Complete Thought: including a topic and controlling idea

On this page:
A Complete Thought
Stream of Consciousness
Topic–Controlling Idea
Written vs Spoken
Practice 1
Practice 2

Complete Thought

Including a topic and a controlling idea

speaking

Complete thought

QUESTION	ANSWER
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. What are the essential elements of a spoken sentence?
Question Topic: activity Controlling Idea: current one	Answer Topic: activity Controlling Idea: going to volley ball practice
SPOKEN QUESTION What're you up to?	SPOKEN ANSWER Uh… heading off to volley ball (Much is understood from context, from the shared knowledge of what both people see and know.)
WRITTEN QUESTION "What are you doing?"	WRITTEN ANSWER "I am going to volley ball practice."

Topic

Unfocussed Topic

Stream-of-consciousness

QUESTION	WANDERING ANSWER
The following is an example of a question asked to a young woman competing in a beauty pageant.	Her response was in a stream of conciousness, meaning whatever came to her mind, she said! Much of her response was off topic and without a controlling idea..
Topic: Twenty per cent of Americans are unable to find the U.S. on a map. Controlling Idea: Give reasons (or guesses).	Topic: Twenty per cent of Americans are unable to find the U.S. on a map. Controlling Idea: Reasons: (1) no maps; (2) education...South Africa...Iraq...?? (3) children…future…
Q: Recent polls have shown that a fifth of American youths can't locate the United States on a world map. Why is this?	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."

QUESTION

WANDERING ANSWER

The following is an example of a question asked to a young woman competing in a beauty pageant.

Her response was in a stream of conciousness, meaning whatever came to her mind, she said! Much of her response was off topic and without a controlling idea..

Topic: Twenty per cent of Americans are unable to find the U.S. on a map.
Controlling Idea: Give reasons (or guesses).

Topic: Twenty per cent of Americans are unable to find the U.S. on a map.
Controlling Idea: Reasons: (1) no maps; (2) education...South Africa...Iraq...?? (3) children…future…

Q: Recent polls have shown that a fifth of American youths can't locate the United States on a world map. Why is this?

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."

YouTube video Uhhh...what did she just say? Miss Teen South Carolina 2007

Controling Idea

Focussed Topic

Topic—controlling idea

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.

TOPIC	CONTROLLING IDEA — "SPIN"	THE TOPIC + THE CONTROLLING IDEA
cell phones	*FACT	Over five billion cell phones are in use worldwide. (* Restates truth, no intent or opinion is expressed.)
mobile phones	OPINION	The cell phone is the "universal device".
	COMPARISON	More people have cell phones than any other electronic device.
	QUALIFICATION	Some people have multiple cell phones.
	DESCRIPTON	Cell phones not only serve as telephones but as mini-computers, cameras, e-readers and flashlights.
	MODIFYING CLAUSE	Cell phones, which are frequently held to the ear, are being studied for possibly dangerous effects.
	ADDITION	Cell phones and computers both require operating systems.
	PURPOSE	Mothers give cell phones to children to track their whereabouts.
	ALTERNATIVE	Almost everyone in the world can be reached by cell phone or landline.
	CONTRAST	People used to wait for installations of telephone lines; however, now cell phones are set up in minutes.
	EMPHASIS	There are so many features on cell phones that travelers no longer need to carry laptops.
	REASON	People carry cell phones because they are expected to do so!
	CAUSE	Cell phone location tracking is causing the divorce rate to increase. (Cheaters are being caught!)
	EFFECT	Distracted use of cell phones has resulted in traffic and pedestrian accidents.
	CONDITION	If drivers want to use cell phones, they must use hands-free technology.
	IMPOSITION OF WILL	I suggest you turn off your cell phone during a job interview.
	COMMAND	Don't talk and hold your cell phone while driving!
	QUESTION	Have you hugged your cell phone today?
	REPORTED SPEECH	My girlfriend told me to choose between her and my cell phone. I called her and told her to have a nice life.

"List of countries by number of mobile phones in use." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. 3 August 2011. UTC. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. < Link >

A Sentence

Written vs. Spoken

A written sentence needs a subject and a verb (predicate) 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 This topic is missing a controlling idea / This subject is missing a predicate.	All those taxes are needed for our country to rebuild itself.
Rebuilding this country! This topic is missing a controlling idea / This subject is missing a predicate.	We are rebuilding this country!
Taxes, which you pay annually. This topic is missing a controlling idea / This subject is missing a predicate.	Taxes, which you pay annually, are used for state and federal services.
"Where does the money go?" (spoken) "into public services" In speech 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 1

Topic and Controlling Idea

Identify the Topic or the Controlling idea

Select the response from the list that best completes the sentence.
Compare your response to the answer by clicking the "check" button.

Education needs more government money. Each year, less money goes to supporting our schools. Our schools need help to stay open.
The topic is?

Education needs more government money

Feedback 1

Thirty per cent of our children do not know where beef comes from. They think it comes from the supermarket. They do not understand the connection between beef and cattle.
The controlling idea is?

Thirty per cent of our children do not know where beef comes from

Feedback 2

Because there are so many potholes in our roads, tires are getting damaged. I've had to replace all four tires! My tires constantly getting destroyed by these road in need of repair.
The topic is?

because there are so many potholes tire damage

Feedback 3

Pets are good for calming their owners. They feel more "in the present" when they are with their pets. Pets help owners forget other things, so they feel less anxious.
The controlling idea is?

Pets are good for calmng their owners.

Feedback 4

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