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About this tool
Split an essay word target into introduction, body and conclusion budgets with sentence counts, Schaffer chunks and a writing time plan.
A five paragraph essay planner converts a word-count target into a per-paragraph writing budget: introduction, three body paragraphs and conclusion, each with its own word allowance, sentence count and evidence requirement. It uses the standard composition proportions — about 12% of the words for the introduction, 11% for the conclusion and the remaining 77% split evenly across the body — and builds each body paragraph on the Jane Schaffer pattern of one topic sentence, then repeating chunks of one concrete detail plus two commentary sentences. Useful for timed exams, coursework and anyone who can plan an argument but keeps running out of words in the wrong place.
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Every section gets an exact word allowance that sums to your target, so nothing runs long.
Tells you how many concrete details to gather before drafting, using the Schaffer chunk ratio.
Splits the session into roughly 25% planning, 50% drafting and 25% revising at your own writing speed.
The introduction is usually 10-15% of the total and the conclusion 8-12%, with the body sharing the rest. In an 800-word essay that works out at roughly 96 words of introduction, 88 of conclusion and about 205 words for each of three body paragraphs.
Around 11 sentences for a 200-word paragraph, assuming an average of 18 words per sentence. In the Schaffer format that is a topic sentence, three chunks of one concrete detail plus two commentary sentences each, and a closing link sentence.
At a sustained exam handwriting speed of about 18 words per minute, drafting 500 words takes roughly 28 minutes. Allow the same again for planning and revision combined — the commonly taught split is a quarter planning, half drafting and a quarter revising, so budget about 56 minutes end to end.
It is a scaffold for timed and introductory writing rather than a standard for academic prose, and many university departments expect a more flexible structure driven by the argument. Use it to make sure the argument holds together, then follow whatever structure your course brief or marking rubric actually asks for.