730 FREE Writing Worksheets
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FREE Writing Worksheets

As ESL teachers, we’ve all had those students who do great on their grammar exams, speak up confidently in class, and are always first to raise their hands for activities - and yet, when it comes time for a writing assignment, they can barely squeeze out a few short sentences. This can be frustrating for the student and teacher alike - but it’s the symptom of a problem that’s well-known in every teaching community: Speaking and writing are two very different skills.

As with any new skill, practice is key - but students who have trouble writing aren’t usually keen to take on even more writing practice. After all, they might think, if their grammar and vocabulary are correct, and they don’t need to write in English for their jobs, what’s the point of drilling this skill? The answer is, of course, that the ability to write in English is key in the world and the workplace - from writing cover letters and CVs to drafting emails and client presentations. The responsibility is at least partly on you, the teacher, to provide assignments that draw your students into the writing process.

BusyTeacher.org is your number-one stop for exactly those kinds of assignments. Our 730 writing worksheets will provide your students with intriguing writing prompts, and with a variety of writing exercises that’ll help them watch their own improvement as it happens. Our worksheets even break down the writing process into its core components, so you can figure out exactly where in the process each student is struggling, and intervene with exercises to help him or her through that trouble spot.

The writing worksheets here on BusyTeacher.org will help familiarize your students with all the sub-skills involved in writing - from choosing a topic and constructing that first paragraph, all the way to writing movie reviews and short poems. Some of our worksheets even cover basics like handwriting and sentence structure - so no matter how much your students need to brush up on their fundamentals, we’ve got worksheets to meet them where they are.

You’ll find worksheets on any topic you can imagine, from daily routines and holidays to pop culture, news, and even poetry and song lyrics.  Some worksheets just help you lead simple fill-in-the-blank exercises, while others present thought-provoking topics for full essays, or include plans for your students to create their own newsletters. And for students who need help with English school assignments, you’ll also find worksheets on writing essays and test responses.

You can browse all of our 730 writing worksheets in thumbnail view, so you don’t have to wait for any of them to load to get an idea of what they’re like. As you scroll down the page, just click on any worksheet that catches your eye - they’re all completely free to download, print, and share in any way you like. And they’re all created and classroom-tested by real ESL teachers all over the world - which means you can be confident they’ll work in your classroom, too. If you’ve got a worksheet of your own that you’d like to share with your fellow ESL teachers in the BusyTeacher.org community, just click the “Submit a worksheet” button at the bottom of this page.

All of these writing worksheets are here to help you - so pick out a few that look interesting, and give them a try in your classroom today. We’re sure you’ll love them as much as the other ESL teachers in our community already do.

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If You Could Be Attractive And Stupid...? [CREATIVE WRITING PROMPT]

If You Could Be Attractive And Stupid...? [CREATIVE WRITING PROMPT]

Creative writing prompt:  If you could be attractive and stupid, or intelligent and ugly, which would you prefer? Why?
7 Views 5,104 All
Wisest Person You Know... [CREATIVE WRITING PROMPT]

Wisest Person You Know... [CREATIVE WRITING PROMPT]

Creative writing prompt: Who is the wisest person you have ever met, and why?
6 Views 7,553 All
Choose One Type Of Weather... [CREATIVE WRITING PROMPT]

Choose One Type Of Weather... [CREATIVE WRITING PROMPT]

Creative writing prompt: Imagine you could choose one type of weather for the rest of your life. What would you choose and how would it affect your life?
10 Views 14,977 All
One Law [CREATIVE WRITING PROMPT]

One Law [CREATIVE WRITING PROMPT]

Creative writing prompt: If you could change or invent one law that had to be implemented across the world, what would it be and why? Do you think it would make life better?
9 Views 10,380 All
If You Were A Drink, ...? [CREATIVE WRITING PROMPT]

If You Were A Drink, ...? [CREATIVE WRITING PROMPT]

Creative writing prompt: If you were a drink, which drink would you be and why? 
7 Views 6,506 All
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If You Could Freeze Time... [CREATIVE WRITING PROMPT]

If You Could Freeze Time... [CREATIVE WRITING PROMPT]

Creative writing prompt: If you could freeze time whenever you wanted, what would you do and why?
6 Views 5,025 All
Worst Thing You've Ever Done... [CREATIVE WRITING PROMPT]

Worst Thing You've Ever Done... [CREATIVE WRITING PROMPT]

Creative writing prompt: What's the worst thing you've ever done in your life? Why was it so bad?
6 Views 4,961 All
Locked In A Room... [CREATIVE WRITING PROMPT]

Locked In A Room... [CREATIVE WRITING PROMPT]

Creative writing prompt: If you could spend 24 hours locked in a room with any person throughout history, who would it be and why?
8 Views 5,237 All
If You Could Smash One Thing...? [CREATIVE WRITING PROMPT]

If You Could Smash One Thing...? [CREATIVE WRITING PROMPT]

Creative writing prompt: If you could smash one thing in your house with no repercussions, what would it be and why?
4 Views 3,543 All
What Shape Are You? [CREATIVE WRITING PROMPT]

What Shape Are You? [CREATIVE WRITING PROMPT]

Creative writing prompt: If you were a two-dimentional shape, what shape would you be and why?
4 Views 3,563 All
Robbery [CREATIVE WRITING PROMPT]

Robbery [CREATIVE WRITING PROMPT]

Creative writing prompt: Imagine you get robbed at knifepoint and then the thief gets hit by a car. The car speeds off, nobody else is around, and he is in extreme pain but not dead; do you hel ...
4 Views 11,117 All
Your Last Month... [CREATIVE WRITING PROMPT]

Your Last Month... [CREATIVE WRITING PROMPT]

Creative writing prompt: What if scientists found that an asteroid was going to destroy the planet in one month? What would you do with your last month of life?
7 Views 5,881 All
One Type Of Gift... [CREATIVE WRITING PROMPT]

One Type Of Gift... [CREATIVE WRITING PROMPT]

Creative writing prompt: What if you were only allowed to receive one type of gift (such as books, computer games, clothes) for Christmas for the rest of your life? What would you choose and why?
6 Views 9,800 All
If You Could Have One Day... ? [CREATIVE WRITING PROMPT]

If You Could Have One Day... ? [CREATIVE WRITING PROMPT]

Creative writing prompt:  If you could have one day repeat over and over again for the rest of your life, which day would it be and why?
6 Views 16,956 All
Imagine You Were Given A Free Wish... [CREATIVE WRITING PROMPT]

Imagine You Were Given A Free Wish... [CREATIVE WRITING PROMPT]

Creative writing prompt:  Imagine you were given a free wish, but you had to wish something for somebody else. What would you wish, for who, and why?
6 Views 11,964 All
Your Ideal Job [CREATIVE WRITING PROMPT]

Your Ideal Job [CREATIVE WRITING PROMPT]

Creative writing prompt:  If you could have your ideal job, what would it be and why? How would your working day go?
7 Views 11,247 All
Would You Turn In A Family Member...? [CREATIVE WRITING PROMPT]

Would You Turn In A Family Member...? [CREATIVE WRITING PROMPT]

Creative writing prompt:  Would you turn in a family member, if they had commited a murder? Why or why not?
5 Views 16,407 All
If You Could Learn One Musical Instrument... [CREATIVE WRITING PROMPT]

If You Could Learn One Musical Instrument... [CREATIVE WRITING PROMPT]

Creative writing prompt:  If you could learn one musical instrument, what would it be and why?
4 Views 8,825 All
If You Won The Lottery... [CREATIVE WRITING PROMPT]

If You Won The Lottery... [CREATIVE WRITING PROMPT]

Creative writing prompt:  If you won the lottery, what would you do on the first day you got the money? Why?
7 Views 18,085 All
Would You Ever Buy A Drink To...? [CREATIVE WRITING PROMPT]

Would You Ever Buy A Drink To...? [CREATIVE WRITING PROMPT]

Creative writing prompt: Would you ever buy a drink to a desperate, homeless alcoholic? Why or why not?
6 Views 5,342
What Is Your Biggest Achievement? [CREATIVE WRITING PROMPT]

What Is Your Biggest Achievement? [CREATIVE WRITING PROMPT]

Creative writing prompt: What is your biggest achievement? What made it so important to you?
7 Views 8,029 All
If You Were A Superhero... [CREATIVE WRITING PROMPT]

If You Were A Superhero... [CREATIVE WRITING PROMPT]

Creative writing prompt: If you were a superhero, what would be your kryptonite and why?
5 Views 12,756 All
Favourite Season [CREATIVE WRITING PROMPT]

Favourite Season [CREATIVE WRITING PROMPT]

Creative writing prompt: What is your favourite season? Why?
8 Views 11,765 All
What Would Christmas Be Like..? [CREATIVE WRITING PROMPT]

What Would Christmas Be Like..? [CREATIVE WRITING PROMPT]

Creative writing prompt: What would Christmas be like without the gifts?
11 Views 11,213 All
My Favourite Childhood Toy [CREATIVE WRITING PROMPT]

My Favourite Childhood Toy [CREATIVE WRITING PROMPT]

Creative writing prompt: My favourite childhood toy was...
5 Views 13,220

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