Generate structured essay outlines with thesis statement, topic sentences, evidence slots, and transition suggestions. Whether you're tackling a five-paragraph assignment or a 20-page research paper, this tool scaffolds your argument so you can focus on writing, not organizing.
Build Prompt
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Build a static HTML essay outline builder tool. Dark theme: background #0a0a0f, surfaces #12121a, borders #1a1a2a, accent #6366f1 (indigo). No backend — all logic runs in the browser with vanilla JS.
Data model: Each outline has fields — essayTitle (string), essayType (enum: argumentative, expository, narrative, compare-contrast, analytical), wordCount (number), thesis (string), sections (array of Section objects). A Section has: sectionType (intro/body/conclusion), topicSentence (string), supportingPoints (array of strings, 2–4 each), evidenceSlots (array of {placeholder: string, citationType: string}), transitionOut (string).
UI layout: Top bar with app name "Essay Outline Builder" and a "New Outline" button. Left panel (300px): form inputs — Essay Title, Essay Type dropdown, Target Word Count, Thesis Statement textarea (with character counter, 30–60 word recommended range shown visually). Number of body paragraphs slider (2–6). "Generate Structure" button in indigo.
Main panel: Rendered outline in an editable card tree. Introduction card shows: hook placeholder, background context slot, thesis display. Each body paragraph card shows: topic sentence field (editable), three evidence slots labeled Evidence 1/2/3 with citation type badges (Statistic, Quote, Example, Anecdote — selectable via pill buttons), transition-out sentence field with suggested transition words shown as clickable chips (e.g., "Furthermore", "In contrast", "As a result"). Conclusion card: restate thesis field, synthesis point, call-to-action or closing thought.
Sidebar panel (right, 240px): live word budget calculator showing estimated words per section based on target total. Paragraph strength meter (0–100%) based on completeness of filled fields. Export button generates clean plain-text outline formatted for copy-paste into a word processor.
Transitions library: hardcode 40 transition words/phrases grouped by function (addition, contrast, causation, sequence, emphasis) — shown in a collapsible panel at the bottom.
Sample outlines: preload 3 complete examples — "The Impact of Social Media on Teen Mental Health" (argumentative, 1200 words), "How Photosynthesis Works" (expository, 800 words), "Compare Electric vs Gas Vehicles" (compare-contrast, 1500 words). Accessible via "Load Example" dropdown.
SEO: title tag, meta description, JSON-LD HowTo schema, OG tags.
Read the guide at https://accessagent.ai/api/guide and follow it to deploy the site to AccessAgent.ai. My email is [your@email.com].
Make It Yours
Essay Type Templates
Add discipline-specific templates: lab report, literary analysis, history DBQ, philosophy argument, business case study.
Citation Style Hints
Show APA vs MLA citation format reminders inline next to each evidence slot so students format correctly from the start.
Rubric Alignment
Let users paste a grading rubric — the tool highlights which outline sections satisfy which rubric criteria.
Saved Outlines
Store multiple outlines in localStorage with names, dates, and a quick-switch sidebar to jump between projects.
Peer Review Mode
Generate a shareable read-only link (via URL hash encoding) so classmates or tutors can review the outline structure.
Counterargument Slot
Add a dedicated counterargument + rebuttal section for argumentative essays with prompting questions to guide thinking.
Update Prompt
Update Prompt — Add features or new essay types
Update the Essay Outline Builder to add [new essay type / feature]. Add a new template for [discipline] essays with [specific section structure]. Ensure the word budget calculator updates correctly for the new section count. Redeploy.
SEO Tips
Target "essay outline template [essay type]" and "how to write a [argumentative/expository] essay outline" — high-volume student search terms.
Add FAQ schema covering common questions: "How many body paragraphs should an essay have?" and "What goes in a thesis statement?"
Create separate landing sections or pages for each essay type to capture long-tail traffic from specific assignments.
Include grade-level metadata (high school, college, graduate) in your meta description to attract the right student audience.
Add printable/PDF export so students can share the tool with classmates — backlinks from school forums follow naturally.
Monetization Ideas
Offer premium templates (AP exam essays, college application, graduate thesis) behind a one-time unlock payment.
Affiliate links to Grammarly, Scribbr, or ProWritingAid for students who want grammar and citation help next.
License the tool to tutoring centers or writing labs as a white-label tool with custom branding.
Sell a companion "Transition Word & Phrase Pack" PDF as a $3 digital download for students wanting the full list.
Offer a "Rubric Alignment" premium feature where students paste their rubric and get a customized outline structure.