diff --git a/collects/2htdp/private/keywords.rkt b/collects/2htdp/private/keywords.rkt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..9d1cda4005
--- /dev/null
+++ b/collects/2htdp/private/keywords.rkt
@@ -0,0 +1,63 @@
+#lang racket
+
+(require (for-syntax "syn-aux.ss") "syn-aux.ss" 
+         "syn-aux-aux.ss"
+         (rename-in lang/prim (first-order->higher-order f2h)))
+
+(provide (for-syntax AllSpec WldSpec UniSpec))
+
+(define-keywords AllSpec
+  ;; -- on-tick must specify a tick handler; it may specify a clock-tick rate
+  [on-tick (function-with-arity
+            1 
+            except
+            [(_ f rate) 
+             #'(list 
+                (proc> 'on-tick (f2h f) 1)
+                (num> 'on-tick rate (lambda (x) (and (real? x) (positive? x)))
+                      "positive number" "rate"))])]
+  ;; -- state specifies whether to display the current state 
+  [state (expr-with-check bool> "expected a boolean (show state or not)")]
+  ;; -- check-with must specify a predicate 
+  [check-with (function-with-arity 1)])
+
+(define-keywords WldSpec 
+  ;; -- on-draw must specify a rendering function; it may specify dimensions
+  [on-draw to-draw
+           (function-with-arity 
+            1 
+            except
+            [(_ f width height)
+             #'(list (proc> 'to-draw (f2h f) 1) 
+                     (nat> 'to-draw width "width")
+                     (nat> 'to-draw height "height"))])]
+  ;; -- on-mouse must specify a mouse event handler 
+  [on-mouse (function-with-arity 4)]
+  ;; -- on-key must specify a key event handler 
+  [on-key (function-with-arity 2)]
+  ;; -- on-release must specify a release event handler 
+  [on-release (function-with-arity 2)]
+  ;; -- on-receive must specify a receive handler 
+  [on-receive (function-with-arity 2)]
+  ;; -- stop-when must specify a predicate; it may specify a rendering function
+  [stop-when (function-with-arity 
+              1
+              except
+              [(_ stop? last-picture)
+               #'(list (proc> 'stop-when (f2h stop?) 1)
+                       (proc> 'stop-when (f2h last-picture) 1))])]
+  ;; -- should the session be recorded and turned into PNGs and an animated GIF
+  [record? (expr-with-check bool> "expected a boolean (to record? or not)")]
+  [name (expr-with-check string> "expected a name (string) for the world")]
+  ;; -- register must specify the internet address of a host (e.g., LOCALHOST)
+  [register (expr-with-check ip> "expected a host (ip address)")])
+
+(define-keywords UniSpec
+  ;; -- on-new must specify what happens when a world joins the universe
+  [on-new (function-with-arity 2)]
+  ;; -- on-msg must specify what happens to a message from a world 
+  [on-msg (function-with-arity 3)]
+  ;; -- on-disconnect may specify what happens when a world drops out
+  [on-disconnect (function-with-arity 2)]
+  ;; -- to-string specifies how to render the universe as a string for display
+  [to-string (function-with-arity 1)])
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/collects/2htdp/private/syn-aux.rkt b/collects/2htdp/private/syn-aux.rkt
index ef78916ece..30c569171c 100644
--- a/collects/2htdp/private/syn-aux.rkt
+++ b/collects/2htdp/private/syn-aux.rkt
@@ -78,9 +78,17 @@
                  ;; -- the coercion that comes with it 
                  (values (cadar Spec) (caddar Spec))
                  (loop (cdr kwds) (cdr Spec)))))
-         (list key (coercion (cdr x))))
+         (list (mk-kwd key) (coercion (cdr x))))
        spec))
 
+;; Syntax -> Syntax 
+;; eventually: convert syntax to keyword
+(define (mk-kwd key)
+  (define key:id (symbol->string (syntax-e key)))
+  (define key:wd (string->keyword key:id))
+  ;  (displayln key:wd)
+  key)
+
 ;; Symbol Syntax Syntax [Listof Kw] -> true
 ;; effect: if state0 looks like a clause, raise special error 
 (define (not-a-clause tag stx state0 kwds)
diff --git a/collects/2htdp/universe.rkt b/collects/2htdp/universe.rkt
index e652bee7be..1f53ab6a29 100644
--- a/collects/2htdp/universe.rkt
+++ b/collects/2htdp/universe.rkt
@@ -9,7 +9,8 @@
    -- make window resizable :: why
 |#
 
-(require (for-syntax "private/syn-aux.ss" scheme/function)
+(require (only-in (for-syntax "private/syn-aux.ss") err ->args)
+         "private/keywords.rkt"
          "private/syn-aux-aux.ss" 
          "private/syn-aux.ss"
          "private/check-aux.ss"
@@ -35,21 +36,6 @@
  sexp?  ;; Any -> Boolean 
  )
 
-(define-keywords AllSpec
-  ;; -- on-tick must specify a tick handler; it may specify a clock-tick rate
-  [on-tick (function-with-arity
-            1 
-            except
-            [(_ f rate) 
-             #'(list 
-                (proc> 'on-tick (f2h f) 1)
-                (num> 'on-tick rate (lambda (x) (and (real? x) (positive? x)))
-                      "positive number" "rate"))])]
-  ;; -- state specifies whether to display the current state 
-  [state (expr-with-check bool> "expected a boolean (show state or not)")]
-  ;; -- check-with must specify a predicate 
-  [check-with (function-with-arity 1)])
-
 ;                                     
 ;                                     
 ;                                     
@@ -133,37 +119,6 @@
     "wheel-up"
     "wheel-down"))
 
-(define-keywords WldSpec 
-  ;; -- on-draw must specify a rendering function; it may specify dimensions
-  [on-draw to-draw
-           (function-with-arity 
-            1 
-            except
-            [(_ f width height)
-             #'(list (proc> 'to-draw (f2h f) 1) 
-                     (nat> 'to-draw width "width")
-                     (nat> 'to-draw height "height"))])]
-  ;; -- on-mouse must specify a mouse event handler 
-  [on-mouse (function-with-arity 4)]
-  ;; -- on-key must specify a key event handler 
-  [on-key (function-with-arity 2)]
-  ;; -- on-release must specify a release event handler 
-  [on-release (function-with-arity 2)]
-  ;; -- on-receive must specify a receive handler 
-  [on-receive (function-with-arity 2)]
-  ;; -- stop-when must specify a predicate; it may specify a rendering function
-  [stop-when (function-with-arity 
-              1
-              except
-              [(_ stop? last-picture)
-               #'(list (proc> 'stop-when (f2h stop?) 1)
-                       (proc> 'stop-when (f2h last-picture) 1))])]
-  ;; -- should the session be recorded and turned into PNGs and an animated GIF
-  [record? (expr-with-check bool> "expected a boolean (to record? or not)")]
-  [name (expr-with-check string> "expected a name (string) for the world")]
-  ;; -- register must specify the internet address of a host (e.g., LOCALHOST)
-  [register (expr-with-check ip> "expected a host (ip address)")])
-
 (define-syntax (big-bang stx)
   (define world0 "big-bang needs at least an initial world")
   (syntax-case stx ()
@@ -257,16 +212,6 @@
  universe    ;; <syntax> : see below 
  )
 
-(define-keywords UniSpec
-  ;; -- on-new must specify what happens when a world joins the universe
-  [on-new (function-with-arity 2)]
-  ;; -- on-msg must specify what happens to a message from a world 
-  [on-msg (function-with-arity 3)]
-  ;; -- on-disconnect may specify what happens when a world drops out
-  [on-disconnect (function-with-arity 2)]
-  ;; -- to-string specifies how to render the universe as a string for display
-  [to-string (function-with-arity 1)])
-
 (define-syntax (universe stx)
   (define legal "not a legal clause in a universe description")
   (syntax-case stx ()