Be kind, be respectful, be open minded but most importantly pay attention. Not because of tests/quizzes (can be used very well for this though, i'll get into that later), but because of the information Mr. Abrams tells you. I doubt you will ever learn or hear about these specific social injustices and direct topics again. Soak it all in. Learn the faults of the world, but most importantly ask yourself constantly "will I ever hear these topics again? ". My answer was always probably never again in the slightest degree. So take advantage of hearing these life changing topics. The quizzes/tests are very hard, so make sure you study and take notes in class. The homework is very manageable, so you shouldn't have to worry too much about that. Focus on the exams and taking good notes.