this
place?
Choose your angle before you write…it will help
you stay on subject from the very beginning.
13. Profile Angle Example
Taken from Profile Essay Introduction Paragraph
Written by English 111 Student
Grey Cliffs is in danger. This unknown piece of
wilderness is located fifteen miles north of Nikiski, Alaska, and
land development threatens its seemingly untouched
landscape. For those that know and love this little place off the
beaten path, it is an important that it stays this way. There has
been discussion over the past few years to extend the Kenai
Spur Highway north to Moose Point where it would meet a
bridge built across Turnagain Arm to Anchorage. This multi-
million dollar project would create an alternative route from the
Kenai Peninsula to Anchorage while simultaneously destroying
Grey Cliffs. This area is worth preserving for future generations
of Alaskans to enjoy. Grey Cliffs is a haven for camping and off
the grid living on the bustling Kenai Peninsula.
14. Profile Angle Example
Taken from Profile Essay Introduction Paragraph
Written by English 111 Student
The thesis statement for this student’s essay says, “Grey
Cliffs is a haven for camping and off the grid living on
the bustling Kenai Peninsula.”
The angle is made clear in the thesis statement. The rest
of this essay proves that Grey Cliffs is a little known, quiet
place that is great for camping and off the grid living. It is
a haven on the busy Kenai Peninsula.
The angle is not about preserving Grey Cliffs. A paper
arguing for the preservation of Grey Cliffs would be a
totally different assignment. The body paragraphs don’t
explicitly state that the place is worth preserving, but the
student author re-touches on that in the conclusion. The
body paragraphs prove this point by SHOWING what a
haven Grey Cliffs is.
15. Profile Angle Example
Example Essay (On Blackboard)
In the profile “Communicating with Art,” the author writes
profiles the Alzheimer’s Resources of Alaska.
Alzheimer’s Resources of Alaska provides many resources
to patients and the families of patients with Alzheimer’s
disease. However, the author did NOT cover all of these
aspects.
The author chose to show the reader how the Art Links
program “is a creative outlet for participants experiencing
cognitive and memory difficulties.” That is her angle.
Each paragraph supports the angle she chose to make a
focused and convincing essay.
16. Just a Reminder…
DUE: Monday, September 4
ASSIGNMENT: Submit Your Topic
You need to come to class with your
introduction paragraph – this includes a
strong thesis statement that tells the
reader your topic and angle.
This is ESSENTIAL in getting started on a
good note. I will provide you with
prompt feedback regarding your topics.
17. Pre-Writing: Brainstorming/Outlining
Don’t sit down and start writing without pre-writing. Brainstorming helps you to
get your ideas flowing and outlining helps you to get organized before you start
writing your paragraphs.
Brainstorming Styles
Free-Writing
Looping
Listing
Clustering
Cubing
Questioning
For more information on
brainstorming styles, see
Chapter 23, pages 219-222
Outlining Example
I. Introduction
I. Hook…get reader’s
attention
II. Thesis statement
II. Body
I. Background Information
II. Description using sensory
details.
III. Example of community
use, with dialogue
IV. Anecdote, with dialogue
V. Anecdote #2
III. Conclusion
For more information on
outlining, see Chapter
23, pages 223
18. Outlining: Grey Cliffs
This outline is incomplete: Red Highlighting indicates where the student has more work to do.
19. WRITING!
Now its time to site down and write.
Be sure:
•Received feedback from the instructor
on your topic and angle.
•You have done your research
•You have brainstormed and/or outlined
your paper
•You have reviewed the Unit #1
Assignment Sheet
•Asked for clarification on any questions.
20. Peer Review
The Peer Review will take place in class on Wednesday,
September 18.
I will assign you peer review partners and will create a peer
review group space on Blackboard for you and your
partners. Your group space allows you to share files back
and forth.
More specific directions for this assignment will be given in
class the day before the peer review!
21. Revising and Editing
Revise
Look at the advise that your classmates gave you during
the peer review. Make the changes that you feel will
improve your paper.
Two pieces of ADVICE:
#1: Give yourself plenty of time to revise. If you can, get away
from your writing for a little while. When you return
refreshed, you will be more likely to catch errors and digressions.
#2: Remember to make sure that this is a reader-centered paper
not a writer-centered paper. In other words, detach yourself from
your paper and revise it to assure that everything is clear and
belongs on the page. Just because you spent time writing
it, doesn’t mean it belongs in your final draft. If it doesn’t, erase
it.
Edit
Check your paper for proper grammar, punctuation, and
usage.
22. Use your Resources…OWL @ KPC
OWL is the online
writing lab at KPC. You
can submit your paper
to the OWL and get
feedback from KPC
faculty. You let them
know specifically what
you would like help
with!
http://owl.kpc.alaska.e
du
23. Publishing
For the purposes of this class, publishing means
turning the final draft of your paper in for grading!
FINAL DRAFT DUE: Monday, September 23 at the
BEGINNING of class.
Be sure to turn it in on time, otherwise it will be
considered LATE. Late papers are penalized by deducting
20% of the possible points before grading.
YOU WILL SUBMIT YOUR FINAL DRAFT IN
BLACKBOARD. There will be a link for you to upload
your papers in the Unit #1 Folder.
The final draft is worth 100 points!
24. LECTURE: THE END
This is your first major
writing assignment for
the semester and is
designed to help you
ease (back) into
academic writing.
If you have any questions
regarding this
assignment, please don’t
hesitate to either come to my
office hours or to email me. Be
sure that you detail exactly
what it is that you don’t
understand or would like help
with.
amanderson10@kpc.alaska.edu
25. Revising Your Graded Paper for an
Improved Grade
A note about revision…you are allowed to revise the
first three papers if you are interested in improving your
grade.
In addition to making significant changes to improve the
paper, you are also responsible for writing an in-depth
explanation of the changes you made, why you made them,
and how the changes improve your paper. This is a time
consuming process.
In other words, it is often easier and more time efficient to
turn in your best possible work the first time.
