Essay outline generator: from topic to a structure you can write from
Staring at a blank page usually means you do not have a plan yet, not that you cannot write. This prompt has your todo.is agent build an outline from your prompt and sources: a working thesis, a topic sentence and evidence for each paragraph, where the counterargument goes, and how to close. You still write the essay, but every paragraph has a job.
The prompt
- Make an outline for my [ESSAY TYPE] essay on [ESSAY PROMPT OR TOPIC] for [COURSE AND LEVEL]. It should be about [WORD COUNT] words. Use my sources [SOURCES] and quote or cite them in [CITATION STYLE]. Give me: 2 to 3 possible thesis statements and say which is strongest, then for each body paragraph a topic sentence, the evidence to use (with the page or link), and one sentence on how it supports the thesis. Place a counterargument and rebuttal, and suggest a conclusion that goes beyond repeating the thesis. Add the word count per section. Do not write the essay itself. Give me a Word document and email it to me.
What to change
- [ESSAY TYPE]: E.g. "argumentative", "compare and contrast", "literary analysis", "cause and effect".
- [ESSAY PROMPT OR TOPIC]: Paste your teacher's prompt word for word if you have one.
- [COURSE AND LEVEL]: E.g. "11th grade English" or "first-year university sociology".
- [WORD COUNT]: E.g. "1,500".
- [SOURCES]: Attach PDFs, paste links, or say "find 3 reliable sources" and your agent will search.
- [CITATION STYLE]: E.g. "MLA 9", "APA 7", "Chicago" or "Harvard".
Example result
- Outline: argumentative essay, 1,500 words
- Prompt: Should high schools start later in the morning? · 11th grade English · MLA 9
- Thesis options
- • A. High schools should start later. (too broad, no reasons)
- • B. High schools should start no earlier than 8:30 a.m. because teenagers' sleep cycles shift later, sleep loss hurts learning, and districts that changed saw better attendance. (strongest: specific, arguable, gives the three reasons that map to your paragraphs)
- • C. Early start times are a public health problem. (good, but harder to prove in 1,500 words)
- Introduction (about 180 words)
- • Hook: a student's 6:15 a.m. bus
- • Context: most US high schools start before 8:30
- • Thesis B
- Body 1: teen biology (about 300 words)
- • Topic sentence: Teenagers are not lazy; their body clock shifts later in puberty.
- • Evidence: source 1, the sleep research article, p. 4 (melatonin release later in adolescence)
- • Link: if teens cannot fall asleep before 11 p.m., a 7:20 start guarantees short sleep.
- Body 2: learning and health (about 300 words)
- • Topic sentence: Sleep loss directly harms what schools exist to do.
- • Evidence: source 2, pediatric guidance on 8 to 10 hours for teens; source 3, p. 12 on attention
- • Link: tired students learn less in first period.
- Body 3: what happened in districts that changed (about 300 words)
- • Topic sentence: Where districts moved start times, results followed.
- • Evidence: source 3, case study of a district's attendance and tardiness
- Counterargument and rebuttal (about 250 words)
- • They say: later starts cost money for buses and push back sports.
- • Respond: staggered bus schedules, the cost of low attendance, sports can adjust
- Conclusion (about 170 words)
- • Go beyond repeating: propose a phased change and a one-year review
- • End with the student from the hook, now on an 8:30 schedule
- Works Cited to complete
- • Three entries in MLA 9 format with authors, titles, dates and URLs
How to do it with todo.is
- Paste your essay prompt and fill in the type, length and citation style.
- Attach your sources or ask your agent to find reliable ones. Send it from todo.is, WhatsApp or Telegram.
- You get a Word outline with thesis options, paragraph plans and evidence.
- Write your draft from the outline, then send it back and ask for feedback on structure and evidence.
Tips for a better result
- Make each body paragraph prove one reason in your thesis. If a paragraph does not, cut it or change the thesis.
- Put the page number next to every piece of evidence in the outline. It saves an hour of searching later.
- Place the counterargument just before the conclusion, or after the first body paragraph if it is the obvious objection.
- Check your school's rules on AI use. Using it for planning and feedback is allowed in many classes; submitting AI-written text often is not.
essay outline generator: FAQ
- What does a good essay outline include? A working thesis, a topic sentence for each body paragraph, the evidence you will use, a counterargument if needed, and a plan for the conclusion.
- How many paragraphs should a 1,500-word essay have? Usually an introduction, 4 to 5 body paragraphs and a conclusion. Each body paragraph is often 200 to 300 words.
- Will it write the essay for me? This prompt asks only for an outline so the writing stays yours. You can ask for feedback on your draft afterwards.
- Can it find sources for my essay? Yes. Your agent searches the web and gives links. Check that each source is acceptable for your course, and read the parts you quote.
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