Nancy, I agree with almost everything you said about constructivism. But I have found that people who label themselves are more interested in the labels than in practice. On a more practical note, how can you expect students, at any level, to be able to discuss the syntactic choices -- in a poem, story, etc. -- if they are unable to identify subjects, verbs, clauses, etc.? I understand your disagreement with many of the people on this list. I have that same disagreement. It seems to me, however, that by refusing to see that syntax can be taught systematically, and in a way that is interesting to students, you deny your students, especially the weaker ones, an important opportunity to grow. Have you looked at the chapter on style in TGLA? See http://www.pct.edu/courses/evavra/TGLA/TGLA10.htm It includes, I think, the type of stylistic analysis that you discuss. Ed V. To join or leave this LISTSERV list, please visit the list's web interface at: http://listserv.muohio.edu/archives/ateg.html and select "Join or leave the list" Visit ATEG's web site at http://ateg.org/