Book Review # 1 papers back The uses of comma Book Discussion on Identity Part 1: Jon

and John Background Information about the

examples Maalouf uses in his book. Talking about the writing center

workshop

Use commas to separate independent clauses when they are joined by any of these seven coordinating conjunctions: and, but, for, or, nor, so, yet.

The game was over, but the crowd refused to leave.The student explained her question, yet the instructor still didn't seem to understand.Yesterday was her brother's birthday, so she took him out to dinner.

Use commas after introductory a) clauses, b) phrases, or c) words that come before the main clause

While I was eating, the cat scratched at the door.

Because her alarm clock was broken, she was late for class.

If you are ill, you ought to see a doctor.When the snow stops falling, we'll shovel the

driveway.

However, don't put a comma after the main clause when a dependent (subordinate) clause follows it (except for cases of extreme contrast).

She was late for class, because her alarm clock was broken. (incorrect)

The cat scratched at the door, while I was eating. (incorrect)

Do not use commas to set off essential elements of the sentence, such as clauses beginning with that (relative clauses).

-- Examples of other essential elements (no commas):Students who cheat only harm themselves.The baby wearing a yellow jumpsuit is my niece.The candidate who had the least money lost the election.

-- Examples of nonessential elements (set off by commas):Fred, who often cheats, is just harming himself.My niece, wearing a yellow jumpsuit, is playing in the living

room.Apples, which are my favorite fruit, are the main ingredient in

this recipe.Professor Benson, grinning from ear to ear, announced that the

exam would be tomorrow.

Born in 25 February 1949 in Beirut A Lebanese journalist and author Lives in France since 1976 Maalouf’s website:http://www.aminmaalouf.org/english/ An interview:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kagjl0uBxX4

Identity is what makes us unique: our background, our race, our language, our gender, our religion etc.

One identity and several affiliations , or as he calls, a number of allegiances

Reality: taking all the allegiances His main aim is: “to try to understand why so many people

commit crimes nowadays in the name of religious, ethnic, national or some other kind of identity,” how what he calls “identities that kill” are made and sustained.

Us and them distinction—it can lead people to the worst kind of extremities

It is good if you have multiple national allegiances and can live with them altogether. Yet some are pressed hard to choose one side and be part of one or the other. Those German-Turk, French-Algerian, Asian-American etc…

MAIN QUESTION: We want to try to understand why so many people commit crimes nowadays in the name of religious, ethnic, national or some other kind of identity?

Former Yugoslavia Lebanon RwandaWorld is unfortunately full of such

examples. Maalouf specifically focus on Middle East and Balkans.

After WWII Yugoslavia dissolved into Croatia, Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Kosovo

During the Cold War, the Yugoslav government allied with the Soviet Union However, despite an early alliance of the Yugoslav communists with the Soviet Union, Stalin distrusted Tito and the two leaders did not agree with each others' methods. Frustration between Tito and Stalin grew after Tito refused to link Yugoslavia's economy with that of the Soviet Union and the rest of Eastern Europe. The relations between Tito and Stalin came to an end in 1948

It is bordered by Syria to the north and east, and Israel to the south. It is close to Cyprus through the Mediterranean Sea.

Before the Lebanese Civil War (1975-1990), the country enjoyed a period of relative calm and prosperity, driven by the tourism, agriculture, and banking sectors of the economy. It was widely known as the "Switzerland of the East" due to its financial power and diversity.

Lebanon attracted large numbers of tourists to the point that the capital Beirut became widely referred to as the "Paris of the East.”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kagjl0uBxX4

How many identity categories do you have? What do you think about your own identities and allegiances?

Do you feel threatened and discriminated against some of your allegiances?

“Identity isn’t given once and for all: It is build up and changes throughout person’s lifetime”—What does this statement mean for you?