Outline WORKING OUT THE STORY Topic Sentence: A pair of wrens had made a nest in the helmet. (a) how made (b) why placed in the helmet Fourth Week Sixth Paragraph 233 Now you have guessed it! Bennie's mother guessed it, too, even before she looked into the helmet and saw the dry grass, sticks, and strings inside. She guessed that Mrs. Jenny Wren had found the helmet in spite of its being camouflaged, and had set up house-keeping in it. Or, perhaps Mr. and Mrs. Wren had chosen it because it was camouflaged to look like the green and brown of the woods. Anyway, a war helmet seems a queer place for a pair of birds to make their peaceful nest, doesn't it? Outline Topic Sentence: The location has proved entirely satisfactory. (a) completing the nest (b) eggs Fifth Week Seventh Paragraph The location has proved entirely satisfactory, for the birds have kept on furnishing the nest. The doll's wig that they found made excellent upholstering. The home is complete now, and the last time Bennie peeped in he saw six speckled eggs in it. Bennie is waiting impatiently for them to hatch. Outline Topic Sentence: Bennie will make the young birds good Americans. (a) what brother said (b) how Bennie I will train the birds Eighth Paragraph Bennie's big brother says that he will not be surprised if the little wrens chirp in German. Bennie is going to hang a little American flag over the helmet. He thinks the young birds will then be certain to grow up good Americans. Subjects for Long Stories Select a subject in which you are interested and work it out paragraph by paragraph in the same manner as A Queer Bird House was worked out. The following subjects may suggest possibilities to you: 1. An Interesting Family (rabbits, chickens, or dogs) 2. Our Scout Camp 3. The Horse in the World War 4. Furnishing an Attractive Room 7. Beautifying Our School Grounds Correct Usage It is not correct to use both a noun and a pronoun meaning the same thing for the subject of a sentence. For example, you should say "Mother bought a dress," not "Mother she bought a dress." X. VERBS Tense of Verbs Sometimes verbs tell what is taking place now; as, "I see you"; "He sees me." A verb that tells what is taking place now is in the present tense. Tense means time. A verb may tell what has taken place; as, "Mother wrote a letter." A verb that tells what has taken place in the past is in the past tense. A verb may tell what will take place at some time to come; as, “They will go to-morrow"; "I shall study this afternoon." A verb that tells what will take place in the future is in the future tense. Give the tense of each verb in the following sentences: 1. The squirrel sees the nut. 2. Bennie will make the young birds good Americans. 3. He thinks the birds will speak German. 4. A pair of wrens made a nest in the helmet. 5. Bennie's mother discovers the birds' nest. 6. The strap made an excellent handle. 7. She hung the helmet up. 8. The location proved satisfactory. 9. I hear a train. 10. We shall have a picnic Saturday. 11. Who will open the door? 12. The bird flew through the hole. as, Will and shall are helping words added to verbs to form the future tense. Use shall when the subject of the sentence is I or we. With all other subjects use will. In a question, use the form expected in the answer; "Shall you go?" "Yes, I shall go." I will or we will expresses determination or willingness; as, “I will go in spite of the danger," "We will help you." Read aloud the following sentences, filling the blanks with will or shall: |