Making Sense With Sentences

[Music] in the principal's office Frank and Mary are telephoning the publisher of the Town Newspaper Frank is waiting to speak with the publisher secretary Mary will write a report of the conversation hello Miss Hoover this is Frank Simpson of Miss McCarthy's class at school we made may we that's right oh I see what did she say may after 3 Tuesday there are 30 of us two I see how many count our teacher her letter we will thank you very much she's nice well well let's get that letter written what letter may we go to the newspaper plant of course we can go didn't you hear what I just said come on what is this all about what letter is Frank going to write well certainly Mary will get to read the letter so let's go with her perhaps we too can find out about it here we are in Miss McCarthy's classroom there's Frank writing his letter now we'll know what he was talking about on the telephone let's see Dear Mr Hansen we would like to visit you two groups with our teacher and two parents we know about Tuesday and after 3:00 may we well we still don't know what Frank was talking about on the telephone that's not clear what does it mean it's clear to me well it's not to me and I'll bet no one else can understand it either I'll bet the woman I talked to on the phone could understand it is she the one you want to understand your letter Frank no I want Mr Hansen to understand it you read it Miss McCarthy see if you can understand it it isn't complete is it Frank maybe you should think through what you want to say to Mr Hansen perhaps Mary can help you sure I will but first I need to know what it's all about let's get started we want to arrange to go to the newspaper plan don't we but I don't understand what isn't here here there's just about as much here as you sit on the telephone I couldn't understand what you meant because I couldn't hear the complete conversation this letter says only your half of it yes that's the trouble we heard only half of the conversation Frank's half and that wasn't enough for us to know what they were thinking and planning that's right what's right we don't know unless we hear the other half of the conversation we need to hear what the publisher secretary said you're speaking for Miss McCarthy's class that's right we have visitors only after 3:00 after 3 yes and any day except Tuesday Tuesday now that we hear both sides of the conversation the ideas are complete and we understand now Frank must find a way to make his letter complete to make it EXP Express all the ideas not just part of them I see all right let's make it complete the first sentence it's complete enough isn't it we would like to visit you what's left out we would like to visit you it's complete Frank to us but is it complete to Mr Hansen would he understand who we are we could be you and me or the two of us and Miss McCarthy or some of the class or all of the class or just about everybody oh all right so we write our class at Washington School would like to visit you maybe he wouldn't understand that either he might think we want to visit him in his office or even at his home we'll have to write it so he can understand our whole idea Frank is finding how to make his letter complete it must say what he has to say completely enough for Mr Hansen to understand if Frank were writing to the publisher secretary he could say just we because she talked with him on the phone and so would understand whom he meant but Frank's letter is for Mr Hansen who doesn't know Frank or Frank's classmates so Frank must be sure his thought is expressed completely for Mr Hansen Frank must say our class at Washington School would like to visit your newspaper plant to see how newspapers are made there I guess that's clear enough that statement sounds clear enough but what about the next sentence two groups with our teacher and two parents why it isn't even a sentence it wouldn't mean very much to Mr Hansen just imagine what he might think two groups with our teacher and two parents why that isn't what I mean at all the groups won't be like that and besides what are they doing incomplete Expressions can mean just about anything to the other person can't they what do you mean well I mean two things so I guess I need two sentences first I mean because there are many of us in the class we will come in two groups and second I mean Miss McCarthy and two of our parents will accompany us there that's what I want to say there's a single thought in each sentence and each sentence is complete how do you know they're complete well there's a subject and a predicant in each sentence and each one is a complete thought look if I just say Miss McCarthy that's not a complete thought it has only a subject what above her but if I say Miss McCarthy is coming toward us then the sentence is complete it has both a subject and a predicate it's a good rule isn't it Miss McCarthy to have a single thought in each sentence and each sentence complete if you want to be understood yes Frank that's a usable rule for you to follow let's see is our first sentence complete our class at Washington school that's the subject right it tells what we're talking about and here's a predicate it tells what our class wants to do and together the subject and the predicate Express a complete idea look Mary while I go over the rest of the letter you check each sentence to be sure it contains a subject and a predicate so they worked on the letter following the rule one thought in each sentence and a complete thought in each sentence that's the way to make sense with sentences let's show to miss McCarthy when they had recopied the letter they were sure it expressed their thoughts completely is it finished will you read it to be sure it'll be clear to Mr Hansen course our class at Washington School would like to visit your newspaper class see how news yes now we know what that telephone conversation was about the letter tells the whole story it gives the main ideas of both sides of the conversation and ties them together clear enough for Mr Hansen the one to whom it is addressed to understand it readily this is so because each of the sentences is complete each one contains a complete thought and each sentence has a subject and a predicate I checked them it's a fine letter it's clear and complete do you think Mr Hansen will understand it I'm sure he will yes Frank and Mary have written a clear letter well thought out expressed in complete thoughts can you state your ideas as clearly using complete sentences to express your [Music] thoughts