I took Professor Martinez during my fall quarter, and oh my god, I am so glad I did. This man is genuinely one of the most engaging, kind, and passionate professors out there. From day one, he made the classroom feel welcoming and exciting, he's got this warm energy that makes you actually want to show up and participate. The class is focused on reading writing, but it's not one of those "just turn in something and pass" deals. The assignments are straightforward and manageable (no insane workloads), but they're designed so well that you actually understand what you're reading and improve how you write about it. You come out feeling like you've genuinely leveled up your critical thinking and expression, not just checked a box. The feedback he gives is thoughtful, constructive, and always encouraging, he really wants you to get better. What stands out most is how understanding and supportive he is. Life happens, and he gets it. He's flexible without being a pushover, and he genuinely cares if you're struggling or just having an off day. I never felt judged, I always felt seen and motivated.
If you're looking for an easy but meaningful class with a professor who is nice, super engaging, and actually invests in your growth, take Professor Martinez! He's underrated and deserves all the praise. 10/10, would take again in a heartbeat.

By far, one of the best professors at UCLA! Writing is not my strongest suit but I'm glad to have taken this class with Professor Martinez. His live and welcoming energy made 8 am classes very much bearable! You'll feel your writing improve as the quarter goes on. The only homework assigned is usually short readings (provides PDFs so you do not have to buy them) that are briefly reviewed at the start of class. We had 3 different essays throughout the quarter, and each time we'd do peer reviews which made it very helpful to see what could be improved on before our final submission. His grading was fair and feedback was helpful. I felt he was always prepared for class with slides/handouts. We had to keep a notebook (physical or digital) with our notes, readings/annotations, essays, etc. in which he would do notebook checks here and there just to make sure we were keeping up with the class. If you have the opportunity to take this class with Professor Martinez, PLEASE DO! Highly recommend it.