Using EverWrite
Click the dropdowns below for more information and step-by-step instructions for using EverWrite in your classroom.
Create Assignment
Creating a new assignment
As a first step, login with your Newsela account at everwrite.newsela.com/login, and follow the instructions below:
Click + Create Assignment at the top-right of your screen
Select the preferred assignment length
Select the desired type of writing out of the following options:
Literary Analysis
Argumentative/Persuasive
Narrative, Expository
Informative/Informational
Opinion
Main/Central Idea
Inference/Conclusion.
Type in a prompt for students or keywords for AI generation, then proceed to select between using the manually entered prompt or using our AI agent to generate prompt suggestions instead.
If you chose AI generation - proceed to select the prompt that fits your needs the most (you can view additional prompts, or refine your original prompt to generate better ones)
Select the rubric to be used, review the assignment's details and click Create Assignment when ready
The new assignment is now ready to be shared with students
Teacher's Preview
You can preview your assignment to see what your students' experience will be by clicking on the assignment's title from your main assignments page. Here, you can test writing a response and check the feedback provided, just like a student would.
Common FAQ
Can I add my own writing prompts?
Yes, you can add your own writing prompts to EverWrite. Create your own from scratch or paste them from another source, such as a curriculum document.
How does EverWrite help me create prompts?
EverWrite can help you generate prompts on any given topic right within the platform. Enter a few keywords and let EverWrite use AI to provide a list of options.
What is the EverWrite Library?
The EverWrite Library of pre-made assignments contains ELA assignments. Explore hundreds of pre-made short-answer assignments featuring Newsela content side-by-side with EverWrite. Each assignment is built from released items on state ELA tests in FL, TX, CA, NY, NJ, VA, and more. Assignments are organized by state rubric, grade level, and genre.
Assign to Students
Sending assignments to students
Once you have created an assignment, it is time to send it to your students. Since EverWrite uses your rosters from Newsela, students who have joined your Newsela class will appear in EverWrite as class students, while any student who has not joined your Newsela class will appear in EverWrite as an un-rostered student.
To send the assignment to your students, simply provide them with the assignment link.
Locate the assignment link
There are two pathways to locate the assignment link to send to your students:
From EverWrite's main assignments page
Locate the assignment on your list
Click the triple-dots to the far right of the assignment tile
Select "Send Assignment" from the dropdown menu
From within an assignment's preview
Click on the assignment's title to open the teacher's preview
Click on "Send Assignment" at the top right of the screen
Send the assignment link to students
Click "Copy Link" to copy and save the assignment link to your clipboard. You can then send it to your students in any method you choose, for example: paste it into an assignment within Newsela, Formative, or the LMS used by your school.
Alternatively, if your Newsela class is synced with your Google Classroom, you can also select "Send on Google Classroom" to post the assignment link directly into your Google Classroom feed.
Common FAQ
What rubrics does EverWrite provide?
EverWrite provides common rubrics for every state, covering short-answer and long-form writing. It also includes consortium rubrics like SBAC and PARCC. EverWrite's rubrics cover eight different rhetorical writing modes.
Can I upload my own rubric?
At this time, EverWrite doesn’t support the ability to upload your own rubric. If you have a rubric that you think EverWrite should support, please send us a link by clicking here.
Do I have to use Newsela content to make an EverWrite assignment?
No, you don’t have to use Newsela content, but many teachers find that pairing a writing assignment with Newsela’s great content provides inspiration and connections for students.
Write - The Student Experience
How do students access EverWrite assignments?
Each time you create a new assignment in EverWrite you receive a link to share with your students to access that specific writing assignment. You can share the link however you prefer, such as via your learning management system (Canvas, Google Classroom, Schoology, etc.) or email.
When students click on the assignment link they will be asked to log in to Newsela. If they are already logged in they will go straight to the assignment.
Once students are logged in they can immediately start writing and receiving feedback.
Students can use the 'Submit' button to submit their work for teacher review. When work is submitted the student can no longer edit the work. Teachers can re-open the work for students to continue editing and re-submit.
Can students style their writing?
Students can use the styling menu located at the top of the page:
What is the EverWrite checklist?
The EverWrite checklist reviews the types of sentences students need to include for a given assignment and determines which ones are present or missing. EverWrite can help students create each type of sentence by offering tips, examples, and explanations. As students write they can request feedback from EverWrite and when they do,they’ll see sentences highlighted with labels, helping them understand their progress. The EverWrite checklist is not available when assigning Narrative writing.
See the Understanding EverWrite’s Labeling article to learn more!
What are the rubric meters?
Rubric meters help students track their progress to meet the goals of the selected rubric. Example meters with corresponding rubric sections may include "Reasoning and support" or "Organization."
Can students view the rubric?
Yes. Students can locate the Rubric's title at the top left corner of the assignment and click it to view. The rubric will open in a new tab.
Can students use EverWrite without their teacher?
Currently, students must have an EverWrite assignment link from their teacher to use the program.We are interested in learning more about how we might best support independent student writing outside of teacher-created assignments. If you have examples of how you would use this feature with your students, we’d love to hear them! Please submit a request!
Review Students' Work
How can I see my students’ progress?
You can use the dropdown that allows teachers to toggle between workspaces to monitor student work and track progress in the assignment report tab.
From your main assignments page, locate the assignment and click on it to open the teacher's preview window
Then, switch from the "assignment" tab to the "assignment report" tab at the top right of the page
What insights can I gain?
For each student's assignment you can find the following data:
Word count
Paragraph count
Feedback requests (this is the count of requests that the student has made for feedback from EverWrite)
Time spent
Last revised
The Rubric Scores
How do I view my students' writing?
From the students' list click on the redirect icon next to a student's name. The student's writing will open in a new tab. You can proceed to view other students' writings or navigate back to the teacher's preview, by selecting from the "Viewing" dropdown
Can I provide feedback to my students via EverWrite?
You can send feedback to your student via EverWrite in real time!
When viewing your students' writing, click on "Add A Comment" located on the right side of the writing. Type your feedback and click "Comment" when done. Your feedback will be sent to your student immediately.
Where can I view the Rubric details?
Locate the Rubric's title at the top right corner of the page and click the re-direct icon next to it. The Rubric will open in a separate tab.
Can I create my own rubric?
We are looking at ways to support teachers bringing their own rubrics to EverWrite. In the meantime, we can manually add new rubrics easily. Please send us any rubrics that you would like added to support@newsela.com, or fill out our contact form linked here.
How does EverWrite apply the sentence labels?
EverWrite applies sentence labels such as Thesis, Evidence, Analysis, Summary, and Background to short answer argumentative and literary analysis writing by applying the specific rules-based definitions of these sentence labels to each of the sentences in the student’s writing. When it identifies a sentence that meets the rules for a specific label, it applies the label and highlights the specific sentence in the color associated with that label
Privacy/ Data
How does EverWrite ensure student privacy?
EverWrite follows industry standards to ensure student privacy and complies with regulations such as FERPA, COPPA, and state student data privacy laws. Our collection and use of student data is governed by these laws as well as by our contracts with schools. For more information on student privacy, please refer to Newsela’s privacy policy.