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3.2: Analyze a Profile

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    49552
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    Analyze a Profile

    In this chapter, you have had the opportunity to read and watch several profiles. On this page, we will summarize the types of profiles and analyze the rhetorical features of a profile.

    In the spaces below, decide if the profile you read was an employee/intern profile, a student profile, or a profile of a famous person. Consider the institution that published each profile to help you decide.

    Leslie Reynolds_____________

    Cody Gibson_______________

    Jennifer Moy ______________

    Felipe Valdez_______________

    Brandon Stanton_____________

    Diana Nyad ______________

    In the spaces below, write the focus of each profile. Choose from these four:

    Career accomplishments and goals

    Educational accomplishments and goals

    Artistic process

    Passion (a strong interest)

    Leslie Reynolds_____________

    Cody Gibson_______________

    Jennifer Moy ______________

    Felipe Valdez_______________

    Brandon Stanton_____________

    Diana Nyad_______________

    Each of the profiles highlights the values of the subject. Match the values that you believe are most important to each subject.

    Diana Nyad

    Felipe Valdez

    Brandon Stanton

    Cody Gibson

    Jennifer Moy

    learning about people

    adventures and travel

    designing buildings

    strength and persistence

    research in mechanical engineering

    Which of the profiles you read or watched was the most interesting to you? Why?

    Review these questions from section 1.1. Can you answer them with more confidence now?

    • A profile is:
      • About one person
      • About many people
    • A profile is:
      • Short
      • Long
    • A profile has:
      • A person's whole life history
      • A few facts about the person's history
    • A profile focuses on:
      • One part of a person's life, such as work, school, a hobby, or a special interest
      • Everything that is important to that person
    • A profile has:
      • A negative tone
      • A positive tone
    • A profile is about:
      • Someone famous
      • Anyone

    Analyze the features of a profile

    Examine the reading about Leslie Reynolds again and notice the parts (features) of the profile that are common.

    Leslie Reynolds Profile

    The first sentence with the reason for the profile

    • Congratulations to the 2015 recipient of the Harry Yount National Park Ranger Award!

    Photo and caption

    Leslie Reynolds

    • Leslie Reynolds, Chief Ranger, Cape Cod National Seashore, Massachusetts

    The "big picture" and focus of the profile (career, studies, art, hobby, etc.)

    • After a visit to the Grand Canyon, Leslie Reynolds was hooked. Her love of national parks would take her on an incredible journey of public service and adventures in parks across the country.

    History and achievements related to the focus of the profile (her career)

    • Beginning as a law enforcement ranger in Yosemite National Park, Reynolds went on to work at Grand Canyon and Shenandoah National Parks, serving these parks as an officer, medic, instructor, investigator, and even counselor. She has stepped up in many life-saving situations in her 21-year career; she has helped save hikers suffering from heat exhaustion in the Grand Canyon, injured climbers stuck and needing helicopter rescue, and victims of serious motor vehicle accidents.
    • Because she understands that prevention and education is effective in saving lives, Reynolds helped develop the Preventative Search & Rescue (PSAR) programs at Yosemite and Shenandoah National Parks. She has also served as a member of the Critical Incident Stress Management Team, responding to numerous major traumatic events and helping team members cope with what they have been through and seen.

    Current and future predictions or wishes for success

    • As the current chief ranger at Cape Cod National Seashore, Reynolds continues to inspire the new generation of park rangers and lead through example.

    Quote from the interviewee related to the focus of the profile...

    • "I consider myself very fortunate to have chosen a career that is rewarding, that I am proud of, and one that continues to challenge me every day," said Reynolds. "My inspiration comes mostly from the rangers of the National Park Service with whom I have had the great honor of working with for the past twenty years. One of the most rewarding aspects of my profession is developing and mentoring others and watching them succeed, grow, and contribute to the ranger profession."

    Now examine the profile about Jennifer Moy. Can you find some or all of the same features of a profile? Which features are missing?

    Student Spotlight--Meet Jennifer Moy

    Posted on November 20, 2019 by Christopher Larson

    Originally from the Bronx, at the age of fourteen, Jennifer and her family moved to Brooklyn, NY. Jennifer had attended Frank McCourt High School, a small school located on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. Her long commute to school presented an opportunity to see the city in new ways. Gazing up at the monoliths, she was awe-inspired by the architecture and structures that surrounded her.

    When it came time to decide which college to attend, Jennifer was undecided between City College and Stony Brook University--she had already been accepted into the City College Engineering program. Despite this, Jennifer chose Stony Brook University as her new home. In truth she did not want to attend college in the city, plus the adventure of dormitory living was far more appealing.

    Figure \(\PageIndex{1}\): Jennifer Moy

    Jennifer started her first semester at Stony Brook University during the summer of 2017 through the Educational Opportunity Program (EOP). In her freshman year her major remained undeclared, but the following year she chose Civil Engineering. In her first year, Jennifer got a job at the Health Sciences Library. Since that time, she has seen some really wonderful changes at the library, and has helped make them happen.

    Jennifer is ready to graduate with her bachelor's degree by May 2021 and wants to specialize in structural engineering: "I grew up in a city full of towers and skyscrapers and it fascinates me how beautiful these structures are, and it inspires and motivates me to contribute to the structural architecture of a city building someday." We're looking forward to that day Jennifer!

    Rhetorical analysis answer key


    This page titled 3.2: Analyze a Profile is shared under a CC BY-NC-SA license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Sara Ferguson.

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