This course was by far my favorite course I've taken at UCSB! Ungraded presentations allowed students to take risks and have room for mistakes which took off a ton of pressure. I saw everyone in my class improve so much in their public speaking skills by the end of the quarter. Hanson also puts a ton of effort into providing super helpful feedback!

Guess what you're not graded on in a public speaking class? Public speaking. Instead you're graded on portfolios of busy work. Unnecessarily particular when it comes to grading. Also, takes credit for past students' career success. Ick. If you LOVE motivational speakers, this guy is for you. If not, look elsewhere to improve PS skills.

Writing 105 PS is an incredibly practical class, and it's much less work than other area a2 courses - the whole grade is 3 presentations, plus a portfolio (and maybe a formal email). Hanson is a straightforward lecturer and gives clear feedback, and the class is a place to experiment with your public speaking skills. Really nice atmosphere!

Jeff is a great teacher. I highly recommend this course for anyone who is looking for professional development. It is an easy class in terms of content, but he helps you grow in presentation design in ways you didn't anticipate. I am a biology major, and this is definitely the only class I have taken this quarter that I will ever use in my career.