Solar Photovoltaic Power Plant Project Management Plan

Solar Photovoltaic Power Plant Project Management Plan Introduction Solar photovoltaic cells convert sunlight into electricity and many solar photovoltaic power stations have been built, mainly in Europe. As of September 2010, the largest photovoltaic (PV) power plants in the world are the Sarnia Photovoltaic Power Plant (Canada, 80 MW), Olmedilla Photovoltaic Park (Spain, 60  MW), the Strasskirchen Solar Park (Germany, 54  MW), the Lieberose Photovoltaic Park (Germany, 53  MW), the Puertollano Photovoltaic Park (Spain, 50  MW), the Moura Photovoltaic Power Station (Portugal, 46  MW), and the Waldpolenz Solar Park (Germany, 40  MW).[1] This proposal is for setting up a 50 MW (10 MW x 5 Phases) capacity solar photovoltaic power plant based on latest High Power Modules using cells consisting of Multi-Crystalline Silicon Technology / Tandem Junction Thin Film Technology, which has been successfully developed for commercial implementation and has been delivering reliable power generation around the world for some years now. The solar photovoltaic power project is proposed to be set up in Jodhpur district of Rajasthan, India which is one of the best suited locations in terms of higher annual direct normal insolation (DNI), favourable climatic conditions and land availability Some photovoltaic power stations which are presently proposed will have a capacity of 150  MW or more. Many of these plants are integrated with agriculture and some use innovative tracking systems that follow the suns daily path across the sky to generate more electricity than conventional fixed-mounted systems. There are no fuel costs or emissions during operation of the power stations. AIM This proposal examines the techniques of project management used in development of a solar photovoltaic power plant Project. The background of the project will be described including its planning, Execution, Operation Maintenance and Financial analysis a project; critical success factors for the project implementation are identified presenting an overview of project structure, methods, risks, etc. Objectives The objectives for the project are the successful completion of solar photovoltaic power plant, on budget, on time and safely. The objectives are also to develop world class project management best practices within the solar industry. Research Methodology The PMBOK Guide states that projects are composed of two kinds of process: project management processes and product-oriented processes (which specify and create the project product). Project management processes are further divided into initiating, planning, execution, controlling and closing processes. This proposal mainly concentrates on the core processes of planning, execution and controlling. The project management process groups depicted in figure 1 are initiating, planning, executing, monitoring and controlling, and closing. Initiating defines and authorizes the project or a project phase. Planning defines and refines objectives and plans the course of action required to attain the objectives and scope that the project was undertaken to address. Executing integrates people and other resources to carry out the project management plan for the project. Monitoring and controlling regularly measures and monitors progress to identify variances from the project management plan so that corrective action can be taken when necessary to meet project objectives. Closing formalizes acceptance of the product, service, or result and brings the project or a project phase to an orderly end. Figure illustrates the relative depth, breadth, and interrelationship between these process groups. Planning Planning in organizations constitutes both the organizational process of creating and maintaining a plan; and the psychological process of thinking about the activities required to create a desired goal on some scale. As such, it is a fundamental property of intelligent behaviour. This thought process is essential to the creation and refinement of a plan or integration of it with other plans. It combines forecasting of developments with the preparation of scenarios of how to react to them. An important albeit often ignored aspect of planning, is the relationship it holds with forecasting. Forecasting can be described as predicting what the future will look like, whereas planning predicts what the future should look like. The above scenario is often used to describe the formal procedures used in the creation of documents, endeavour, diagrams, meetings to discuss the important issues to be addressed, objectives to be met and the strategy to be followed. Beyond this planning has a different meaning depending on the political or economic context in which it is used. There are ten core processes: scope planning scope definition activity definition resource planning activity sequencing activity duration estimating cost estimating schedule development cost budgeting Project plan development. The output from these processes project plans makes up an input to the executing processes. A distinction is made between the project plans proper and the project performance baselines. Executing Executing consists of the process used to complete the work defined in the project management plan to accomplish the projects requirements. Execution process involves coordinating people and resources as well as integrating and performing the activities of the project in accordance with the project management plan. The deliverables are produced as outputs from the processes performed as defined in the project management plan. Executing Processes Project Plan Execution performing the activities Complete Tasks/Work Packages Information Distribution Scope Verification acceptance of project scope Quality Assurance evaluating overall project performance on a regular basis; meeting standards Team Development developing team and individual skill sets to enhance the project Progress Meetings Monitoring and controlling Monitoring and controlling consists of those processes which have performed to observe project execution so that potential problems can be identified in a timely manner and corrective action can be taken place. When necessary to control the execution of the project. The key benefit is that project performance is observed and measured regularly to identify variances from the project management plan. Monitoring and Controlling includes: Measuring the on-going project activities. Monitoring the project variables (cost, effort, scope, etc.) against the project management plan and the project performance baseline. Identify corrective actions to address issues and risks properly. Influencing the factors that could circumvent integrated change control so only approved changes are implemented This must be done in an integrated manner at regular intervals, not in a haphazard, arbitrary way. Any significant departures from the budget and the schedule must be reported immediately, because these anomalies affect the viability and the success of the entire project. This will lead to adapting the project schedule, budget and/or work plan as necessary to keep the project on track. The project progress and changes must be documented and communicated to the team members in a consistent, reliable and appropriate manner for each level of the project team. Success criteria for project control Use the project plan as the primary guide for co-ordinating your project. Consistently monitor and update the plan. Remember that quality communication is a key to control. Monitor progress on the project against the plan on a regular basis. Get involved. Adapt the project schedule, budget and/or work plan as necessary to keep the project on track. Document project progress and changes and communicate them to team members. What monitoring should accomplish? Communicate project status and changes to other project team members Inform management (and clients or customers) about the status of the project Provide the justification for making project adjustments Document current plans compared to the original project plan Project Performance must be measured regularly to identify the variances from the plan. Variances are fed into control processes in the various knowledge areas. To the extent the significant Variances are observed. Adjustments to the plan are made by repeating the appropriate project planning process. Project reports should be: clearly state the current status of the project compare actual achievements with the planned target achievements draw attention to critical issues identify problems and propose solutions promote effective management and control Project status reports It is not simply a matter of keeping the scope from creeping, or a matter of completing the cheapest and fastest project; it is establishing the appropriate Scope and delivering the commensurate product, service, or result. All the above processes have been iteratively revealed/implemented during the Proposed Solar Photovoltaic Power Plant project, which was revealed below. Technology The proposed plant shall comprise High Power Modules using cells consisting of Multi-Crystalline Silicon Technology / Tandem Junction Thin Film Technology. Efficiency is varying from 6% 18%. Temperatures beyond 25oC have nominal effect on the efficiency of the modules. White Tempered Glass, EVA Resin and weather proof film along with Al frame is used for extended outdoor use. Lead wire with weather proof connector shall be used for output terminal. Both the technologies are standalone type which needs no external power or water source and hence is most appropriate for desert region of Rajasthan. Small amount of processed water or compressed air is required only for cleaning of the system. Indicative scope of work Electrical Supply, fitting, fixing of Solar PV Modules with appropriate module mounting structures and frames including overall planning and design of the power plant. Supply and installation of Junction boxes of appropriate standards with required protection and isolation system. Design, supply and installation of AC power conditioning units with all protections and controlling arrangement as per specifications to get the desired performance. String monitoring and MPPT features are included as per requirements. Interconnection of Solar modules, PCUs, transformers LT HT sides, LT switchgear, etc with appropriate cables and associated materials including supply of materials. Design, manufacture, supply, installation, interconnection and interfacing of computer aided data acquisition unit as per specification. Supply, installation complete earthing as required for AC and DC power system, PCU, LT switchgear, Transformer, all metallic cubicles, HT switchgear with materials as required as per relevant standards. Providing earth-mat and interconnection of array structures with earth pits in the PV array yard. Design, fabrication, supply, installation of LT power interfacing panel to evacuate power to the grid through PCUs with appropriate capacity circuit breakers, isolators, indicators, metering arrangement with selector switch, CTs, PTs, and copper bus-bars as per requirement in complete. Design, fabrication, supply and installation of plant monitoring desk to monitor the status of all major equipments through remote monitoring system including connection to all major equipments and status to be monitored. Supply of all other BOS parts e.g. cables, electrical, etc as per the Bill of Material (BOM) which is not covered above. Emergency DG Set 15 KVA with battery bank and battery charger. Metering device. Control Room and Others Electrical wiring in the inverter room, control room and array yard with supply of cables and wires, switchboards, switches, Junction Boxes, distribution boards for lights, fans, exhaust fans, power points for both 5 Amps and 15 Amps. Supply and installation of lightning arrestors for inverter room, control room as per relevant standards. Supply, fitting and fixing of CFL lighting fixtures, FL lighting fixtures, LED lighting fixtures for lighting indoor and outdoor various installations including array yard with required accessories. Providing of fire extinguisher and sand buckets complying with national or international safety standards. Civil Works for solar Systems Topographical survey Design and construction of appropriate foundation base for holding the module mounting structure with supply of all requisite materials, excavation, concreting, backfilling, shoring and shuttering, etc. Construction of power plant buildings including inverter rooms, control room as required, office, canteen, etc. Barbed wire fencing of 3m height for complete power plant and sub-station. Cable trenches, drainage, etc. Main gate, side gates and Security guard rooms. Erection and Installation of Power Evacuation Arrangement Erection, supply, installation and commissioning of fifty 0.415/33 KV step up transformers and three 33/132 KV step up transformers, 3 phase, 50 Hz, with associated switchgear comprising of circuit breakers, isolators, LT panels, CTs and PTs, etc including metering and protection like over-current, earth-fault, reverse power protection and controls, etc. Other Fixed Assets Furniture for inverter rooms, control room and administration/office. Pantry equipment, change room lockers, etc. Store racks and cupboards. Standard Mechanical Maintenance tools. Engineering and Project Management Design and Engineering Project Management and construction supervision Material Management Insurance during the project period. Project implementation schedule Based on international practices and technological advancements, it is estimated that first 10 MW capacity phase of the project will be supplied, installed and commissioned from project approval and additional 40 MWp of the project will be installed and commissioned in 60 months from project approval. Executing Executing consists of the processes used to complete the work defined in the project management plan to accomplish the projects requirements. Execution process involves coordinating people and resources, as well as integrating and performing the activities of the project in accordance with the project management plan. The deliverables are produced as outputs from the processes performed as defined in the project management plan. Total project shall be completed within 60 months in 5 (five) stages of 10 MW each from date of sanction of the project. The modules will be ground mounted and tilted 27 degrees to face the sun. The ground mounting will require a flat level surface and will be set into concrete. The modules will require an area that is unshaded from the sun. Any vegetation underneath the modules will need to be kept to a level below that of the modules in order to avoid shading. All the modules will be at least 1.0m from the ground. It is assumed that this is adequate to keep the modules above the height of sand deposition at the site during sand storm. Monitoring and controlling Monitoring and controlling consists of those processes performed to observe project execution so that potential problems can be identified in a timely manner and corrective action can be taken, when necessary, to control the execution of the project. The key benefit is that project performance is observed and measured regularly to identify variances from the project management plan. Monitoring and Controlling includes: Measuring the on-going project activities. Monitoring the project variables (cost, effort, scope, etc.) against the project management plan and the project performance baseline. Identify corrective actions to address issues and risks properly. Influencing the factors that could circumvent integrated change control so only approved changes are implemented In multi-phase projects, the monitoring and controlling process also provides feedback between project phases, in order to implement corrective or preventive actions to bring the project into compliance with the project management plan. Operation and maintenance Whether a solar plant performs well in the long term and remains technically available depends to a large extent on servicing and regular maintenance. This shall be carried out by designated electrical experts in conjunction with technicians from the respective component manufacturers. To keep all components optimally available, an electronic data processing unit in the solar power plant will permanently gather and evaluate all relevant performance data and possible error messages. Using target/actual comparison, data from the power plant shall be continually compared with data from an on-site weather station. Possible errors shall be precisely located and immediately passed on via email, SMS or fax to the relevant service technicians. They can then, from their workplace, conduct fault repair through on-line remote maintenance. Financial analysis Assumptions estimates The assumptions are made that suppliers will abide by the following: Provide Safe Working Condition Consistency of Processes Adhere to Design Standards Adhere to Standard Components Follow the Framework Agreements The proposed Solar Photovoltaic Power Project is of 50 MWp capacity. Estimated cost of the project is INR Rs. 17 Crores per MWp. (2.42 Million Pounds) The total project cost is Rs. 850 Crores (. Gross aggregate electricity generation has been arrived at 83.22 million kWh per annum. The capacity utilisation factor (plant load factor) is 19%. Project cost break-up means of finance Apart from machinery, installation and commissioning cost, interest during construction, financial institution fees and margin money for working capital is part of project cost. Project financial analysis has been carried out considering debt equity ratio of 70:30. Interest rate at debt part has been considered at 14.29%. Project Deliverables The project deliverables are based on the completion of project based on the following: On time On budget No accidents The fulfilment of original quality requirements Develop industry project management best practices that are measureable and repeatable Operational terminal both in the short and long-term Advantages The 89 pet watts of sunlight reaching the Earths surface is plentiful almost 6,000 times more than the 15 terawatts equivalent of average power consumed by humans. Additionally, solar electric generation has the highest power density (global mean of 170 W/m ²) among renewable energies. Solar power is pollution-free during use. Production end-wastes and emissions are manageable using existing pollution controls. End-of-use recycling technologies are under development. PV installations can operate for many years with little maintenance or intervention after their initial set-up, so after the initial capital cost of building any solar power plant, operating costs are extremely low compared to existing power technologies. Solar electric generation is economically superior where grid connection or fuel transport is difficult, costly or impossible. Long-standing examples include satellites, island communities, remote locations and ocean vessels. When grid-connected, solar electric generation replaces some or all of the highest-cost electricity used during times of peak demand (in most climatic regions). This can reduce grid loading, and can eliminate the need for local battery power to provide for use in times of darkness. These features are enabled by net metering. Time-of-use net metering can be highly favourable, but requires newer electronic metering, which may still be impractical for some users. Grid-connected solar electricity can be used locally thus reducing transmission/distribution losses (transmission losses in the US were approximately 7.2% in 1995). Compared to fossil and nuclear energy sources, very little research money has been invested in the development of solar cells, so there is considerable room for improvement. Nevertheless, experimental high efficiency solar cells already have efficiencies of over 40% in case of concentrating photovoltaic cells and efficiencies are rapidly rising while mass-production costs are rapidly falling. Disadvantages Photovoltaic are costly to install. While the modules are often warranted for upwards of 20 years, much of the investment in a home-mounted system may be lost if the home-owner moves and the buyer puts less value on the system than the seller. Solar electricity is seen to be expensive. Solar electricity is not produced at night and is much reduced in cloudy conditions. Therefore, a storage or complementary power system is required. Solar electricity production depends on the limited power density of the locations insolation. Average daily output of a flat plate collector at latitude tilt in the contiguous US is 3-7 kilowatt and on average lower in Europe. Solar cells produce DC which must be converted to AC (using a grid tie inverter) when used in existing distribution grids. This incurs an energy loss of 4-12%. Time Scale Duration/ Period Task/ Milestone Week 1 2 (01 14 Oct, 2010) Assemble common information through explore resources Week 3 (15 Oct, 2010) Research Proposal Assignment 1 Week 3 4 (16 28 Oct, 2010) Organize meetings and cart out reviews Week 5 7 (29 18 Nov, 2010) Gather and compile key Data Week 8 12 (19 Nov 23 Dec. 2010) Lettering and discussion with supervisor Week 12 13 (24 30 Dec, 2010) Review Week 14 (31 5 Jan, 2011) Review and submissions

Market segmentation Essay -- essays research papers

Market Segmentation This document prepared and presented by Business Resource Software, Inc. Market Segmentation The purpose for segmenting a market is to allow your marketing/sales program to focus on the subset of prospects that are "most likely" to purchase your offering. If done properly this will help to insure the highest return for your marketing/sales expenditures. Depending on whether you are selling your offering to individual consumers or a business, there are definite differences in what you will consider when defining market segments. Category of Need The first thing you can establish is a category of need that your offering satisfies. The following classifications may help. For businesses: Strategic - your offering is in some way important to the enterprise mission, objectives and operational oversight. For example, a service that helped evaluate capital investment opportunities would fall into this domain of influence. The purchase decision for this category of offering will be made by the prospect's top level executive management. Operations - your offering affects the general operating policies and procedures. Examples might be, an employee insurance plan or a corporate wide communications system. This purchase decision will be made by the prospect's top level operations management. Functional - your offering deals with a specific function within the enterprise such as data processing, accounting, human resources, plant maintenance, engineering design, manufacturing, inventory control, etc. This is the most likely domain for a product or service, but you must recognize that the other domains may also get involved if the purchase of the product or service becomes a high profile decision. This purchase decision will be made by the prospect's functional management. For the individual consumer: Social Esteem or Pleasure - your offering satisfies a purely emotional need in the consumer. Examples are a mink coat or a diamond ring. There are some products that are on the boundary between this category and the Functional category such as a Rolex watch (a Timex would satisfy the functional requirement and probably keep time just as well). Functional - your offering meets a functional requirement of the consumer such as a broom, breakfast cereal or lawnmower. Segmentation of Needs Then you should establis... ...ularly concerned with keeping employees informed and educated, so educational offerings are not of great interest. Strongly influenced by offerings that most closely deliver the 'end results' desired, even if they are not the most cost effective. Self Helpers - consistently defines/designs solutions to their problems, likes to acquire tools that help in the innovation process. Will usually consider new products/services, but the related concept must have been proven to be effective. Often consider just because they use a certain technology that is relevant to the development program they have underway. Will always want to review competitive offerings, but will usually choose the one offering the most effective 'do it yourself' features. Usually consider themselves technically competent and will expect very effective use of proven technology. Not especially inclined toward technically complex offerings, would rather have user friendly, but thought provoking, offerings. Conversion costs usually not a major concern if offering promises potential for innovation. Usually concerned with keeping employees informed and educated, so educational offerings are of interest.

J. Joyce Clay

James Joyce was a master storyteller who loved to create plot and thematic nature centered on character paralysis. His mastery came in his subtle ability to weave the main characters true essence of paralysis by slowly seeping it into the veins of the reader. Most of Joyce’s collection of stories casts men in the main role where he follows the male protagonist through strife. In Clay, however, the theme follows a woman and her trials of separation—a loss she denies is ever present due to her paralysis. As we attempt to unfold the meaning of James Joyce’s use of paralysis in his classic tale, Clay, one thing stands out. In most other published fiction, Joyce shows a preference to focus on the voice of the male character. Clay, however, is an exception. Here, his central character—the protagonist—is a female. Yet, just because the focus of most of his fiction is set aside for the male sex, does that mean he hopes to glorify this sex? Hardly. We must look into just how Joyce perceived the male character versus the female character in his stories. From one front, we can say that, by-and-large, because his protagonists were male, there was some gender stereotyping going on in the mind of our author. We must, however, look deeply into his use of paralysis as a central theme. This paralysis is not exactly a place people prefer to be. However, many of us can relate to suffering, pain, and loss. These are some of the reasons Joyce’s story Clay is profoundly telling. Another interesting point to consider is this: Was Joyce using men in the starring role as an opportunity to place them on an award-winning podium? Or, was this an opportunity to bash the male gender? So just what was his biased reasoning behind rarely using female protagonists? Did he stereotype the female persona? Were his stories a form of gender racism? In answering this, it is clear that the main character suffered, to varying degrees of emotional, physical, and social discomfort. These characters—male or female—were not something a reader would aspire to. So, just because the role of the female protagonist was rare in a James Joyce story, there is not sound evidence that he preferred the male gender over the female gender. It could be argued, for instance, that his focus on the troubled male was his way of bashing this sex. Surely glory was not an overtone in Clay or many of his other published works of art. So we go to the next question: Did Joyce treat women differently than his male roles? Some can argue that his paralysis-based stories were a chance for Joyce to belittle the female character. In Clay, Maria, our protagonist was viewed as almost distasteful to look at. However, Maria didn’t see it this way. At the very least, we can say that gender role stereotyping was prevalent. In looking at the female voice, we can see that he did place women in the mother/lover/wife role. In the male role position, we see that the character, Joe, is in a much freer position that Maria. Albeit Joe did have a disease of his own: alcoholism. But, Joe was also typecast in the head-of-household role, and the one who others reported to—even though he had a drinking problem. Yet, Maria was the protagonist, so the lead character is, obviously, going to be the sufferer anyway. What’s more important to remember is the fact that James Joyce placed all his characters in debilitating situations. So, sexism doesn’t seem a likely analysis behind the author’s reasoning for creating such one-sided male character-based stories. If someone is looking for a hero or role model, regardless of sex, they will not find it in Clay, or any of his short fiction paralysis-based stories. Joyce had deep reasoning behind staging the story of a maid and how she relates, reacts, and is portrayed by a family who she’s worked with for many years. Paralysis, once again, was Joyce’s underlying motive that created such magic on the page. Upon an initial read of this short classic, there appears to be very little action in the story, with the main thrust coming from emotion and thoughts surrounding Maria—our seemingly wafer-thin female who is loved and respected by those in her life, at least according to Maria. All the characters in the story, in fact, appear to lack any depth. The spiritual epiphany seems to be missing as well. Maria, as transparent as she first appeared, is shown to reveal herself as a charismatic person who has a gift for touching others. Joyce, once again, did this with clever wit. The author loved to move the reader along at a smooth, almost velvety pace. Then, almost out of thin air, he’d add tiny, silent bombs of description that spoke volumes about a character’s past. Maria, for example, is referred to as†¦ a very, very small person indeed but she had a very long nose and a very long chin. She talked a little through her nose, always soothingly†¦ Joyce, here, uses description of Maria’s facial features to tell so much more about her than the dimensions of her nose and chin. We are given a taste of her past: a soft spoken, generous woman who radiated joy in others by her willingness to aid her fellows in need. This radiating joy, however, is something that only Maria perceives. This dysfunctional means of viewing herself as lovely doesn’t become fully apparent until we are through with the story; for Joyce takes this entire process of painting Maria’s emotional state with slow, yet deliberate, remarks. Many times its the way he casts a scene and how the minor characters act or ignore Maria that truly adds color to his theme of paralysis. According to Maria, people saw beyond her less than charismatic nose and chin, seeing her shimmering inner beauty shine forth. It was her actions and unconditional devotion that created her beautiful persona. However, Joyce goes on to use a narrator who works more like a thief. This thief of a narrator tells the tale in a voice that leads the reader off-course so he can hide the wealth of the true theme and moral. For, beyond Maria’s long nose, the narrator goes on to describe Maria as a petite, small-boned and attractive woman. Joyce does this as our Maria—a woman who is valued as reliable, caring, and wise—gains pleasure by marveling over herself in the mirror. Joyce is so subtle that it doesn’t hit the reader until he or she is two or three sentence beyond the scene where Maria gets pleasure out of looking at the soft, gentle slopes of her frame. But only Maria sees herself as lovely. The story opens with positive embellishments by her tea-party friends. They say she is likable and hard-working, a woman with a knack for â€Å"keeping-house. † In effect, this is the minor characters way of patronizing Maria for her inefficiencies and trappings as a maid. Joe, a man she worked for, adds that she holds the standing of a â€Å"proper mother† whom he has formed a deep bond with. Joyce wrote, Mamma is mamma but Maria is my proper mother Joyce, of course, twists things up nicely by adding the fact that Joe has a drinking problem. So, how reliable is he? Yet, even with his joy for booze, Joyce ties it all together with such clarity that the reader is willing to excuse Joe’s drinking problem and accept him as a reliable source when he relates to how Maria has affected him. In comparison to other short stories by James Joyce, this is a rare example of a protagonist suffering from that subliminal paralysis who is actually liked by the other characters. Take Dubliners, for example. In Dubliners, the protagonist is viewed as shallow and lacking integrity. Maria, in contrast, receives preferential treatment by how the other characters voice their opinion of her. True they like her, but they also feel sorry for Maria. This is very empowering yet, at the same time, places the reader on a cliff of wonder. How can this woman who is viewed so highly be suffering from a life-long paralysis? Something is amiss. But what? This is what makes Joyce such a master at toying with paralysis. A more introspective look at Maria reveals the warped perception she sees in herself. How can a woman look at her own long beak of a nose with bulging chin and consider it glamorous? When she laughed, wrote Joyce, her grey-green eyes sparkled with disappointed shyness and the tip of her nose nearly met the tip of her chin. Although the narrative voice is not Maria, per se, we can see that she fancies her own image, as referenced earlier. Maria screens out the fact that it would be a stretch to say that someone was beautiful if the tip of her nose nearly kissed her pointy chin when she laughed. Joyce mentioned that people ignore her in the pastry shop. Plus, when she is on the crowded tram, no one—initially—considers moving over to make a seat for her. Chivalry, back in the morning of the twentieth century, was much more prevalent than it is today. So why would almost every man on the tram offer her no consideration? Furthermore, there is a man who recognizes her and he offers his seat. But he’s a drunk. Even the drunk had stealthy motives: The drunk stole her cake while on the tram, at least this is what could be inferred from the text. So, with careful examination, it becomes very clear that sweet little Maria, is not the person she feels she is. While on the tram, Joyce hit readers with the following description that parallels her life of solitude. She will always be more than one step shy of fitting into the mold of the American middle class. In the following statement, Maria is placed in yet another metaphor where she is going in the wrong direction in her life. Joyce wrote, The tram was full and she had to sit on the little stool at the end of the car, facing all the people, with her toes barely touching the floor. The paralysis becomes more apparent when we analyze Maria’s life as a single woman. She will never marry and is cemented—trapped—into working as a maid for the rest of her life. Joe’s family, somewhat secretly, mock Maria for living the life of a maid†¦. never to be someone’s maiden. In fact, the initial take is that the family truly loves her. As the family gathers, Joe attempts to show some tact by bringing up the notion of everyone should take a drink, just to loosen up. Joe, of course, wants more port, to feed his alcoholic vice. Yet, at the same time he infers that Maria, too, should take a drink. That way she can forget about her sorrowful life. Joe even insists that Maria take a drink. Maria, still blinded by her own faults, refuses the drink. As the story closes, Maria sings a few stanzas of a poem that speak of the fact that she will never live the wealthy life. This singing even brings tears to Joe’s eyes. The reader, once again, is left to wonder this: Is Joe sinking into the depression of alcohol? Or is he feeling sorry for Maria? That is left to the readers’ imagination. One thing is certain, though: Maria will never overcome the paralysis that stymies her.

crtical thinking paper - 1888 Words

There is a South African Proverb that states quot;Until lions write books, history will always glorify the hunterquot;. In his play quot;Los Vendidosquot;, Luis Valdez tries to become a lion and let the voice of Chicano history be heard. Luis Valdez does this in a satirical way by presenting the views and stereotypes that many American’s have had and continue to have, about Chicano’s in the form of a shop where Chicano quot;model/robotsquot; are sold. By presenting each Chicano as a robot and stereotype, Luis Valdez tries to earse of the quot;modelsquot; of Chicano’s that people have in their heads and tries to point out that there is a strong Chicano culture and a rich history that has been ignored by American’s for years.†¦show more content†¦Another issue that Luis Valdez discusses in quot;Los Vendidosquot; is the distinction made between being Mexican and being Mexican-American. A certain model in the store is described as being made in Mexico . Ms. Jimanez passes on this model because since the model was made in Mexico it is obviously not as good as models that would be made in the United States. To appease his client, Mr. Sancho points out another model that is the quot;apex of American engineeringquot;. This distinction between Mexican and American had another level to it as well. There were also those that considered themselves Mexican-American. This distinction was made by describing the two groups as Mexicano’s de Adentro (the inside) and Mexicano’s de Afuera (the outside). The group that considered themselves Mexicano’s de Adentro were trying to separate themselves from the new immigrants and gain some status in the Anglo world by looking down at the new immigrants. This tactic however, did not seem to be very effective as their was a tendency on the part of Anglo’s to homogenize all Chicano’s. The immigrants that had been recruited by Anglo corporations to come and work in the fields worked along side Mexican-Americans who considered the immigrants outsiders. This issue of citizenship is one of the mostShow MoreRelatedEssay on Flannery OConnor816 Words   |  4 Pagesbaggering her while making himself feel better about his awareness, regardless of how it made her feel, was his way of getting back at her. Julian does not like his mother. To him she is an embarassment, a burden and backwards to his new way of thinking. He himself, has learned to recognize racism, and argues against it. However, when his mother is the instigator, the issue becomes more personal, and he defends her. Some how like picking on my baby brother it is alright, but when someone else does