Sherrie, I am fascinated with the new idea of seeing or thinking of writing as a spectrum form thinking to communicating. I guess i am still making the transition in my mind from only looking at writing as communicating. I think i am stuck more in the realm of either/or not and/both. Because of that I still see the need to have an assessment or accountability for all to ensure the acquisition of those skills. I hear and agree with what Don is saying about standardized tests, but i also see abolishing them as a tactic the elite are waiting for. If we have no assurance of providing the masses with basic skills, i think the have nots will fall handicap more so than what they already are.