Intrigue is designed to meet the "five C's" of the standards for foreign language learning Communication, Cultures, Connections, Comparisons, and Communities. Vocabulary-building activities in the first episode of each chapter encourage students to draw on their knowledge of basic vocabulary, expand upon it, and add new vocabulary Includes regional variations, terms for literary analysis, and an introduction to business French. Process-writing activities in each chapter guide students through the writing process. The "À l'écrit" activities successively target vocabulary development, practical language, and writing connected paragraphs. These first three activities in the three "Épisodes" of each chapter lead to a more formal essay or letter-writing assignment in the "Dénouement" final section of each chapter. Original readings that expose the plot of the mystery story are accompanied by realia and other authentic texts such as songs, poems, or literary excerpts. Readings become progressively more complex in each subsequent chapter and include examples of the grammatical structures or language functions learned in the chapter. Pre-reading and post-reading activities assist students in developing strategies for understanding meaning from context.

Grammar review and language function activities are designed to address the needs of students with varying levels of language preparation and diverse learning styles. Grammar explanations in English ensure that students will have a clear understanding of the structures, but students are also exposed to grammatical terminology in French to facilitate in-class discussions of grammar in the target language. Students are drawn into the vibrancy and diversity of cultures in the French-speaking world through the characters presented in the context of the mystery story. "Information" boxes offer historical and cultural background information about Francophone cultures or useful tips about French language usage. The "Points de vue" video to accompany Intrigue offers interviews with French speakers from each of the textbook's ten target cultures. Interview questions are related to each chapter's vocabulary and grammar structures, as well as to the cultural theme. A wealth of related activities are found in the Student Activities Manual.