Correctly formatting documents for submission
FORMATTING GUIDELINES FOR LEVELS 7-12 (see separate guidelines below for Level 6 only):
All submissions MUST be typed. Pictures or scans of handwritten compositions will not be scored. Your student can type their composition in a word processor of your choice, or directly in Gradient. Uploading a PDF is no longer needed. We suggest your student type their composition in a word processor and then copy/paste it directly in the assignment slot in Gradient once they are ready to submit.
The Scoring Service requires students format their compositions in a specific way that differs slightly from the guidelines in the EIW Textbooks. All compositions should follow standard MLA guidelines for page layout.
All paragraph, summary, essay, and research compositions should follow these page layout directions:
double-spaced
12 or 14 pt. font size
Times New Roman, Arial, or Verdana font
one-inch margins on all sides
indent the first line of each paragraph one-half inch
In addition to the page layout requirements above, the EIW Scoring Service requires a specific header in the upper left corner of each submission. The header should also be double spaced:
The student’s full name (e.g., Grace Kramer)
The EIW level (e.g., EIW Level 10)
The lesson for which the composition is submitted (e.g., Expository Paragraph, Personal Essay, etc.)
The date of submission in proper MLA format (e.g., 3 August 2025)
All Business Letter and Personal Letter compositions should follow these page layout directions:
Follow the example from the Student Book for spacing guidelines
Text should be single-spaced, with one additional space between letter sections (heading, date, inside address, greeting/salutation, body, closing, signature)
12 or 14 pt. font size
Times New Roman, Arial, or Verdana font
one-inch margins on all sides
Business letter only: do not indent paragraphs
For Letter submissions, add a cover sheet (first page) to the submission that includes the information for the EIW Scoring Service header. The header should also be centered at the top of the page and double spaced:
The student’s full name (e.g., Grace Kramer)
The EIW level (e.g., EIW Level 10)
The lesson for which the composition is submitted (e.g., Expository Paragraph, Personal Essay, etc.)
The date of submission in proper MLA format (e.g., 3 August 2025)
Failure to follow these guidelines will affect the student’s score.
FORMATTING GUIDELINES FOR LEVEL 6 ONLY:
Level 6 submissions may be typed OR handwritten. Typed submissions will follow the Formatting Guidelines for Levels 7-12.
PLEASE NOTE: Handwritten submissions must be written on 8” x 11.5” wide-ruled, lined paper and double-spaced by skipping lines. Please do NOT submit the actual workbook page.
Handwritten compositions may be submitted (Level 6 ONLY) using the following formatting guidelines:
Handwritten submissions MUST be written on 8” x 11.5” wide-ruled, lined paper AND double-spaced by skipping lines.
Handwriting must be clear and legible. (Illegible compositions may not be scored.)
Handwritten compositions may be scanned and uploaded to Gradient, OR you can take a clear photo of the composition to upload to Gradient. In either case, please ensure that the scan/photo is clear enough to read the composition with ease.
Both scans and photo files must:
have the extension .pdf to be successfully uploaded to Gradient.
have at least one-inch margins on all sides.
be written on 8” x 11.5” wide-ruled, lined paper and double-spaced by skipping lines.
indent the first line of each paragraph.
include the following information at the top left corner of the page (or on a separate sheet of paper for the personal letter):
The student’s full name (e.g., Grace Kramer)
The EIW level (e.g., EIW Level 6)
The lesson for which the composition is submitted (e.g., Adjectives in Action, Personal Narrative, etc.)
The date of submission in proper MLA format (e.g., 3 August 2025)
Please note that the format for the Persuasive Personal Letter (lessons 50-54) differs from paragraphs, narratives, and essays. Letters should be single-spaced, with one additional space left after the heading, greeting, body, and closing. See the example in lesson 50.
All compositions, except for letters, should be formatted according to these rules:
Double-spaced
No extra spaces between paragraphs
12 or 14 pt. font size
Times New Roman, Arial, or Verdana font
One-inch margins on all sides
Indent the first line of each paragraph one-half inch
The following information at the top left corner of the page:
The student’s full name (e.g., Daniel Hopper)
The level of EIW the student is using (e.g., EIW Level 10)
The lesson for which the composition is submitted (e.g., Expository Paragraph, Personal Essay, etc.)
The date of submission in proper MLA format (e.g., 3 August 2025)
All Letter compositions should follow these page layout directions:
Follow the example from the Student Book for spacing guidelines
Text should be single-spaced, with one additional space between letter sections (heading, date, inside address, greeting/salutation, body, closing, signature)
12 or 14 pt. font size
Times New Roman, Arial, or Verdana font
one-inch margins on all sides
Business letter only: do not indent paragraphs
For Letter submissions, add a cover sheet (first page) to the submission that includes the information for the EIW Scoring Service header. The header should also be centered at the top of the page and double spaced:
The student’s full name (e.g., Grace Kramer)
The EIW level (e.g., EIW Level 10)
The lesson for which the composition is submitted (e.g., Expository Paragraph, Personal Essay, etc.)
The date of submission in proper MLA format (e.g., 3 August 2025)
Students must use the article(s) provided by the EIW curriculum when completing summary activities.