The best strategy for doing well in this class is to keep up with the work (readings and assignments) week by week. If you do this not only will you receive full credit for the homework, you will also do better on the research proposal. My experience with the class has showed me that people who do well on the homework do well on the the other work, and this is not just due to the fact that some people always do well on everything. Doing well on the homework is a function of how much time you spend on the class week by week. So is doing well on the proposal. We have homework every week because this is the best way to insure that everyone learns the material. You learn and retain much more by doing than by either listening or reading alone.
At the end of each week, review the goals listed for the week (on the web) and make sure you have achieved them. If you have not, review the materials for the week (the readings, your class notes, the assignments). The goals for each chapter build on each other; if you fall behind during one week it will hurt you in later weeks. At the end of each chapter the main points are summarized. There are many of these, too many to master the last few weeks of the semester when you are preparing the proposal. In Babbie the main points are summarized at the end of each chapter. Make sure you master these as you finish each chapter. Not only will they assure that you understand the materials week by week, there are simply too many to learn while preparing the research proposal. The proposal requires you to use and apply these sometimes quite complex concepts correctly.
Use the resources that are available to you. Many of the materials available through the world wide web version of the syllabus are there because they deal with the topics that are covered in class directly. Others are there because they are interesting or they go into more depth on the same topics. Look at them and use them to further your understanding.
If you are having problems with the materials do not put off addressing them. The ideas covered in this class are quite complex. See me during office hours or send me an email if you are having problems.