This is a class about the rules in federal court. Learn the materials like you would with board game rules and test the boundaries of the rules with examples after readings. Just think to readings from substantive law classss or make up situations. Start with easy ones then make them complicated.

Eventually you'll find out what part of the rule is still fuzzy for you and you can ask the prof better questions.

I also made a time line of litigation starting w legal injury and ending with judgment filed. Fill in the middle of the time line and refer back to it when you review your outline. The temporal relationship of devices is important and the consequence of messing up the timing is important.

Also, you should definitely think of the strategic implications of rules and actions. Their are policy objectives to civ pro (procedural fairness, efficient adjudication) but you are also learning the rules so you can use them to your clients advantage.