📋 Essay Outliner
Create structured essay outlines instantly
Educational Tool Disclaimer
This tool generates essay outline suggestions for educational purposes only. The generated outline should be used as a starting point for organizing your own thoughts and research. Always customize the outline to fit your specific assignment requirements and add your own original ideas. Consult with your instructor for guidance specific to your academic work. This tool is not a substitute for developing your own organizational and critical thinking skills.
Tips for Using Your Essay Outline
- ✓Personalize it: This is a framework. Add your own research, examples, and analysis to each section.
- ✓Follow your research: As you find sources, adjust the outline to reflect what you're learning.
- ✓Check assignment requirements: Make sure your outline matches the format and structure your instructor expects.
- ✓Be flexible: Outlines can change as you write. Don't be afraid to reorganize or add sections.
Keep momentum as you research
Turn each outline heading into active study cards with FlashForge, then quiz yourself in a study session powered by StudyBlitz so your outline translates into confident writing.
Example Essay Outline
A complete 5-paragraph essay outline example:
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Creating overly vague or generic outline points
Bad: "I. Introduction, II. Body paragraph about effects, III. More effects, IV. Conclusion"
Good: "I. Introduction with hook about teen suicide rates, II. Social comparison effects (Instagram studies), III. Sleep disruption from late-night use, IV. Anxiety from constant notifications"
Forgetting to connect body paragraphs to your thesis
Bad: Having body paragraphs that wander off-topic or contradict your main argument.
Good: Each body paragraph should directly support one aspect of your thesis statement, with clear topic sentences that tie back to your main claim.
Making body paragraphs unbalanced in length or depth
Bad: First body paragraph has 5 sub-points with detailed evidence, while second has only 1 vague point.
Good: Distribute evidence and analysis evenly across body paragraphs, ensuring each receives similar depth of coverage (typically 3-4 sub-points per paragraph).
Writing an outline that's either too detailed or too sparse
Bad: "I. Intro A. Hook 1. First word 2. Second word..." (too detailed) or "I. Intro II. Body III. Conclusion" (too sparse).
Good: Strike a balance with main points, 2-4 supporting sub-points per section, and key evidence citations without writing full sentences.
Neglecting the conclusion or treating it as an afterthought
Bad: "Conclusion: Restate thesis and end" with no specific points outlined.
Good: "Conclusion: A) Synthesize three main effects, B) Address counterargument about positive aspects, C) Call to action for responsible social media use, D) Final thought on future research needs"
Frequently Asked Questions
How detailed should my topic and thesis inputs be?
Provide clear, specific information. For topic, write "The impact of social media on teenage mental health" rather than just "social media." For thesis, include your main argument: "Social media platforms negatively affect teenage mental health through increased anxiety, sleep disruption, and social comparison." More detail generates better-structured outlines.
Should I choose 3 or 5 body paragraphs?
Choose 3 paragraphs for shorter essays (3-5 pages), focused arguments, or timed writing. Choose 5 paragraphs for longer papers (6+ pages), complex topics requiring extensive analysis, or when you have multiple distinct supporting points. Check your assignment's length requirements.
Can I rearrange sections in the generated outline?
Absolutely. The outline is a starting point. Reorganize body paragraphs for better logical flow, move supporting points between sections, add new sections based on your research, or combine sections if they overlap. Your research and assignment requirements should guide the final structure.
How do I use the export features (TXT/PDF)?
After generating your outline, use the export buttons to save it. TXT gives you plain text you can paste into any word processor. PDF creates a formatted document you can print or share. Export before making major changes so you have a backup of the AI-generated version.
What should I add to the outline before writing my essay?
Add specific evidence and citations under each point, include quotations from your sources, note which sources support which arguments, add counterarguments and rebuttals if relevant, and insert transition ideas between sections. Transform the outline from a skeleton into a detailed roadmap with all your research integrated.
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