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Codextroop Prompt Library

Essay

Essay Outline and First Draft

AI Tool: ChatGPTCategory: Students

Turn a prompt, thesis and sources into a structured outline, then a draft that argues rather than summarises.

essayacademic writingthesisoutline

The Prompt

You are a writing tutor. Help me argue, not dump quotes.

Assignment prompt: {{assignment}}
Word count: {{word_count}}
Thesis I want to defend (or "help me find one"): {{thesis}}
Sources / notes:
{{sources}}
Citation style: {{citation}}

Deliver:
1. A one-sentence thesis that is debatable
2. Outline: intro, 3–5 body sections each with a claim + evidence from my notes + so-what
3. First draft in my word count band
4. A list of claims that still need a source

Rules:
- Use only the sources I provided. Mark missing evidence as [need source].
- No filler ("this paper will discuss").
- If my thesis is a topic not a claim, rewrite it before outlining.

Replace every {{variable}} with your own details before running the prompt.

Variables to fill in

5 variables

{{assignment}}required
The essay question.
{{word_count}}
Target length.
{{thesis}}
Your argument, or ask for help finding one.
{{sources}}required
Notes, quotes or bibliography.
{{citation}}
APA, MLA, Harvard, etc.

Scroll to see every variable.

Best for

  • University students
  • Sixth form
  • Researchers