Copyable essay templates for every writing task
Start with the structure, not a blank page. Browse outline templates, filled examples, and practical planning checks for essays, research papers, admissions writing, and timed exams.
Template library
57 templates · 6 families
Built for
Students planning the next essay, not the next chat.
What you get
- Copy any template, no sign-up required
- Filled examples next to every outline
- Pairs with the editor for a real draft
Featured templates
Start with the most-used essay structures
Four templates that cover the most common assignment types — argumentative essay, personal statement, research paper, and literary analysis.
Essay outlines · General
Argumentative Essay Outline Template
Copy a structured argumentative essay outline template with thesis, evidence, counterargument, rebuttal, and a filled example.
Admissions · College
Personal Statement Outline Template
Use a personal statement outline template for admissions essays, with narrative arc, reflection, fit, and a filled example.
Research and academic formats · College
Research Paper Outline Template
Copy a research paper outline template with research question, literature context, evidence sections, methods or analysis, and conclusion.
Literary analysis · High school
Literary Analysis Essay Outline Template
Plan a literary analysis essay with a thesis, close reading sections, quoted evidence, commentary, and a filled example.
Six template families
Choose by what you are actually being asked to write
Every template fits into one of six families. Pick the family that matches your assignment type — the rest is just adapting the structure.
Essay outlines
12 templates
General-purpose essay structures for argument, explanation, comparison, narrative, and analysis.
Browse familyAdmissions
11 templates
Personal, college, scholarship, and graduate application templates that keep story and fit connected.
Browse familyResearch and academic formats
10 templates
Academic research structures for source synthesis, proposals, lab reports, literature reviews, and formats.
Browse familyLiterary analysis
6 templates
Templates for close reading, theme, character, symbol, poetry, and comparative literary analysis.
Browse familyWriting components
8 templates
Reusable paragraph and sentence patterns for thesis statements, body paragraphs, transitions, and conclusions.
Browse familyExam and timed writing
10 templates
Timed writing structures for AP, GRE, IELTS, TOEFL, DBQ, and other exam-style prompts.
Browse familyInside every template
More than a list of bullet points
Each template is a small lesson in form. The page you land on includes the structure, a filled example, adaptation steps, and the mistakes that flatten this kind of essay.
Outline structure
Section-by-section bullets you can paste into a doc and adapt to your prompt.
Filled example
A worked draft showing the template in action — prompt, claim, evidence, and closing.
Usage steps
A short adaptation walkthrough so the structure stays useful when your prompt is unique.
Common mistakes
The traps that flatten this template type, with the fix to apply before you draft.
Linked sources
Pairs with related guides and the source library inside the EssayGenius editor.
Pairs with a generator
Most templates link directly to a tool that customizes the structure for your topic.
Essay outlines
Essay outlines templates
General-purpose essay structures for argument, explanation, comparison, narrative, and analysis.
12 templates in family
General
Argumentative Essay Outline Template
Copy a structured argumentative essay outline template with thesis, evidence, counterargument, rebuttal, and a filled example.
General
Persuasive Essay Outline Template
Copy a persuasive essay outline template with audience, emotional appeal, logical proof, credibility, and call to action.
General
Narrative Essay Outline Template
Plan a narrative essay with setting, conflict, turning point, resolution, and reflection using this copyable outline template.
General
Expository Essay Outline Template
Use this expository essay outline template to explain a topic clearly with definition, evidence, examples, and conclusion.
General
Compare and Contrast Essay Outline Template
Copy a compare and contrast essay outline template with point-by-point structure, balanced evidence, and a filled example.
General
Cause and Effect Essay Outline Template
Plan a cause and effect essay with causes, effects, causal links, evidence, and conclusion using this template.
General
Descriptive Essay Outline Template
Use a descriptive essay outline template with dominant impression, sensory details, spatial organization, and reflection.
High school
Analytical Essay Outline Template
Copy an analytical essay outline template for breaking a topic into claims, evidence, interpretation, and significance.
General
Reflective Essay Outline Template
Plan a reflective essay with experience, interpretation, personal growth, and future application using this template.
Middle school
5 Paragraph Essay Outline Template
Use a classic 5 paragraph essay outline template with introduction, three body paragraphs, and conclusion.
General
Informative Essay Outline Template
Copy an informative essay outline template for explaining a topic with facts, categories, examples, and conclusion.
College
Rhetorical Analysis Essay Outline Template
Use a rhetorical analysis essay outline template to analyze audience, purpose, rhetorical choices, evidence, and effect.
Admissions
Admissions templates
Personal, college, scholarship, and graduate application templates that keep story and fit connected.
11 templates in family
College
Personal Statement Outline Template
Use a personal statement outline template for admissions essays, with narrative arc, reflection, fit, and a filled example.
Middle school
Middle School Essay Outline Template
Copy a middle school essay outline template with thesis, three body paragraphs, evidence, reasoning, and conclusion.
High school
High School Essay Outline Template
Plan a high school essay with a focused thesis, body claims, evidence, commentary, and a polished conclusion.
College
College Essay Outline Template
Use a college essay outline template for thesis-driven essays with source integration, analysis, and academic structure.
High school
Common App Essay Outline Template
Plan a Common App essay with story, reflection, values, growth, and a forward-looking conclusion.
High school
Scholarship Essay Outline Template
Use a scholarship essay outline template to connect story, need, impact, goals, and fit with the scholarship mission.
High school
Why This College Essay Outline Template
Plan a Why This College essay with specific fit, academic goals, campus evidence, and mutual contribution.
High school
UC Personal Insight Questions Outline Template
Outline UC PIQ responses with context, action, reflection, and fit in a concise structure for the 350-word format.
Graduate
Statement of Purpose Outline Template
Use a statement of purpose outline template for graduate applications with research interests, preparation, fit, and goals.
Graduate
Law School Personal Statement Outline Template
Plan a law school personal statement with motivation, evidence of judgment, service, and legal education fit.
Graduate
Graduate School Personal Statement Outline Template
Outline a graduate school personal statement with academic motivation, preparation, fit, and future contribution.
Research and academic formats
Research and academic formats templates
Academic research structures for source synthesis, proposals, lab reports, literature reviews, and formats.
10 templates in family
College
Research Paper Outline Template
Copy a research paper outline template with research question, literature context, evidence sections, methods or analysis, and conclusion.
High school
Synthesis Essay Outline Template
Plan a synthesis essay with source grouping, original claim, integrated evidence, and commentary using this template.
College
Literature Review Outline Template
Use a literature review outline template to organize themes, debates, methods, gaps, and research direction.
College
Annotated Bibliography Outline Template
Copy an annotated bibliography outline template with citation, summary, evaluation, reflection, and source-use notes.
College
Research Proposal Outline Template
Plan a research proposal with research question, background, method, feasibility, significance, and timeline.
College
Lab Report Outline Template
Use a lab report outline template with objective, hypothesis, methods, results, discussion, and conclusion.
College
Scientific Paper Outline Template
Plan a scientific paper with abstract, introduction, methods, results, discussion, and conclusion sections.
High school
Source Evaluation Outline Template
Evaluate a source with authority, evidence, bias, relevance, limitations, and planned use using this outline template.
College
APA Research Paper Outline Template
Use an APA research paper outline template with title page planning, abstract, headings, source synthesis, and references.
High school
MLA Research Paper Outline Template
Plan an MLA research paper with thesis, section headings, quoted evidence, parenthetical citations, and Works Cited checks.
Literary analysis
Literary analysis templates
Templates for close reading, theme, character, symbol, poetry, and comparative literary analysis.
6 templates in family
High school
Literary Analysis Essay Outline Template
Plan a literary analysis essay with a thesis, close reading sections, quoted evidence, commentary, and a filled example.
High school
Character Analysis Essay Outline Template
Plan a character analysis essay with traits, choices, relationships, textual evidence, and thematic significance.
High school
Theme Analysis Essay Outline Template
Use a theme analysis essay outline template to trace motifs, conflicts, character choices, and thematic meaning.
High school
Poetry Analysis Essay Outline Template
Plan a poetry analysis essay with speaker, shifts, imagery, form, line evidence, and interpretation.
High school
Symbolism Analysis Essay Outline Template
Outline a symbolism analysis essay with symbol introduction, textual pattern, interpretation, and thematic meaning.
College
Comparative Literary Analysis Outline Template
Compare two literary works with a point-by-point literary analysis outline, balanced evidence, and thematic insight.
Writing components
Writing components templates
Reusable paragraph and sentence patterns for thesis statements, body paragraphs, transitions, and conclusions.
8 templates in family
General
Thesis Statement Template
Copy thesis statement templates for argumentative, analytical, expository, and compare-and-contrast essays.
General
Argumentative Thesis Statement Template
Use argumentative thesis statement templates for debatable claims, reasons, counterpoints, and precise essay positions.
General
Essay Introduction Template
Copy essay introduction templates with hook, context, bridge, and thesis patterns for academic essays.
General
Body Paragraph Template
Use body paragraph templates for topic sentence, evidence, analysis, commentary, and transition structure.
General
Counterargument Paragraph Template
Copy counterargument paragraph templates with opposing view, concession, rebuttal evidence, and return to thesis.
General
Essay Conclusion Template
Use essay conclusion templates to restate thesis, synthesize evidence, explain significance, and end cleanly.
General
Topic Sentence Template
Copy topic sentence templates that connect paragraph claims to thesis statements, evidence, and transitions.
General
Transition Sentence Template
Use transition sentence templates to connect essay paragraphs, compare ideas, show cause and effect, and signal contrast.
Exam and timed writing
Exam and timed writing templates
Timed writing structures for AP, GRE, IELTS, TOEFL, DBQ, and other exam-style prompts.
10 templates in family
High school
AP Lit Poetry Analysis Outline Template
Plan an AP Lit poetry analysis response with defensible thesis, line evidence, commentary, complexity, and conclusion.
High school
AP Lit Prose Analysis Outline Template
Use an AP Lit prose analysis outline template for character, narration, setting, tone, and complexity in timed responses.
High school
DBQ Essay Outline Template
Plan a DBQ essay with contextualization, thesis, document grouping, outside evidence, sourcing, and complexity.
High school
AP Lang Rhetorical Analysis Outline Template
Outline an AP Lang rhetorical analysis essay with rhetorical situation, thesis, choices, evidence, commentary, and sophistication.
High school
AP Lang Synthesis Essay Outline Template
Plan an AP Lang synthesis essay with source grouping, thesis, evidence integration, commentary, and sophistication.
General
Timed Essay Outline Template
Use a timed essay outline template for quick thesis planning, evidence selection, paragraph structure, and a fast conclusion.
Graduate
GRE Analyze an Issue Essay Outline Template
Plan a GRE Analyze an Issue response with position, reasons, examples, qualifications, and a timed conclusion.
Graduate
GRE Analyze an Argument Outline Template
Use a GRE Analyze an Argument outline template to evaluate assumptions, evidence needs, logical gaps, and argument strength.
College
IELTS Writing Task 2 Outline Template
Plan an IELTS Writing Task 2 response with position, paragraph claims, examples, cohesion, and a concise conclusion.
College
TOEFL Writing Outline Template
Use a TOEFL Writing outline template for academic discussion responses with claim, support, response to others, and academic tone.
How students use these
A template, then the workspace
Templates remove the blank page. The editor finishes the job — sources, citations, feedback, and a draft you can defend, all in one connected workspace.
- 01Pick
Match the template to your assignment
Filter by family — outline, admissions, research, literary, components, exam — and pick the structure that matches your prompt and length.
- 02Copy
Paste it into your draft
Each template is one click to copy. Replace bracketed text with details from your prompt, your sources, or your experience.
- 03Build
Open the editor for the full draft
Take the outline into EssayGenius, where the source library, citations, and feedback live in the same view as your draft.
FAQ
Common questions about templates
No. Every template is free to copy without sign-up. You only need an EssayGenius account if you want to draft inside the editor with sources, citations, and feedback in the same workspace.
Templates are reusable structures you adapt. They show the same shape every time — sections, claims, evidence — so you can learn the form. The matching generator personalizes that structure for your specific prompt when you are ready.
The templates are scaffolding. The argument, evidence, and voice still need to be yours. Copying the structure is fine; copying anyone else’s claims or analysis is not.
For most assignments, the argumentative essay outline is the safest default. For applications, start with the personal statement outline. For research papers, start with the research paper outline. Browse by family below if your prompt is more specific.
From template to draft
Turn a clean outline into a real essay.
Paste any template into EssayGenius, then draft with source search, citation support, and revision help in the same workspace.