Complete Thought: avoiding the-sentence-to-nowhere

Complete Thought

Avoiding "The Sentence to Nowhere"

There is a difference between a spoken complete thought and a written one. The sentence exists mostly in writing. If you listen to everyday conversations, you may not always hear complete sentences unless the person is reading; however, you will probably hear complete thoughts. Before a person can write a sentence with grammar and punctuation, he or she needs to be able express a complete thought.

Complete vs. Incomplete

The response below is an example of stream-of-consciousness.

CLEAR	UNCLEAR
Topic: One fifth of Americans are unable to locate the United States on a world map. Controlling Idea: Reason	Topic: Americans unable to do so (find the U.S. on a map). Controlling Idea: Reason is (1) no maps; (2) education...South Africa...Iraq...???.
Q: Recent polls have shown a fifth of Americans can't locate the United States on a world map. Why do you think this is?	A: "I personally believe that U.S. Americans are unable to do so because, uh, some people out there in our nation don't have maps and, uh, I believe that our, uh, education like such as in, uh, South Africa and, uh, the Iraq and everywhere like such as, and I believe that they should, uh, our education over here in the U.S. should help the U.S., uh, should help South Africa and should help Iraq and the Asian countries, so we will be able to build up our future for our children."

CLEAR

UNCLEAR

Topic: One fifth of Americans are unable to locate the United States on a world map.
Controlling Idea: Reason

Topic: Americans unable to do so (find the U.S. on a map).
Controlling Idea: Reason is (1) no maps; (2) education...South Africa...Iraq...???.

Q: Recent polls have shown a fifth of Americans can't locate the United States on a world map. Why do you think this is?

A: "I personally believe that U.S. Americans are unable to do so because, uh, some people out there in our nation don't have maps and, uh, I believe that our, uh, education like such as in, uh, South Africa and, uh, the Iraq and everywhere like such as, and I believe that they should, uh, our education over here in the U.S. should help the U.S., uh, should help South Africa and should help Iraq and the Asian countries, so we will be able to build up our future for our children."

A Complete Thought

A complete thought consists of a general subject (a topic) and some kind of "spin" or controlling idea on the topic. For example, the idea could be the speaker's intent, understanding, perspective or opinion about the topic. Examples:

TOPIC	CONTROLLING IDEA	EXAMPLE
taxes	*fact	Each year, citizens pay their taxes. (* Restates truth, no intent or opinion is expressed.)
	opinion	Each year, citizens pay unfair taxes.
	comparison	Each year, middle-class Americans pay more taxes than any other income level.
	qualification	Each year, some citizens pay their taxes.
	description	Each year, 300-million, optimistic, American citizens pay taxes.
	modifying clauses	Each year citizens vote on how they wish their taxes, which are rising, to be spent.
	addition	Each year, citizens pay sales, property, state and federal taxes.
	purpose	Each year, citizens pay taxes to help cover the cost of social services.
	alternative	Each year, people pay their taxes on time or they pay a penalty.
	contrast	Each year, citizens pay their taxes ; however, they are unsatisfied with government use of taxes.
	emphasis	Each year, citizens pay so many different kinds of taxes that it's hard to keep track of them all.
	reason	Each year, citizens pay their taxes because they don't want to go to jail.
	cause	Each year, rising costs cause governments to raise taxes .
	effect	Each year, increases in taxes result in hardship for many citizens.
	condition	If the state wants to raise taxes , then the people must approve the changes.
	imposition of will	I suggest you pay your taxes on time.
	command	Pay your taxes !
	question	Have you already paid your taxes this year?
	report	My father told us not to delay paying our taxes .

A Sentence

A written sentence needs a subject and a verb to be grammatical.
A spoken sentence needs a complete thought and may rely more heavily on contextual information.

INCOMPLETE THOUGHT	COMPLETED THOUGHT
All those taxes for our country to rebuild itself. The verb is missing. The thought is incomplete.	All those taxes are needed for our country to rebuild itself.
All those taxes are needed to rebuild this country. People can't do that easily." There is a logic gap – the connection of "taxes for rebuilding" to"can't do that" is unclear.	All those taxes are needed to rebuild this country. People can't easily afford to pay the high taxes needed to rebuild the country .
Taxes, which you pay annually. The main sentence is unfinished.	Taxes, which you pay annually, are used to for state and federal services.
"Where does the money go?" "into public services" A short answer has no subject or verb, yet it is understood in the context of the conversation.	"Where does the money go?" "It goes into public services"

Exceptions to the written sentence rule

Practice

Complete the each sentence below so that it makes sense and is a complete thought.
Check your answers. An asterisk * indicates an incorrect response.

#	SENTENCE & FEEDBACK	YOUR RESPONSE
1.	That is why I, like every American, Feedback 1	who gets upset about this situation. am upset about this situation.
2.	I know that the President will do that Feedback 2	and I, as his vice president. with me, as his vice president.
3.	We are elected by citizens to serve them and Feedback 3	are our priority. they are our priority.
4.	That will be our top priority Feedback 4	is to defend the American people. to defend the American people.
5.	Helping the economy Feedback 5	it's got to be all about job creation. has got to be all about job creation . has got be = should be
6.	So health-care reform and reducing taxes and spending Feedback 6	. (add nothing) is most important.
7.	Because people want to know how you will be spending their money Feedback 7	. (add nothing) , you need to put the budget plan online.
8.	the largest national debt in this country since 1975. debt = money owed Feedback 8	It is Is
9.	For example, cutting taxes, limiting spending and paying off the national debt Feedback 9	(add nothing) are things we will do.
10.	If people want change Feedback 10	, then they must vote. then must vote.
11.	Whether you have healthcare Feedback 11	should not depend on income. or not.
12.	The more trade, the stronger the economy Feedback 12	will be. . (nothing)

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