Marcia has to write a paper in her American history class about the Civil War. She plans to explore why the war began, how it en
ded, and the lasting implications of the war on America. Which organizational pattern will she most likely use and why? A. The pattern she should use is cause/effect because she will discuss the chain of events leading up to the war and the effects of the war on America. B. The pattern she should use is compare/contrast because she will compare America before and after the war. C. The pattern she should use is theory/evidence because she will explore the theory of the Civil War and back up the theory with evidence. D. The pattern she should use is problem/solution because she will examine the problems that caused the Civil War and discuss possible solutions.
The answer is A, cause/effect. Marcia is focusing on how the war started, what ended it, and how it affected America. Cause/effect covers all these things, while the other answers either skip over these things completely or concentrate on only a few.
