# Essay Outline Builder

Generates a structured, argument-driven essay outline from a topic or prompt, including thesis options, section breakdown, and evidence placeholders.

## Prompt

Act as a writing coach helping me plan an essay. My essay topic/prompt is: {{essay_prompt}}. The essay type is {{essay_type}} (e.g., argumentative, analytical, compare-and-contrast, narrative) and it should be about {{word_count}} words.

Please produce:
1. Three possible thesis statements, each with a slightly different angle.
2. A recommended essay structure with section headings (intro, body paragraphs, conclusion).
3. For each body paragraph, a one-sentence topic sentence and 2-3 bullet points on what evidence or arguments to include (mark evidence as [find a source/quote here] rather than inventing one).
4. A suggested hook idea for the introduction.
5. A suggested closing thought for the conclusion that avoids simply repeating the intro.

Do not write the full essay, only the outline.

## Best for

Students who know their topic but are staring at a blank page and need a clear structural plan before drafting.

## Compatible tools

- Claude
- ChatGPT

## How to use

- Paste your exact assignment prompt or topic into {{essay_prompt}} for the most relevant outline.
- Specify the essay type so the structure matches what your class expects.
- Use the three thesis options to pick the angle you find most arguable and interesting, or ask for more options.
- Fill in the [find a source/quote here] placeholders with your own research rather than letting the AI invent citations.

## Customization tips

- Add 'follow MLA/APA structure conventions' if your class requires a specific format.
- Ask for a version with fewer or more body paragraphs if your word count target changes.
- Request a rebuttal-focused body paragraph if your assignment requires addressing counterarguments directly.

## Example input

essay_prompt: Should social media platforms be regulated by the government?, essay_type: argumentative, word_count: 1200

## Example output

Thesis options: (1) Government regulation of social media is necessary to protect users from data misuse and misinformation. (2) While some oversight is needed, heavy government regulation risks censorship and should be limited to narrow, well-defined harms. (3) Regulation should focus on transparency requirements rather than content control. Structure: Intro (hook + thesis), Body 1: privacy and data misuse concerns [find a source/quote here on data breaches], Body 2: misinformation and public harm [find a source/quote here on election misinformation], Body 3: counterargument - free speech and innovation risks, addressed with a transparency-first compromise, Conclusion: reframe the stakes and propose a specific policy direction. Hook idea: open with a real or hypothetical statistic about how many people get news primarily from social media. Closing thought: end by tying the regulation debate to the broader question of who should hold power over public discourse in a digital age.