Top 4 Profile Essay Examples
A “profile essay” is a reflective essay that provides insights about a person, a place, or an event. It is a descriptive piece that can be used to answer questions like “Who am I?” or “What is the purpose of education?” Some students find it challenging to write profile essays, but with some practice and patience, you should produce an excellent piece.
A good profile essay has the following characteristics:
1. It is a product of solid research and intelligent observations from the writer’s part;
2. The “profile” that it features is genuinely representative of its subject;
3. It contains exciting and convincing facts and opinions;
4. It is written in a simple and engaging manner.
Structure of a Profile Essay
A profile essay usually consists of three body paragraphs. The first paragraph should look into the subject’s background without focusing too much on details. Do not mention dates unless they are crucial for your argument. For example, if you are writing about an important historical event, then this detail might be important for your readers to understand what was happening at that time.
The second body paragraph should look at one of the most interesting features about your subject, and the third paragraph should end with a bang that leaves your readers wanting more. Always remember to write an introductory and concluding paragraph as well before wrapping things up in the end.
How Do you Start a Profile Essay?
When writing a profile essay, a good opening sentence can help grab your readers’ attention. It should highlight the most interesting aspect of your subject. Some good examples include:
“She was a woman ahead of her time.” or “He had a vision for the future.”
In order to have engaging profile essays, you must be passionate about what you are writing. In some cases, it may be difficult to find interesting information on your subject, but there are always at least one or two facts that you can use to write your essay. Try to keep an open mind and let yourself be inspired by what you find.
A good profile essay should also have a touch of personality in it. Your opinions about the subject matter will help you succeed as well with this writing task.
Do not be afraid to express your emotions in the process.
When writing profile essays, it is important to remember that these are descriptive pieces. You must introduce your readers to what you describe by providing some concrete details in your opening paragraph.
What are Some Good Profile Topics?
- Describe your best friend
- Write about a person who inspires you
- Talk about an object that holds special meaning for you
- Describe your favorite subject in school
- Write about someone who has had a major impact on you
- Tell us something about yourself that most people don’t know
- Talk about a memorable moment from your childhood
Steps to Writing a Profile Essay
The following are some simple steps to help you write a profile essay:
- Do the research and gather information about your subject beforehand
- Organize your data in a way that is easy to follow
- Write an opening paragraph that grabs the attention of your readers
- Develop the body paragraphs
- Always finish with a bang by writing an effective conclusion
- Proofread for errors and make sure it flows well.
Profile Essay Samples
An excellent way to understand how things are done in the academic world is by reading examples. The following profile essay samples can help you get started:
Sample 1
Alice Walker
Alice Walker has made an enormous contribution to literature, not only through her novels and poetry but also by campaigning for civil rights during the 1960s. Born in Georgia in 1944, she grew up in a tiny rural community with her sharecropper parents. Although she grew up in poverty, Walker’s parents managed to raise eight children. Her father was one of the main reasons why Alice became interested in learning about African-American history and literature.
Walker’s love for reading and writing started after sustaining an injury to her right eye that left her permanently blind in that eye. As soon as she could, she went back to school and studied at several colleges. She received her bachelor’s degree in 1965.
Alice Walker made history when her novel The Color Purple won the Pulitzer Prize in 1982. This was the first time that an African-American woman had won this prestigious award. The book is about a young black woman, Celie, whose life is filled with pain and suffering. It was made into a movie in 1985 by Steven Spielberg.
Alice Walker has used her writing to express her opinions about the conditions that black people were forced into during segregation in America. Her work is not only important because it enlightened people about these incidents but also added dignity to the African-American culture.
Sample 2
Boston Marathon Bombings
On April 15th, 2013, the Boston Marathon Bombings shook the city of Boston and America as a whole. This was an extraordinary tragedy that will never be forgotten by those who witnessed it first hand, including myself. The families affected by this horrible tragedy are left to deal with their grief for years to come. What makes the Marathon Bombing event so significant is the fact that everyone felt affected by it. The fact that anyone could be a victim makes everyone feel vulnerable and scared. This event made America feel like we were all Bostonians and that we were united as one nation.
Caroline Richards was cheering on her mother at the 117th Boston Marathon when the first bomb exploded. She was only three feet from the explosion and was severely injured as a result. Caroline spent 35 days in Boston Medical Center recovering from serious injuries she sustained from the bombing. When interviewed about her experience, she made a statement that I will never forget: “There’s no room for fear. We all have to be compassionate and help those who were also injured and affected,” Caroline said. “I am so grateful for my family and friends who have been by my side supporting me.”
This event proves that although tragedies occur, there is always a silver lining. There was light and hope in the midst of the darkness because of all those affected by it. The things people did to help others in need made us feel proud to be human beings capable of love and kindness.
I believe this event will have an everlasting effect on the world because it made us realize how precious life is and that we should appreciate our loved ones. It also taught us to be aware of the things happening around us and to pay more attention, as one small action can trigger a series of large events.
Sample 3
My happy dad
My dad always said, “It takes fewer muscles to smile than it does to frown.” I have to believe this is true because I spent the earlier years of my life frowning. Going through life with a cortisol-fueled scowl on your face can make for an exhausting existence. But, when I began smiling—really smiling—I felt more confident, happier, and lighter in spirit. I started asking myself why I hadn’t tried smiling sooner.
My dad’s advice reminded me of an early astronomy class I took in college where the professor lectured us one day about this weird thing called dark energy. It turns out that if you look around you on Earth, everything has gravity—you know, the way things are attracted to each other? Well, apparently, there’s also dark energy that’s pushing all these things apart at an increasingly accelerated rate. Neat stuff to ponder when you’re just trying to pass the class, but something about it stuck with me years later because I think about it in terms of smiling. Like dark energy, when we smile, we can feel ourselves pushing things apart—we expand our own worlds and simultaneously help everyone around us do the same.
Smiling is such a simple act, but it takes muscles to get it done. You have to flex your cheek, bite down on your larynx, and unclench your tongue while simultaneously juggling a ball of hot air that you have to squeeze out your mouth. Then, if people don’t smile back at you, it’s all for naught because you’ve got nothing left to hold yourself together with. It’s a lot of work, but smiling changes everything once you’ve done it.
My dad is the reason I smile. He’s the reason I have the confidence to smile first, too. Looking back at my scowling days, I realize that he was smiling all along—but it took muscles for me to notice.
Sample 4
My mother’s determination
The day my mother was born, doctors didn’t think she would live. Her tiny body just wasn’t strong enough to survive in this world. But, against all odds and after hours of intensive care from a rotating team of nurses, my mother defied the odds and continued to grow and thrive.
Her early battle with life made her strong, determined, and resilient—a warrior that would fight for what she wanted. Later in life, even though she had a successful career as a social worker and could easily provide for herself financially, my mother took on another challenge: raising five children.
This was not easy, but my mother never complained; she simply figured out how to make things work in her own way. She made our lives fun and happy by taking us on long walks in the park or baking cookies with us in the afternoon when we got home from school. My mother’s determination influenced me to keep trying even if I didn’t always succeed the first time.
Today, my mother is retired and lives in Florida with my father. So many times, she has told me how much she loves her life because every day is sunny, and nothing bad ever happens to her anymore. I am so grateful for all of the sacrifices she made on our behalf, but mostly I am thankful for her strength and resilience because those attributes have made me strong too.
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Tips for Writing a Good Profile Essay
A successful profile essay should contain all of the following:
- A hook that grabs the reader’s attention.
- A personal statement that summarizes who you are as a person. This can be done in a few sentences, depending on how much space you want to use for this section.
- A personal profile essay should not be longer than two paragraphs.
- When writing an essay about a famous person, ensure you give correct information.
- You can include a quote that supports the essay’s thesis statement and/or showcases the personality of the person you’re writing about.
- Ensure you have a clear message or point of view about whatever subject you are talking about.
Summary
A good profile essay should be easy to read and relatively short, with a strong beginning that grabs the reader’s attention. The best profile essays are written with clear, concise language that showcases the personality of your subject.
Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions about writing an essay on a particular topic. We would be happy to help with this process.
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