What is your favorite word, and what does it reveal about you?
What the evaluator is looking for
Readers look for playful interpretation that opens onto a genuine way of thinking.
Planning approach
For The Word “Meanwhile”, select the central scene, identify the consequential choice, trace the specific response, and reserve the ending for evidence-supported reflection.
Model response
My favorite word is “meanwhile.” It opens a side door in a story. A scientist watches cells divide; meanwhile, her soup boils over. A city debates a new bridge; meanwhile, one commuter repairs a bicycle. The word reminds me that no event occupies the whole frame. I use it too often in drafts because I am reluctant to abandon the parallel scene. Editing usually requires choosing, but curiosity begins by noticing that several stories are true at once. “Meanwhile” keeps me humble about whichever one I happen to be telling. Its side door keeps my conclusions open long enough for another perspective to enter.
Structural breakdown
The Word “Meanwhile” progresses from a concrete situation through observable decisions and results. Its closing insight stays proportionate to the events shown instead of claiming a universal transformation.
- Verify that every detail in The Word “Meanwhile” serves its central question.
- Replace broad character claims with actions a reader can observe.
- Preserve other people as participants rather than props.
- Keep the final insight within the evidence of the response.
Format reference: Common App, Essay Prompts. This model is original and is not an official or accepted submission.