Choose an essay type, add your topic, thesis and main points, and get a clear outline: introduction with hook and thesis, body paragraphs with topic sentence, evidence and analysis, an optional counterargument, and a conclusion. Each section gets a word budget from your target length.
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Essay outline
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How to use the Essay Outline Generator
Choose the essay type and how many body paragraphs you need (three for a five-paragraph essay).
Enter your topic and thesis statement. For compare and contrast essays, also name the two subjects.
List your main points, one per line. Each becomes the topic sentence of a body paragraph; leave blank to get placeholders.
Set the target word count to see how many words each paragraph should have, and pick an outline style.
Copy or download the outline and fill in the evidence and analysis as you research.
How the word budget is calculated
The generator splits your target length using a common rule of thumb for academic essays:
Introduction = 10% of the total words
Conclusion = 10% of the total words
Each body paragraph = (total − introduction − conclusion) ÷ number of body paragraphs (the counterargument counts as one body paragraph)
Example: a 1,000-word argumentative essay with three body paragraphs and a counterargument gets 100 words for the introduction, 100 for the conclusion and (1,000 − 200) ÷ 4 = 200 words for each of the four middle paragraphs. At an average of about 20 words per sentence, that is roughly 10 sentences per body paragraph.
Essay length
Body paragraphs
Intro / conclusion
Each body paragraph
500 words
3
50 words each
≈ 133 words
800 words
3
80 words each
≈ 213 words
1,000 words
3
100 words each
≈ 267 words
1,500 words
4
150 words each
300 words
2,000 words
5
200 words each
320 words
3,000 words
6
300 words each
400 words
What each essay type needs
Type
Body paragraphs focus on
Best evidence
Conclusion ends with
Argumentative
Reasons that support a debatable claim
Statistics, studies, expert opinion
Why the issue matters
Persuasive
Reasons the audience should agree or act
Examples, stories, facts
A call to action
Expository
Parts, steps or aspects of a topic
Facts, definitions, examples
Significance or future outlook
Analytical
Techniques or elements of a text or event
Quotations and specific details
The bigger meaning
Compare and contrast
Points of comparison (point by point)
Parallel facts for both subjects
A final judgment
Cause and effect
Individual causes or effects
Data and research showing the link
Implications or solutions
Narrative
Events of the story in order
Sensory details and dialogue
A reflection or lesson
Tips for turning an outline into an essay
Write the body first. Introductions are easier once you know exactly what the body proves.
One idea per paragraph. If a point needs two pieces of evidence and a long explanation, it may deserve two paragraphs.
Cite as you go. Add the source next to each piece of evidence in the outline so you are not hunting for it later.
Check the thread. Every topic sentence should connect back to the thesis.
Frequently asked questions
What is an essay outline?
An essay outline is a structured plan of your essay that lists the introduction (hook, background, thesis), the main point and supporting evidence of each body paragraph, and the conclusion. Writing one first keeps the essay focused and makes drafting faster.
What is the five-paragraph essay structure?
A five-paragraph essay has an introduction ending with a thesis, three body paragraphs that each develop one main point with evidence and analysis, and a conclusion that restates the thesis and sums up the points. Choose 3 body paragraphs in the generator to get this structure.
How long should each paragraph be?
A common guideline is about 10 percent of the total for the introduction, about 10 percent for the conclusion, and the rest split evenly between body paragraphs. For a 1,000-word essay with three body paragraphs that is about 100 words for the introduction and conclusion and about 267 words per body paragraph, which the generator calculates for you.
What goes in each body paragraph?
A topic sentence stating the paragraph's main point, evidence such as facts, statistics, examples or quotations, analysis explaining how the evidence supports your thesis, and a transition to the next paragraph. Analytical essays use quotations from the text as evidence; narrative essays use events, sensory details and dialogue instead.
Do I need a counterargument paragraph?
It is not required, but in argumentative and persuasive essays addressing the strongest opposing view and rebutting it makes your argument more convincing. Many teachers expect one in argumentative essays. Tick the counterargument option to add it before the conclusion.
What is the difference between Roman numeral and decimal outlines?
Both show the same hierarchy. Roman numeral outlines use I, II, III for main sections, A, B, C for sub-points and 1, 2, 3 below that, which many schools teach. Decimal outlines use 1, 1.1, 1.1.1 and are common in science, business and technical writing.
Is anything I type saved or uploaded?
No. The outline is built in your browser from templates. Your inputs are saved only in this browser's local storage so you can come back to them.
Are all the tools on FreeToolCabin tested for quality and accuracy?
Yes! Every tool on our site undergoes automated Q/A testing in real browser environments to ensure high precision, correct output, and zero errors. If you happen to spot a bug or have a suggestion, please contact us at [email protected] and our team will review it right away.