Unpack an assignment, choose a question and build an evidence-led outline. Use eight editable prompts to plan your own essay without inventing sources or handing over your argument.
By LifestyleGlide · Published · 7 min read
The hardest part of an essay is often deciding what belongs in it. Start with the assignment and your own reading notes. An outline should reveal your argument, the evidence behind it and the questions you still need to investigate. A polished paragraph cannot repair a claim that has no support.
Use these prompts as planning and feedback tools. Keep the reading, interpretation and final writing yours. Check your course rules on AI assistance before sharing material or using an output.
Start with this workflow.
Read the brief
Separate the question, required material, assessment criteria and practical constraints. Put uncertain requirements on a list to clarify.
Build an evidence map
Attach a source note to each proposed claim. If two sections do the same job, combine them; if a claim has no evidence, research it or narrow it.
Draft, then reverse-outline
Write from the plan in your own words. Afterwards, label what each paragraph actually does and compare that structure with the question.
WORKED EXAMPLE
A question that fits the evidence
Illustrative example: a student has notes on two campus travel surveys and an assignment about transport choices.
STARTING POINTExplain everything about sustainable transport and why students should cycle.
AFTER CHECKINGCompare how cost and journey time appear in the two surveys. Use the survey notes to discuss their role in reported travel choices, while acknowledging that two surveys cannot explain every student’s decision.
What changed The revised plan has a defined comparison, a limited evidence base and an explicit boundary. It gives the student a research task instead of a sweeping conclusion.
Make your own working brief.
Assignment question:
Requirements to check:
Working argument:
Three claims and their source labels:
Strongest counterargument:
Missing evidence:
Next writing session:
Choose a task from this guide, add your details and check the answer before using it.
Browse the prompts below.
Essay planning ↗
Unpack the assignment
Unpack the assignmentOpen the prompt +
INPUTS
Assignment brief, rubric and course rules
PROMPT
Help me interpret this essay assignment: [brief]. Rubric: [rubric]. Course rules: [rules]. Produce a checklist of explicit requirements, an explanation of what the task verbs ask me to do, and questions to clarify with my tutor. Quote only short phrases needed to identify a requirement. Separate requirements from your suggestions. Do not choose my argument or add sources.
Turn a broad interest into a questionOpen the prompt +
INPUTS
Topic, module themes, permitted scope and interests
PROMPT
I am interested in [topic] for an essay in [module]. Boundaries: [scope]. My interests: [notes]. Suggest four research questions with different angles. For each, identify what evidence I would need and why it may be too broad. Do not claim that evidence exists. Help me choose a question I can investigate with the materials available.
INPUTS
Working question, tentative claim and reading notes
PROMPT
My question is [question]. My tentative answer is [claim]. Here are my reading notes with source labels: [notes]. Identify where the notes support, complicate or contradict the claim. Suggest a narrower provisional argument if necessary. Keep observations separate from your interpretation. Do not invent citations or turn a tentative claim into a proven conclusion.
INPUTS
Proposed claims and source-labelled notes
PROMPT
Organise these proposed claims [claims] and these source-labelled notes [notes] into a table: claim, relevant note, source label, limitation, and next research question. Use only the supplied notes. Mark unsupported claims as evidence needed. Flag notes that might fit more than one claim instead of silently duplicating them.
INPUTS
Question, working argument, evidence map and length
PROMPT
Create a planning outline for [question] using my working argument [argument] and evidence map [map]. Length: [limit]. Give each section a purpose, claim, evidence label and connection to the main argument. Reserve space for a relevant counterargument. Suggest approximate section proportions, not exact paragraph text. Do not write the essay or introduce new evidence.
INPUTS
Argument, relevant opposing notes and scope
PROMPT
Help me consider a counterargument to [argument]. Opposing evidence or viewpoints in my notes: [notes]. Present the strongest version supported by those notes, identify where I need more reading and suggest a response that acknowledges a real limitation. Do not invent an opposing author or make the objection deliberately weak.
INPUTS
Your draft, assignment question and rubric
PROMPT
Review my draft [draft] against [question] and [rubric]. Label each paragraph in one sentence: claim, evidence, explanation or transition. Flag repeated functions, unsupported jumps and paragraphs whose purpose is unclear. Suggest changes to the order, with reasons. Do not rewrite the draft; help me decide what to revise.
INPUTS
Feedback, deadline, available sessions and priorities
PROMPT
Turn this essay feedback [feedback] into a revision plan. Deadline: [date]. Available sessions: [time]. Group changes into argument, evidence, structure and wording. Order them so I do not polish text that may be removed. Identify anything requiring clarification or further reading. Keep the plan within the time I actually have.
These are original, editable starting points. A prompt does not complete an action outside the conversation. Use approved inputs and review facts, source material and commitments before using a result.
