Writing the feature profile
The document discusses the key elements that should be included in a profile of a person. It notes that profiles tell the story of individuals by providing insights into how they live their lives and the important events that shaped who they are. The main parts of a profile are described as life facts not widely known, pictures of the person at home or work, the major turning points in their life, their goals and obstacles, what motivates them, and how they are similar or different from others. The document provides guidance on gathering necessary information through primary interviews with the subject, secondary interviews, background research, and observations. It also outlines the typical structure of a profile including an attention-getting lead, nut graph summarizing the theme, body with
Writing the feature profile
- 1. Writing the feature profileTommy Thomason
- 2. Why profiles?Profiles tell the stories of people we know or know about. We know what – profiles tell us how, and give us the why behind the what
- 3. What’s in a profile?The life facts not generally knownWhat’s in a profile?The life facts not generally known
- 4. A picture of the person at work or at play or at homeWhat’s in a profile?The life facts not generally known
- 5. A picture of the person at work or at play or at home
- 6. What has made this person who he/she is -- the turning points in the target’s lifeWhat’s in a profile?The life facts not generally known
- 7. A picture of the person at work or at play or at home
- 8. What has made this person who he/she is -- the turning points in the target’s life
- 9. Goals/obstaclesWhat’s in a profile?The life facts not generally known
- 10. A picture of the person at work or at play or at home
- 11. What has made this person who he/she is -- the turning points in the target’s life
- 12. Goals/obstacles
- 13. How the target is different from others/how the target is the sameWhat’s in a profile?The life facts not generally known
- 14. A picture of the person at work or at play or at home
- 15. What has made this person who he/she is -- the turning points in the target’s life
- 16. Goals/obstacles
- 17. How the target is different from others/how the target is the same
- 18. What motivates the targetGetting started on your profileWhat will you need?
- 19. Scheduling and conducting the primary interview
- 20. A theme/focus for the storySecondary interviewsBackground info on your sourceObservations
- 21. What will your story look like?•a lead or a lead element•a nut graf•the body of the story, which may include several topics•an ending
- 22. A checklist on profiles… What will you need to produce a good profile?a controlling idea/themethat theme expressed in a nut grafan attention-getting lead elementinsight....whysanecdotes/storiesvisual writing...show, don’t tellmultiple sources; visual as well as oral good quotes and judicious use of paraphrases at least a good attempt at an ending
- 23. Want to seesome examples of profiles?