Read your assigned reading in an active manner, not passively. Take notes as you read and highlight passages that seem especially pertinent; relevant topics can be distinguished by examining the course syllabus and any outlines the professor may hand out during lectures.
Create a list of questions you might ask in class to gain a better understanding of the material. These talking points may also prepare you for questions posed by your professor. When considering a question or stance that you might take during a discussion, consider any rebuttals or flaws in your logic. This well help you grasp different points of view, as well as show your teacher that you are not only contributing in class, but also contributing valuable time and effort outside of class, in preparation for class discussions.
Ask questions in class based on your assigned reading and homework. Tailor your questions toward the professor's classroom structure. Ask clarifying questions during lectures, for the sake of brevity, while rhetorical and leading questions are best reserved for class discussions and Socratic sessions, which are designed to spur further discussion and debate of the subject matter.
For example, if you are enrolled in a class on New Orleans literature, during a class lecture, it is best to focus on clarifying questions, such as asking how long had Tennessee Williams lived in New Orleans at the time he wrote "A Streetcar Named Desire." During a class discussion, however, you can pull out open-ended questions, such as those pertaining to class structure and society in New Orleans and how these factors influenced the shaping of Stanley and Stella's characters.