Re: diagramming sentences

[anne mullin <mullanne@isu.edu>]

A variation on diagramming that is very useful for visual and tactile
learners uses tinker toys or felt strips on a flannel board to represent
the relationships of elements in sentences. The Landmark folks do this,
I learned at a workshop, which confirmed the practice for me. I could
never quite get into the way the Reed Kellogg lines were supposed to
slant or whether the pedestal thingy was precisely vertical -- but I
sure do want students to understand what all the parts are and how they
work on and with each other. So I really do encourage them to try
alternate systems to represent these relationships.

In answer to Sara's question -- yes, I do teach a sophomore level
grammar class every couple of years in rotation. The department's
linguistics person does it every semester, and another colleague and I
swap off on the overload sections as needed.