I was hesitant to join this class at first because of the previous reviews from her other courses but I am so glad I trusted my gut and still took the course. Tamar is an incredible human first of all. She is deeply inspiring, kind, and not afraid to share her life experiences to connect with her students. I look up to her in so many ways as she has been one of the best professors I have had during my time at UCLA.

The grades are based on a "grading contract" so you are guaranteed a B if you complete your work well and can complete an extra assignment for an A. This may seem daunting but really isn't! Your goal in the class isn't to get 100% on a paper you're stressing over. Rather you get to learn how to write a blog, Op-Ed, and a create TEDTalk and have room to create something that is personal to you without having to worry about pleasing the professors expectations for an A. The class is also very based off of collaboration with your peers during class meeting but it really helps to create a great support system to build ideas.

The course is about climate science/change which is a fascinating topic that Tamar is passionate about and is very clear (makes you want to be passionate too). After taking this course, I believe I have learned so many great writing and speaking skills that go far beyond syntax or structure.

If you enjoy writing or want to get better at it, I couldn't recommend a better course.

This class transformed the way that I approach academic writing -- I feel like I know how to present hard science in a more digestible way, and also how to target my writing for specific audiences effectively. We focus on climate change and read the IPCC report, as well as Project Drawdown. The content and readings are honestly super enjoyable.

Tamar is also very down-to-earth -- the classroom environment is built to mirror the professional world. The course uses a grading contract. So, we approach classwork through the lens of a team; there's little-to-no lecture and most of your in-class time is spent like a discussion. [Meaningful] participation is super important, as is collaborating with your peers in writing workshops.

Do not be mistaken -- this course isn't an 'easy A.' But, the most important thing is your growth. We write three merit reviews throughout the entire quarter where we evaluated our performance and thought processes while writing in an iterative process. There are four main writing projects, as well as weekly discussion posts. No final exam. You're guaranteed a B if you do all the work. In your final portfolio, you also have the option of submitting an extra assignment to earn an 'Award for Excellence' -- or an A.

Tamar as an instructor is really special -- the classroom environment is very intimate and it's really cool. She embodies the work that she teaches and does a great job of showing that it's not hard to practice environmentalism. I highly recommend that you take this class at some point with her. It's a really unique and special experience.