In IH51 and IH52, much of your final grade will be based on the essays you write.
Most good writers spend time planning, composing, and revising.
You probably won't be asked to write personal essays. Before you begin, therefore, you need to gain control over the basic ideas of the text and class discussion. Read carefully, and finish the assigned reading before the class discusses it. They spend time thinking about assignments and trying out ideas on paper before the first draft. Write down your ideas and questions in whatever ways they occur to you.