What type of organizational pattern is most clearly used in this excerpt from Mark Twain's Life on the Mississippi?
A broad expanse of the river was turned to blood; in the middle distance the red hue brightened into gold, through which a solitary log came floating, black and conspicuous; in one place a long, slanting mark lay sparkling upon the water; in another the surface was broken by boiling, tumbling rings, that were as many-tinted as an opal; where the ruddy flush was faintest, was a smooth spot that was covered with graceful circles and radiating lines, ever so delicately traced; the shore on our left was densely wooded, and the somber shadow that fell from this forest was broken in one place by a long, ruffled trail that shone like silver; and high above the forest wall a clean-stemmed dead tree waved a single leafy bough that glowed like a flame in the unobstructed splendor that was flowing from the sun. There were graceful curves, reflected images, woody heights, soft distances; and over the whole scene, far and near, the dissolving lights drifted steadily, enriching it, every passing moment, with new marvels of coloring.

-chronological
-spatial
-compare and contrast
-cause and effect

A writer can use many patterns when organizing his/her ideas. The specific pattern (or combination of patterns) chosen depends on the specific topic and the objectives the writer has identified for the document.

A spatial pattern of organization present the information in accordance with how things are organized in physical space, or the relation of the things described in a physical location.

In this excerpt, phrases such as: a broad expanse of the river, in the middle distance, one place a long, in another the surface gives us the hint that it is a spatial organization.

michell96 michell96 · Answer 2 · 2019-04-23T23:02:31+02:00

The correct answer is B. Spatial

Explanation:

Spatial organization, also referred to as descriptive writing, is a type of organization pattern that organizes the information in a text according to the space, this type of organization is mainly used to describe the way a place is or looks, in this way, the reader can have a mental image of a specific setting or scenario. Additionally, this type of organization can be recognized as the author or narrator focuses on providing details about the space in an organized way.

This type of organization can be seen in the excerpt from Mark Twain's Life on the Mississippi as the author describes a setting or scenario in which there is a river by organizing the information according to the location elements have in reference to the river which is shown in the use of words such as "broad expanse of the river", "in the middle distance", "in one place", "the surface", "spot", "high above" and "over the whole scenery that takes the reader from one section of the place to the other in an organized way and by providing details about each section of the scenario which is the purpose of spatial organization.