Create a structured essay outline with thesis, arguments, and evidence organization
I need to write an essay and want help organizing my thoughts into a clear outline. The essay topic or prompt is: [ESSAY_TOPIC] The essay type is [ESSAY_TYPE:select:argumentative or persuasive,analytical or critical,expository or informative,compare and contrast,cause and effect,narrative or personal,research paper,literary analysis]. My position or angle on the topic: [MY_POSITION?] Key points or evidence I want to include: [KEY_POINTS?] Required length: [LENGTH:select:short 500-750 words,medium 1000-1500 words,long 2000-2500 words,extended 3000+ words]. Academic level: [LEVEL:select:high school,undergraduate,graduate,professional]. Create a detailed essay outline including a thesis statement that clearly expresses my argument, an introduction structure with hook and context, body paragraph organization with topic sentences, evidence and examples to include in each section, transitions between paragraphs, a conclusion that synthesizes and extends, and notes on where I might need more research. Make the outline detailed enough that writing the essay becomes straightforward. Suggest the strongest order for my arguments. Identify any gaps in my logic or evidence. If my thesis needs refinement, suggest improvements.
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Get Early AccessStaring at a blank page is the hardest part of writing an essay. You know your topic, maybe you have a rough idea of what you want to argue, but turning scattered thoughts into a structured argument feels impossible.
This tool builds a detailed essay outline from your [ESSAY_TOPIC], your [MY_POSITION], and your evidence. It generates a thesis statement, introduction structure with a hook, organized body paragraphs with topic sentences, and a conclusion that ties everything together. You also get suggestions for transitions between sections and notes on where your argument needs more research.
The outline is detailed enough that writing the actual essay becomes straightforward. Each section tells you what to say, what evidence to include, and how to connect it to the next point. Select your [ESSAY_TYPE] from eight options (argumentative, literary analysis, and more), and the AI identifies gaps in your logic and suggests improvements to your thesis if needed.
If you need to explain a concept before building your argument, start with the Concept Explainer. Once your outline is ready, open it in the Dock Editor to start drafting your essay with AI writing assistance.
Copy this template into ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, or the Dock Editor to get started.
Paste your essay prompt or topic into [ESSAY_TOPIC]. Select [ESSAY_TYPE] to match your assignment. An argumentative essay gets a different structure than a compare-and-contrast or literary analysis.
Fill in [MY_POSITION?] with your angle or thesis idea, even if it is rough. List key points or sources in [KEY_POINTS?]. The more you give the AI here, the stronger your outline. Leave these blank and it will suggest directions for you.
Choose [LENGTH] to match your word count requirement and [LEVEL] for your academic context. A graduate-level outline includes more nuance, counterarguments, and scholarly expectations than a high school one.
Review the outline for logic gaps the AI flagged. Check whether the thesis captures your actual argument. Strengthen any section marked as needing more research before you start writing.
Get a clear structure for your first argumentative or expository essays. The outline breaks down exactly what each paragraph should contain, making the writing process much less intimidating.
Organize research papers and analytical essays with proper thesis development. Set [LEVEL] to 'undergraduate' for outlines that meet college-level expectations for argumentation and evidence.
Structure complex research papers with nuanced arguments and counterpoints. The AI identifies where your logic needs strengthening and where additional sources would help.
Get a roadmap for your essay in clear, structured English. The outline provides topic sentences and transition suggestions that serve as a writing guide for each section.
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