Identifying Elements of the Profile Essay
Kathy Link, “The Five Bedroom, Six Figure Rootless Life”
Pastor Ted, “Soldiers of Christ I”
Another look at the expressive and objective aims of the “profile” essay:
Content = observation. Profile essays closely observe their subject. The content of a profile essay
includes factual information the writer has observed as well as the description that follows from
those observations. The goal is to help readers get both a deeper understanding of the subject and a
vivid impression of the writer’s attitude towards the subject.
Three kinds of observations. In a profile essay, the writer’s observations can be of three kinds: it may
be freshly acquired, called up from memory, or acquired through some form of research. Research is
usually associated with seeking information rather than impressions, yet once you’ve acquired the
information you were seeking and you’ve had a chance to digest it all, it’s bound to make some kind
of impression on you—a profile writer will make this impression clear to readers as part of the
presentation (the “dominant impression”).
Observation = two kinds of description. When it comes time to share your observations (however
you’ve acquired them), you can use description both objectively and subjectively, or in combination,
to put your subject before readers in a vivid, engaging way.
Putting it all together: The facts, explanations, analysis, and interpretation you provide about your
subject all have the effect of informing your readers about your subject—this is the objective aim, or
purpose, of the profile. The subjective, impressionistic ways you choose to describe your observations,
your orchestration of details and the kind of language you use to create a positive or negative feeling
about your subject, all have the effect of making your own attitude towards your subject vivid—this is the
expressive aim of the profile essay. In the end, readers should come away knowing about your subject
and about your impression of your subject.
Working together in groups, closely analyze the article “The Five Bedroom, Six Figure Rootless Life” by Peter Kilborn
to identify the expressive and objective elements of the profile essay discussed above.
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First, look closely at the writer’s observations. There should be two kinds: factual information
and description. Find two or three instances of each type of content.
Look closely at the descriptive material to figure out how the writer is communicating his
impressions of the Link lifestyle, the Link family, or Link’s neighborhood. What are the
descriptive words used? How do they contribute to your understanding of the writer’s attitude
toward his subject?
Put into words the overall dominant impression that Kilborn conveys of the Link family. What is
his attitude toward the Links? Does his impression influence your impression?
Discuss whether you thinking this is an effective piece of writing? List your reasons why or why
not.
Assignment for Friday 2/24: (1) Read “Soldiers of Christ I” and prepare to work with it in class in similar way that we worked
with today’s article. (2) Pick a spot anywhere on campus and spend 15-30 minutes (or more) closely observing. List as many
specific observations as you can about the place, the people, the atmosphere. Bring your list to class on Friday.