The Peer Profile

Writing a Peer “Profile” (Including Cover Letter) — 850 – 1150 words

Due Dates

FIRST draft (peer review): Mar. 14, 2024

SECOND draft (with cover letter): Mar. 19, 2024

FINAL draft (with cover letter): May 21, 2024

Writing a Peer “Profile”

Assignment Requirements

Write a 850-1150 word (double-spaced) magazine-style “profile” where you tell a story about your peer as a writer by:

• Telling a story about your peer that explains who they are as a writer (see “Interview” below)

Include a Cover Letter: Your Rhetorical Analysis Assignment must be preceded by a Cover Letter when you submit the final version.

Refer to the Cover Letter sheet.

Additional Information

Interview. You will have the chance to interview your peer to learn more about their language and literacy background.

Audience. You will decide who is the audience for this profile. Ask yourself who needs to hear your message most? By choosing your audience, you will also decide where this profile should be “published.” Would an existing platform or publication reach your audience, or will you need to create a new one?

Genre. You can learn about writing “profiles” by reading examples from The New York Times. We will also read and discuss sample profiles together in class, so you will come to learn the typified features of this genre. But you are invited, as always, to push the boundaries of what this genre “can” or “should” look like.

Assessment Rubric

1. Compose a “Profile”

How effective is the peer profile in meeting (or purposely challenging) the typified conventions of a magazine profile?

Organization:

Is the profile written in a way that is clear and relevant for your intended audience? Did you connect the peer profile to a larger issue related to the politics of language? Did you come up with a creative, fitting title?

Interview integration:

Did you integrate paraphrases and quotes from your interview in a way effective for your purpose and audience? Were interview quotes introduced successfully (not left hanging)?

Audience:

Did you consider your tone, title, voice/perspective, and choice of publication? Does the profile’s message connect effectively with the intended audience?

2. General Requirements

Were all requirements for length and due date met?