Read actively, not passively. Underline or highlight important claims, interesting points, or especially eloquent phrases in the books. (You bought the course texts, and you should feel free to mark them up!) Relate ideas in the reading to ideas from other readings, from a song, from a sculpture, from a poem…. Put question marks next to confusing or confused statements made by the author. If you have a response to something an author says, write it in the margin, and in your notes. You should get into the habit of writing down at least one question about the readings and bringing that question with you to class for us to discuss.
