For example, I have a class in which there would ALWAYS be discussions and me and maybe a couple of others would be the one's who are always quiet.

I dislike just sitting there and listening.

I don't get how a few people in the class (& there are always the few in every class) just spew out questions and opinions left and right!!

I mean, I do most of the readings and try my best to listen as closely as I can in class, but I still cannot think of things to say!!!

I just agree with most things people say.

This has always been a problem for me.
Like life-long.

I really think I should try to fix this, especially since I want to get my grades up and participation is particularly important in this class.

Help?

Edit: And it's not that I'm always a quiet person. I know how to make friends in my classes (I actually, usually LOVE talking to the friends themselves on my own), but I just have a HUGE problem getting that hand up!!!

tornadocam : Well, I don't have a physical problem of raising my hand and speaking, but I never know WHAT to say.....

Edit: And its a class in which hands must be raised.

tornadocam : Haha thanks & its alright. I've misunderstood things too, but yea, I don't usually have an opinion and that's my problem lol....

Could you give an example? It's kind of hard imagining your situation.

Also, you really don't have anything to say about the discussion? It isn't some sort of thing where you're just afraid to say something stupid in front of your teacher and peers?

Depending on the subject, you could make little notes about your readings that doesn't make sense, and use that as a guide to start discussions in class.

The question is, Do you really wan't to participate
in class more? Everything about your life depends on you.
You make the choice as long as you be yourself, and if
no one likes it then don't mind them they were given
their own lives.

"especially since I want to get my grades up"

That's a big no to have as a reason for participation. You should participate for the sake of clarification or digging deeper into the topic. If you participate just for the sake of having recitation scores, you'll probably just blurt out non-sense. What you've said would probably be looked upon as not needed and more of a nuisance by those who are interested about the topic. Their reaction would be something like "Does she really have to ask that...?" or maybe "Isn't it obvious enough?" Obviously, you won't like reactions like that. Only recite when you really have something good to say.

But how to think of that "something"?

Firstly, if you read lessons in advance, if you don't understand some parts of what you've read, you could always ask the teacher about it in front of the class. Who knows, maybe your classmates also have the same difficulty and you might have helped them through questioning.

Second, "think out of the box". As a current programming student, I've already heard that multiple times from different teachers. At first it was hard to concentrate on things that aren't covered or mentioned in the discussion and ask it to the teacher, but as I practice, it becomes a little bit easier.

ie. If the discussion in literature is about the story of a prince who jumped off the cliff to save the girl he loves but died, don't just "accept" that fact and move on. Think of different possibilities. Is it worth it for him to jump off the cliff? Didn't he think of his parents or maybe his siblings who love him ever since he was a child? It's obvious enough that he'd die if he jumps off, why did he still jump? Maybe he could have asked for more help around the place instead. That might have been a better move, plus he's a prince, he'll surely receive help from the town folks and guards. It might have been a touching story, but don't you think it's also a bit idiotic? Maybe it's the effect of love to someone's brain?

Aaaand that's a simple example of thinking out of the box. You can also apply it during lessons. See how many ideas I've generated out of a single sentence story? That should be enough to get the discussion going and let others join in and share their thoughts and opinions.

Alright thanks guys I can try that.
& I didn't really mean the part about my grade & I don't mean to just blurt out nonsense

& yea I usually just don't know what to say (I think there was a post asking about that?)