Writing A Brief Profile Unit 12: MUSIC Writing A Brief Profile

A Musician and Composer Bob Dylan

New words Profile (n) a short description of someone's life, work, character, etc. Snapshot (n) a photograph Influence (n) the power to have an effect on people or things, or a person or thing that is able to do this: Ex: Helen's a good influence on him.

New words Anthem (n) a song which has special importance for a particular group of people, an organization or a country, often sung on a special occasion. Ex: John Lennon's "Imagine" has become the anthem of peace-lovers all over the world. Contemporary (a) belonging to the same or a stated period in the past: Most of the writers he was contemporary with were interested in the same subjects.

New words Reflect (v) to show, express or be a sign of something: Ex: The statistics reflect a change in people's spending habits. Religious (a) having a strong belief in a god or gods: Ex: He's deeply religious and goes to church twice a week. Legend (n) someone or something very famous and admired, usually because of their ability in a particular area: Ex: Jazz legend, Ella Fitzgerald, once sang in this bar.

New words Thought-provoking (a) making you think a lot about a subject: a thought-provoking book/film Release (v) if a company releases a film or musical recording, it allows the film to be shown in cinemas, or makes the musical recording available for the public to buy Ex: The band's latest album will be released next week.

Sample Snapshot Bob Dylan (1941-) Musician & author of protest music in the 60s Born in Minnesota, the US Traveled throughout the US, singing about the poor Mid 60s, played the electric guitar  rock influence 1962: Blowin’in the Wind 1966: country music; late 1970s: religious interest 1995: Highway 61 Interactive 44 albums  Recognized as folk and rock legend

Sample Profile Bob Dyland, an American musician and composer, was born in 1941 in Minnesota, the United States. He traveled throughout the United States singing about the poor. During the mid-1960s, he began playing the electric guitar, and his music showed rock influences. In 1962, his song Blowin’in the Wind was released and soon became an anthem of the civil rights movement. In 1966, Dylan’s style turned more toward country music, and by the late 1970s his works showed his religious interest. In 1995, he released a CD-ROM production, Highway 61 Interactive. With his songs of social protest associated with the civil rights movement in the United States, Bob Dyland has become a legend in contemporary folk music and rock music. Many music fans find him unforgettable with the thought-provoking question, “How many times can a man turn his head and pretend that he just doesn’t see?”

Introduction Bob Dyland, an American musician and composer, was born in 1941 in Minnesota, the United States.

Body He traveled throughout the United States singing about the poor. During the mid-1960s, he began playing the electric guitar, and his music showed rock influences. In 1962, his song Blowin’in the Wind was released and soon became an anthem of the civil rights movement. In 1966, Dylan’s style turned more toward country music, and by the late 1970s his works showed his religious interest. In 1995, he released a CD-ROM production, Highway 61 Interactive. With his songs of social protest associated with the civil rights movement in the United States, Bob Dyland has become a legend in contemporary folk music and rock music.

Conclusion Many music fans find him unforgettable with the thought-provoking question, “How many times can a man turn his head and pretend that he just doesn’t see?”

Outline Introduction: Body: Conclusion: Who the person is/was; Where and when he/she was born; When he/she died (if not alive) Body: What he/she is well-known /famous for; What his/her important achievements are (albums/songs/shows) Conclusion: The feeling about him/her; his/her remarks

Notes Paragraphs of this kind are usually organized in the time order. You can spice your writing with a striking remark by the person himself/herself.

Topic Write a one-paragraph profile of Trinh Cong Son basing on the snapshot given.

A snapshot of Trinh Cong Son (1939-2001) Composer and singer, most known for love songs and antiwar songs, “Viet Nam’s Bob Dyland” Born in Dac Lac; grew up in Hue (from 1943) 1958: Uot Mi-first song, soon became famous 1972: won the Japanese Goden Disc with Ngu Di Con Huge legacy of more than 500 songs: Noi Vong Tay Lon, Toi Se Di Tham, etc. There is merely love and human condition in this life. Human condition is finite, whereas love is infinite. We should thus try our best to nourish love so that it could accordingly save condition on the cross of Life.