“The beautiful thing about learning is nobody can

take it away from you.”

-B.B. King, a famous Blues guitarist

- online pictures, Bing

Syllabus, English 1220, section 814, CUNYfirst 26424, Accelerated Learning Program (ALP), Laboratory
(non-credit, two hours, Professor Linda Holman, Mondays, 9:10-11:20 (periods 2 and 3), Room T4213

At Kingsborough Community College, the Accelerated Learning Program (ALP) in the English department’s
Composition Program is designed to provide smooth transition to English 24 for those students whose writing
scores are just below passing. ALP provides a supportive small community within the larger English 12 class:
it is “a safe place for students to learn together, grow together, and support each other under the guidance of
an instructor” (see the KCC Composition Mission Statement). The main goal of the course is to help students
achieve success in regard to all of the learning outcomes for English 12, and to ensure that every student has
the best chance to submit a passing portfolio at the end of the semester. Thus, this course will provide preview,
review, practice, and supplement to the concepts, reading/writing/critical thinking skills, readings, and
assignments in English 12. Moreover, we will have time for additional lessons, class discussion, periods of
question and answer, and student to student or student to instructor interaction (e.g., peer critiquing of
student writing or one-on-one conferencing). On some days, we may grant ourselves additional time for an in-
class writing assignment or the discussion of a class reading assignment. On other days, we may read and
discuss a new reading that relates to our text or to topics relevant to our text. Our classwork will enhance
your writing—and our classroom experience should do the same thing, too. The course is akin to a cozy
seminar, and we should become familiar enough with one another to share ideas, criticism, and writing.
Throughout the course, my lesson plans will be tentatively planned to allow us the latitude to change our
direction whenever it is necessary. Our focus will be centered on the readings, assignments, topics, and skills
that are mandated by English 12, and are essential to the competition of a satisfactory final portfolio.

Please, if you have not already done so, read the English 12 syllabus because all of the information you need to
be successful in this course and in English 12 is there. This course is an addendum to that course, and all of
the course expectations and guidelines (e.g., on homework and writing assignments or on miscellaneous issues)
are the same in laboratory and lecture. Our book is Educated, written by Tara Westover, and any additional
readings will be given to you or made available by me. Please come to class with the text and/or readings,
materials, and homework: it is your responsibility as a college student to be prepared for class. After you
have read both syllabi, please contact me if you have any questions about either course, and I will be glad to
provide answers.

Attendance is important. Those students who attend courses regularly gain the most (e.g., knowledge,
information, skills, experience, support, confidence, connections) from the courses. And attending this
laboratory course is no different: regularly attending this course means that you benefit from all of the
learning that occurs because of instruction, questions and answers, class discussion, learning activities, peer
critiquing, and information and/or learning activities. Moreover, those students who attend regularly will
probably pass on portfolio—and they will receive a grade. The grade for English 1200 and English 1220 will be

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the same. In contrast, those students who do not attend the majority of the laboratory sessions (85%) will be
barred from submitting a portfolio (see the English 12 syllabus), and without a portfolio, a student has no
chance of moving to English 24, the second required course in the English department’s course sequence, and
these students will have to register for English 12.

Here is an ALP Next Course Placement Summary—

English 12 Grade Next Course

Pass English 24
Fail English 12
W / WD / WN / WU ALP English 12

Whenever you want to see me, just let me know. If you have been absent and want to discuss your reasons for
absence or the coursework, for either course, please contact me as quickly as possible. You may visit my
office, Office C324, Ext. 5248, and I have scheduled office hours on Mondays from 11:30-2:30, and you may
schedule an appointment on another day or communicate with me through email. Whenever you use
electronic communication, though, please use your KCC email address and my KCC email address:
Linda.Holman@kbcc.cuny.edu

Welcome to ALP! And best wishes for a happy, productive, and successful spring semester!

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