Profile of Oprah Winfrey

¶ … Oprah Winfrey

Profile Planning Sheet

Defining Topic, Angle, Purpose

A profile of Oprah Winfrey

What personal angle can you present on this topic? (Consider what is new about the topic or what unique perspective can be shared about this topic.)

Very few media personalities, especially in the 1980s, were capable of connecting with an audience as much as Oprah Winfrey did. Using her phenomenal gift, she warmed her way into the hearts of millions of viewers, and once she was welcomed into their homes, she entertained, informed and changed millions of lives. She was the only media personality who identified what Americans needed most; an opportunity to change their lifestyles and reinvent themselves (Harris and Watson, 2007). It is amazing how this simple discovery has impacted people's lives not only in America but all over the world, in the process making her a very successful actress and entrepreneur. This discovery has also enabled her to produce her own shows and movies and made her one of the most famous philanthropists of the 21st century.

3. What is your purpose for writing? (What do you hope to accomplish? Why are you writing?)

The main purpose of the text is to examine how Oprah Winfrey managed to beat the challenges she encountered in her early life, and turn her circumstances into opportunities to change people's lives. What does she stand for? Life growing up back in Mississippi was characterized by weekly baths due to poor plumbing, clothes that were made out of sacks and a corn cob for her favorite doll (Jones, 2011). It would be prudent to looks at how she would grow up working hard to achieve her dreams and, being an African-American, choosing her opportunities wisely to avoid instant fame, something media personalities were after in those days.

4. Analyzing your Readers

You will be writing your Profile essay to your local community. Imagine you might submit the Profile to your local newspaper or have it shared in a community newsletter; the readers of those publications make up your target audience. In two to three paragraphs, define your local community and describe what makes it unique. What are the needs, expectations, motivations, backgrounds, demographics, and experiences of community members? How will those influences impact your word choice, level of formality, and overall message?

Coming from a small local community, it is imperative to instill the spirit of giving and caring for others in the minds of the locals. As evidenced by Oprah's story growing up, the fact that people who are not as capable as we are need our help should never leave our minds. She was also raised in a small community of farmers but had a dream to conquer the entire world, although at the time the idea seemed impossible (Jones, 2011). Our community is characterized by hardworking individuals, and the spirit of caring for one's neighbors is alive and well. Education is prioritized as the youth nurture their dreams of working in some of the country's biggest organizations.

The uniqueness of the people is defined by close individual relations and their laid back attitude. Social intercourse between families breeds long tern friendships that make life easier. With a population of about 3 million, characterized by people of different races, locals expect each individual to treat the other as family and law breakers are alienated and made to feel unwelcome. Our community is considered one of the most religious states in America, which emphasizes the fact that majority of the people are morally upright and guided by strict codes of conduct. Visitors always feel at home and enjoy the coast, the food and variety of cuisine.

Although the community is friendly and social, people sometimes get too engrossed in paying their taxes and raising successful families that they often forget to put the needy in mind. The inspiring story of Oprah Winfrey will open the community's eyes with regard to how important it is to extend their helping hand across their boundaries. Oprah knew she had to choose between spending her entire lifetime paying bills and making money and using her gifts and abilities to reach out and help others. With such a diverse and morally upright community, it will be easier to point out various ways people can put time and resources aside to try and reach the needy in various parts of the world.

5. Reflecting on the Role of Writer.

Whether you realize it or not, your personal relationship to the subject plays a key role in shaping the Profile essay. Remember, your personal brand is shaped, in many ways, by your community influences. Just as you make choices in terms of how you present your brand through writing, personal choices will also impact how you present the subject of your Profile. In two to three paragraphs, discuss your personal relationship to the subject. How have personal impacts, needs, motivations, and relationships shaped your topic, angle, and purpose?

Growing up in a small community, one can easily be sucked into the cycle of working hard in school, finding a job and raising a family. Without the privileges most children grow up with, I almost got lost in a path of self-pity, not sure of whether I had a family connected enough to smooth my ascent - Oprah's story was successful in making me think beyond my circumstances. Molested by her male relatives at a young age and having to grow up without a reliable father figure Oprah could have easily become a wasted figure and turned to drugs or male attention for comfort, but her abilities and passions could not let her. She often stresses that her humble beginnings played a huge role in her success as she was able to tell her story to inspire others (Harris and Watson, 2007). She went thorough similar challenges people went through in her time, but unlike others, did not give up her pursuit of happiness and fulfillment. Psychological obstacles, unlike material obstacles, can live with a person for the rest of their lives, even in glamour or fame and, according to Harris and Watson (2007), "Winfrey's discovery of a part of her inner self was an act that crossed the boundary between the public sphere and the realm of psychic privacy"