To help students identify text features in expository texts, which activity is most effective?

• A. Skimming for gist
• B. Participating in a scavenger hunt to locate the elements of text
• C. Writing a personal reflection
• D. Listening to a narrative

Answer: (B)

Focusing on how a text is organized and where to find its features is most effectively taught through a hands-on search that has students locate the elements inside real expository passages. A scavenger-hunt approach puts headings, subheadings, bold terms, captions, diagrams, charts, glossaries, and other features right in front of learners, giving them concrete practice naming and identifying each feature as they move through the text. This active exploration helps students see how authors use these features to organize information, compare sections, and guide understanding, which they can then transfer to any nonfiction reading.

Skimming for gist mainly targets overall meaning and main ideas rather than teaching students to recognize and name the specific features that guide comprehension. Writing a personal reflection shifts attention to the reader’s response rather than the text’s structure. Listening to a narrative centers on storytelling techniques rather than the distinct organizational tools of expository writing. While those activities have value, they don’t provide the focused practice needed to identify and understand text features across various expository texts.