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Resources for Teaching Writing

Research-backed lesson plans, mentor texts, and writing packets to help every student grow as a writer.
  • Genre-specific writing packets aligned to Common Core standards    â€˘ Mentor texts written by teens    â€˘ AI resources for classrooms
• Digital tools for publishing and peer review   â€˘ Research-backed strategies for writing instruction
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Resources and Activities for Teaching Writingyellow blinking

Develop your middle and high school students’ writing skills with this collection of free resources for teachers, parents, and homeschool instructors. Below, you'll find classroom activities, lesson plans, mentor texts, blog posts, and more. Most resources are ideal or adaptable for grades 8-12.
 
The following resources for teaching writing are provided for free from Write the World and our partners as part of our mission to empower educators as they build students’ literacy and prepare learners for success in school, career, and life.
 
We’re always eager to see and hear how YOU are using Write the World with teens! Reach out to educators@writetheworld.org to share your success stories, pitch a guest blog post, or to share student work. 
Write the World Review
A literary journal publishing standout teen writers ages 13-19.
 

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Virtual Summer Writing Camps 2026
Our virtual summer writing camps encourage teens to write across a range of genres, from sci-fi to poetry, and connect with peers around the world.
 
View and download our 2026 schedule of writing camps here.
 

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Teaching Common Core Writing Genres Bundle
The Teaching Common Core Writing Genres Curriculum Bundle combines 5 of our curriculum packets into one convenient package: Fiction Writing, Analytical Writing, Informative/Explanatory Writing, Personal Narrative Writing, and Argumentative/Persuasive Writing. Educators who donate at least $15-25 to Write the World will receive this curriculum bundle as a thank you.
 

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Essay Examples for High School Students
A list of 15+ unique essays that will appeal to diverse student interests to spark engagement and creativity. 
 

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Competitions 2025-2026 Flyer
Our monthly writing competitions are open to all students aged 13-19.
 
Download a flyer for our 2024-2025 lineup of competitions to share digitally with students, or print and put up in your classroom.
 
Competitions Calendar 2025-2026 Poster
 
Rule of Law Lesson Plan
This comprehensive, standards-aligned curriculum packet is designed to help you engage students in Write the World's October 2025 "rule of law" writing competition sponsored by Supreme Court Historical Society!
 

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Teaching the Rule of Law: Four Ways to Support Writing in Social Studies
These four classroom activities are designed to introduce students to the topic and build their conceptual understanding before entering the Rule of Law competition.
 

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AI Guide for Teachers
Download our full guide which introduces artificial intelligence and provides a catalogue of resources to get students to use AI as a tool to enhance, not replace, the writing process.
Writing for Social Change Writing Packet
Created in collaboration with the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation, the Writing for Social Change curriculum packet offers resources for middle school and high school teachers to explore social themes through various writing activities. This writing packet includes a reading, a writing prompt, classroom activity, lesson plan template, and more. Educators who donate at least $3 to Write the World will receive this packet as a thank you.
 

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Flash Fiction Resources
Resources for incorporating Flash Fiction writing activities into the classroom.
 

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Disability Pride Writing Packet
Explore disability rights, justice, and pride through reading and writing activities with your students. This writing packet includes a reading, a writing prompt, classroom activity, lesson plan template, and more. Educators who donate at least $3 to Write the World will receive this packet as a thank you.
 

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Flash Fiction Examples by Students
These noteworthy flash fiction examples come in under 100 words and were all written by Write the World young writers!
 

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Fiction Writing Packet
Fiction is a wonderful tool for sparking students' imagination and engagement, no matter what subject you teach. This in-depth writing packet includes a reading, a writing prompt, classroom activity, lesson plan template, and more. Educators who donate at least $3 to Write the World will receive this packet as a thank you.
 

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Short Story Writing Resources
Resources for incorporating short story writing activities into the classroom. 
 

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Personal Narrative Writing Packet
This in-depth writing packet includes a reading, a writing prompt, classroom activity, lesson plan template, and more. Educators who donate at least $3 to Write the World will receive this packet as a thank you.

 

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Environmental Writing Samples
Mentor texts from students on environmental writing topics.
 

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Analytical Writing Packet
This in-depth writing packet includes a reading, a writing prompt, classroom activity, lesson plan template, and more. Educators who donate $3 or more to Write the World will receive this packet as a thank you.

 

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College Essay Program
 
Do some of your students need extra support with writing their college application essays?
 
Share our College Essay Program offerings with them and their parents!
 
DOWNLOAD HANDOUT
AI Writing Resources
A compilation of information and resources on incorporating AI into writing, geared toward students and educators.
 

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Argumentative/Persuasive Writing Packet
This in-depth writing packet includes a reading, a writing prompt, classroom activity, lesson plan template, and more. Educators who donate at least $3 to Write the World will receive this packet as a thank you.
 

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Character Study Questions
Download a pdf of character study questions writers can use to dig deeper into developing their characters. Read more on the blog.
 

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AI Prompt Examples for Students
A handout with AI chatbot prompt examples students can use to gain feedback and information on how to improve their writing - without asking chatgpt to write it!
 

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Teaching the Writing Process
Here’s how to reframe the traditional step-by-step writing approach in a cyclical framework.
 

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Tips for Using Daily Writing Prompts
How to use daily writing prompts to build a culture of writing in the classroom.
 

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Sci-Fi Writing Resources
Resources for incorporating science fiction and fantasy writing activities into the classroom. 
 

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Climate Poetry Lesson Plan
Environmental Competition
Flexible lesson plan to guide students through climate poetry writing. 
 

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Climate Advocacy Writing Lesson Plan
Environmental Competition
90-120 minute flexible lesson plan for climate advocacy letter writing.
 

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Climate Flash Fiction Lesson Plan
Environmental Competition
45-90 minute flexible lesson plan for flash fiction writing on climate topics.
 

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More Resources from the Blog

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15+ Writing Games for High School Students

After playing over 3,000 board games with hundreds of people, I’ve seen firsthand how impactful games can be. Beyond strategy and competition, many games offer rich opportunities ...

Calli Wright

15+ Writing Games for High School Students
22 October, 2025
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15+ Essays for High School Students to Read

As the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) reveals, reading scores are declining in the United States. Given the close relationship between reading and writing, ...

Annabella Twomey

15+ Essays for High School Students to Read
15 October, 2025
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Teaching Students About AI: A Back to School Guide

At the start of the ’24-’25 school year, a Harvard-affiliated study of 1,500 teenagers and young adults revealed that more than half had used generative artificial intelligence ...

Brittany Collins

Teaching Students About AI: A Back to School Guide
21 August, 2025
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Four Ways to Teach Environmental Writing

May marks Write the World’s environmental writing competition sponsored by Patagonia, and we’re delighted to engage middle and high school students around the world in thinking ...

Brittany Collins

Four Ways to Teach Environmental Writing
13 May, 2025
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How to Use These Resources in Your Classroomdiamond stars

 

Student Scholarship Opportunitiesyellow blinking


Do you work with students who would benefit from Write the World’s college essay or creative writing workshops and who identify as low-income?
 
Please complete the form below to express interest in future scholarship opportunities for your students.
 

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Create a Private Classroom Groupdiamond stars

Create a private classroom group on the Write the World website to house your writing instruction in one central space.
 
Upload writing curricula, access our library of prompts, resources, and peer review questions, and facilitate the drafting, publication, and peer feedback process with your students. You can always invite them to share their work in the global community if and when they are ready.
Request a Group
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Research on Teaching Writingloops design element (3)

Teaching writing is challenging but rewarding. Helping teenagers become effective writers means developing communication skills that will serve them long beyond their time in the classroom. Research shows that:
 
  • Adolescents who can effectively express their thoughts and ideas through writing are more likely to excel in their studies and future careers.
  • Writing can be a therapeutic outlet for teens to explore their emotions and develop self-awareness. 
  • Writing encourages critical thinking and the ability to articulate complex ideas. 
By teaching teens how to write persuasively and coherently, we empower them to become informed and engaged global citizens capable of making a positive impact on the world around them. Below, we share some of our favorite media, research, and resources on teaching writing in hopes that they will inspire your practice, too:
 
Books
AI Resources
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Frequently Asked Questions

What is Write the World?
Founded in 2012 at Harvard University, Write the World, Inc. is a 501(C)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to equipping teenagers with the confidence and competence to change the world, one word at a time. Young writers develop their voices, refine their editing skills, and publish their work within a supportive community of peers. In classrooms, teachers utilize Write the World’s educational resources such as virtual class groups, writing prompts, lesson plans, assessment tools, and other tools to supplement their curriculum. Learn more about Write the World.
What writing genres should I teach in high school?
Most high school programs benefit from teaching a range of narrative, informative/explanatory, argumentative, analytical, and creative genres. Write the World supports these objectives through genre‑specific resources so students can practice both academic and expressive forms of writing.
How do I teach writing to mixed‑ability classrooms?
Teaching writing in a mixed‑ability classroom works best when instruction is flexible, student‑centered, and rooted in authentic models.
  • Offer multiple entry points into the genre or assignment, including mentor texts, brainstorming questions and/or freewrites.
  • Build in choice where possible, including topics that feel relevant to students.
  • Peer review, a core part of Write the World’s platform, is another powerful equalizer: students learn to give and receive feedback.
  • Emphasize the importance of the process of writing, from drafting to revising.
What makes a strong mentor text?
A strong mentor text is clear, engaging, and demonstrates specific literary devices students can emulate. Write the World’s mentor texts—written by teens from around the world—are especially powerful because they feel accessible and relatable. They show students what effective writing looks like from peers their own age, whether that’s a compelling hook, vivid imagery, a well‑structured argument, or a creative risk that pays off.
How can I incorporate AI ethically in writing instruction?
Write the World encourages writers to use AI as a tool for brainstorming, revision, and skill‑building—not as a replacement for student voice. Teachers can model how to use AI to generate ideas, analyze structure, or compare drafts, while emphasizing transparency and authorship. 

Write the World offers AI resources, including a free AI writing companion, Clara, built for and with teens.

Are these resources aligned to Common Core?
Yes. Write the World’s curriculum packets and competitions are aligned to the U.S. Common Core State Standards for writing. Each competition includes a standards resource so teachers can easily match classroom goals with genre‑specific practice.
What are the Common Core writing genres?
The US Common Core identifies five major writing genres: Argumentative/Persuasive, Informative/Explanatory, Personal Narrative, Fiction, and Analytical.
How do Write the World competitions work in the classroom?
Educators can use writing competitions to introduce new genres or topics, encourage collaboration in peer reviewing each other’s work, and motivate students to write for audiences other than the teacher. Competition submissions can also serve as engaging summative assessments, or (as in the Opinion Writing category) meaningful test preparation activities.
Educator Resources Grid (Website)