Marketing Essays Customer Product Needs

Marketing Essays Customer Product Needs Customer Product Needs Marketing is the process of identifying customer needs and then introducing a product according to those needs. Marketers introduce products in the market so that we can consume everyday. When we buy a product we pay for marketing each time. Marketing acts as an important role in our daily lives. Marketing is basically satisfying customer needs which increase the quality of life and better standard of living. There are two main parties involved in marketing buyers and sellers. Marketing includes the activities of a company associated with buying and selling a product or service. In order to sell the products marketers try to promote their products by different types of medium. The most famous type is bill boards and signs. The internet has been the most easiest and effective way of promoting products to the customers. Magazines, T.V, Radio and newspapers are other ways of introducing products. Marketing is all about selling, delivering products to consumers, promotion of new products to attract customers. There are many definitions of marketing. One of the great management thinkers Peter Drucker said something which acts as a good reminder of the value of good marketing: The aim of marketing is to know and understand the customer so well; the product or service fits him and sells itself. – Peter Drucker http://www.powerpr.com/newsletter.html Marketing Communication: Marketing communication is subdivided into 4 features: Advertising: Advertising is transmitting information to the customers by various kinds of media by paying sum amount of money. It is basically to attract the customers to buy the products. In order words advertising is a publicity to influence the people to purchase the specific product. Advertising media includes T.V, newspaper, cinema, radio, posters, billboards and internet. It promotes the products and tries to convince the consumers to buy a product by pressure that it is more desirable for them than others. Advertising can be done by the organizations, industries as well as by individuals. Advertising can also be used combining with other marketing communications. The amount of advertising in UK can be recognized through posters, billboards and T.V. It has been estimated that the drinks industry spends over  £200 million on advertising and that between 1 and 2 percentage of national income is spent on advertising in United Kingdom. http://www.answers.com/topic/advertising?cat=biz-fin Sales promotion: Sales promotions are the excellent offers to persuade the customers to buy goods and services. Normally to increase in the sales of an organization for the short period and sometimes to sold out the old stock. These are the tricks to trap the customer for the particular product. There are varieties of sales promotions methods to that a business can use to make products appealing. Some of the methods are as under: Discount vouchers: Customers been sent the coupons, or they themselves tear off from the magazines and newspapers which enables them to get the particular product in low price by showing the coupon. Competitions: Sometimes when a customer purchase a product, allows them to enter the draw to win a prize (for e.g. cash, cars, electronics, air tickets etc.) Free gifts: Sometimes when the product is bought by the customers they get another product free with it or sometimes different prizes instantly. Loyalty cards: These are those cards which allow the customers to earn points on the cards when they buy products, later on which can be redeemed as cash or goods. (for e.g. Tesco club card, nectar etc.) Loyalty cards have become the most important bright form of sales promotion. http://tutor2u.net/business/gcse/marketing_promotion_sales.htm Public relations: Public relation doesn’t deal with the product and services. It mainly deals in making good relations between employees or customers. The primary function is to have the trust of public understanding. Examples of public relations are worker preparation, support of charitable events etc. In this type of marketing communication the organization aimed for the increase in sales by improving the image of the company and product. http://www.learnthat.com/define/view.asp?id=52 Direct marketing: Convey of advertising message directly to the consumer on individual basis through any type of medium. The main difference between direct marketing and other kind of promotion is that you have close relation with the needs of the customer and succeed in delivering a message. http://www.investorwords.com/1447/direct_marketing.html Integrated Marketing Communication: The management of the organization is planned in such a way that all the feature of marketing communication work together rather then allows them to work separately. As mentioned above marketing communication includes sales promotion, advertising, direct marketing and public relations. Integrated marketing communication good idea for making business more profit. All the marketing communication departments work together for the betterment and profitably of an organization. They company use only one approach towards everything. Integrated Marketing Communication is more than the management of a companys outgoing message between different media and the reliability of the message throughout. It is a destructive marketing plan that captures and uses a vast amount of customer information in setting and tracking marketing strategy. It can be also defines as a holistic approach to promote buying and selling of digital economy. A management concept which is mainly designed to make all aspects of marketing communication such as advertising, sales promotion, public relations, and direct marketing work together as a combined force, rather than allowing each to work in remoteness. In practice, the goal of Integrated Marketing Communication is to create a single appearance or message in all fundamentals of a marketing campaign. A successful integrated marketing communication plan should be customize what is required by the client based on time, budget and resources to reach the target or goals. Small business can start an integrated marketing communication plan on a small budget by creating a website, email and SEO. A large business organization can start an integrated communication plan on a larger budget than a small organization. They can use things like print, mail order radio, TV plus many other online ad campaigns. The main aim at the end is to sell their product. TV is used in order to get the generation aware of the product where as Prints are used to educate the public and Radio is also used to keep the message delivered on the top of the mind. There are 3 Ps which one has to remember in integrated marketing communication which are the first one is for product. This means that overall everything is done for the customers. What are consumer requirements and what they desire? The goods they are looking for and what are the benefits in demands, and what are the unfulfilled demands. The second P is the price. One has to look at the cost which the customers are looking for. What is their perception of the cost of the goods and how much are they able to pay and willing to spend. The third P is for the place or distribution. This means where to sell their goods, and which is the best possible place to promote you affectively. David Ogilvy thinks IMC means providing â€Å"one stop shopping†, setting up your agency to deliver all the functions a client might want to buy, and learning to manage them together. Maybe this is a tail. David further said that IMC may be the key to getting away from the disease of talking about creativity all the time and getting back to focus on sales. This is at least leg. Integrated Marketing Communication can also be called as integration of all promotional tools. All of the communications tools work better if they work together in agreement rather than working separately. While different departments such as sales, direct mail and advertising can help each other through Data Integration. This requires a marketing information system which collects and shares relevant data across different departments. Marketing and communications objectives must support the higher level corporate objectives and corporate missions. http://marketing.about.com/od/marketingglossary/g/imcdef.htm Marketing communications comprises five broad categories: Personal selling, advertising, public relations, direct marketing and sales promotions. Each has its own set of pros and cons and can be accomplished in a variety of ways. However, the key is to look at the available options in a comprehensive way and to ensure consistency throughout the selected media. The selection of communications methods is subject to a variety of factors. The factors that influence the selection and effectiveness of a promotional mix include: †¢ Nature of the market (market size, geographic scope, type of customer, etc.) †¢ Nature of the product (complexity of the product, service requirements, etc.) †¢ Stage in the product life-cycle (earlier versus later stages of the life cycle) †¢ Price (high versus low unit price) †¢ Funds available for promotion This funding point is very relevant to all companies. Budgeting is an essential function of the IMC process. The following items impact the budget determinations: †¢ Percentage-of-sales method (a specified percentage of either past or forecasted sales) †¢ Fixed-sum-per-unit method (predetermined dollar amount for each unit sold or produced) †¢ Meeting competition method (match competitor’s promotional outlays) †¢ Task-objective method (amount and type of promotional spending needed to achieve promotional Objectives) Advantages of Integrated Marketing Communication: The key advantages of using integrated marketing communication or IMC is that it is indispensable and cost effective to any organization. IMC talks about the four different messages that an organization has to know of so it can run if not manipulate. In order to effectively integrate public relations and marketing, there are six procedures that have to be followed to achieve an organization’s objective. In order to attain the organizations goals, public relations practitioners are commonly asked to perform many other tasks side by side with advertising and marketing. It total communication program is merged with public relations, it not only save time and money but strengthen the organizations capacity to safeguard the reliability of the product or service. (Miller Rose, 1994). Public relations practitioners are told everyday to design programs that are compatible with marketing and advertising strategies accurately and cost effectively. Public relations can help to attain marketing objectives and increase awareness by playing a very tactical role (Miller Rose, 1994). Public relations are anticipated to notify as well as persuade behavior, generate an environment for customer acceptance and build trust. These activities can best be done by working with marketing and advertising functions in the organization (Miller Rose, 1994). In order for public relations, advertising and marketing to work more efficiently the three functions need to be more closely aligned. One approach to IMC was developed by program director, Tom Duncan and his faculty at the University of Colorado. Duncans IMC Message Typology explains the four messages that an organization needs to be aware of so it can control, or if not control, then perhaps influence. The four types of messages are; planned, inferred, maintenance and unplanned. Although Integrated Marketing Communications requires a lot of effort it delivers many benefits. It can create competitive advantage, boost sales and profits, while saving money, time and stress. IMC wraps communications around customers and helps them move through the various stages of the buying process. The organization simultaneously consolidates its image, develops a dialogue and nurtures its relationship with customers. This Relationship Marketing cements a bond of loyalty with customers which can protect them from the inevitable onslaught of competition. The ability to keep a customer for life is a powerful competitive advantage. IMC also increases profits through increased effectiveness. At another level, initial research suggests that images shared in advertising and direct mail boost both advertising awareness and mail shot responses. So IMC can boost sales by stretching messages across several communications tools. Carefully linked messages also help buyers by giving timely reminders, updated information and special offers which, when presented in a planned sequence, help them move comfortably through the stages of their buying process and this reduces their misery of choice in a complex and busy world. IMC also makes messages more reliable and therefore more believable. This reduces risk in the mind of the buyer which, in turn, shortens the search process and helps to dictate the outcome of brand comparisons. Un-integrated communications send disjointed messages which weaken the impact of the message. This may also confuse, frustrate and arouse anxiety in customers. On the other hand, integrated communications present a reassuring sense of order. Consistent images and relevant, useful, messages help raise long term relationships with customers. Here, customer databases can identify accurately which customers need what information when they need and throughout their whole buying life. Finally, IMC saves money as it eliminates duplication in areas such as graphics and photography since they can be shared and used in say, advertising, exhibitions and sales literature. Integrated Marketing Communications Moriarty, Sandra E. PR and IMC: The benefits of integration. Public Relations Quarterly, Fall94, Vol. 39 Issue 3, p38, 7p, 1bw. Once IMC strategy has been determined, marketing managers look to control the four basic elements of the marketing mix: product, price, place, and promotion, known as the four Ps of marketing. Since these four variables are controllable, the best mix of these elements is determined to reach the selected target market. Product: The first element in the marketing mix is the product. Products can be either tangible or intangible. Tangible products are products that can be touched; intangible products are those that cannot be touched, such as services. There are three basic levels of a product: core, actual, and augmented. The core product is the most basic level, what consumers really buy in terms of benefits. For example, consumers do not buy food processors, per se; rather, they buy the benefit of being able to process food quickly and efficiently. The next level of the product is the actual product—in the case of the previous example, food processors. Products are typically sorted according to the following five characteristics: quality, features, styling, brand name, and packaging. Finally, the augmented level of a product consists of all the elements that surround both the core and the actual product. The augmented level provides purchasers with additional services and benefits. For examp le, follow-up technical assistance and warranties and guaranties are augmented product components. When planning new products, firm managers consider a number of issues including product quality, features, options, styles, brand name, packaging, size, service, warranties, and return policies, all in an attempt to meet the needs and wants of consumers. Price: Price is the cost of the product paid by consumers. This is the only element in the marketing mix that generates revenue for firms. In order to generate revenue, managers must consider factors both internal and external to the organization. Internal factors take the form of marketing objectives, the marketing-mix strategy, and production costs. External factors to consider are the target market, product demand, competition, economic conditions, and government regulations. There are a number of pricing strategies available to marketing managers: skimming, penetration, quantity, and psychological. With a price-skimming strategy, the price is initially set high, allowing firms to generate maximum profits from customers willing to pay the high price. Prices are then gradually lowered until maximum profit is received from each level of consumer. Penetration pricing is used when firms set low prices in order to capture a large share of a market quickly. A quantity-pricing strategy p rovides lower prices to consumers who purchase larger quantities of a product. Psychological pricing tends to focus on consumer perceptions. For example, odd pricing is a common psychological pricing strategy. With odd pricing, the cost of the product may be a few cents lower than a full-dollar value. Consumers tend to focus on the lower-value full-dollar cost even though it is really priced closer to the next higher full-dollar amount. For example, if a good is priced at $19.95, consumers will focus on $19 rather than $20. Place: Place refers to where and how the products will be distributed to consumers. There are two basic issues involved in getting the products to consumers: channel management and logistics management. Channel management involves the process of selecting and motivating wholesalers and retailers, sometimes called middlemen, through the use of incentives. Several factors are reviewed by firm management when determining where to sell their products: distribution channels, market-coverage strategy, geographic locations, inventory, and transportation methods. The process of moving products from a manufacturer to the final consumer is often called the channel of distribution. Promotion: The last variable in the marketing mix is promotion. Various promotional tools are used to communicate messages about products, ideas, or services from firms and their customers. The promotional tools available to managers are advertising, personal selling, sales promotion, and publicity. For the promotional program to be effective, managers use a blend of the four promotional tools that best reaches potential customers. This blending of promotional tools is sometimes referred to as the promotional mix. The goal of this promotional mix is to communicate to potential customers the features and benefits of products. Get help with your essay from our expert essay writers IMC at BBC: The Bombay Bicycle Club is London 1st choice Indian cuisine restaurant. I joined the Islington branch 10 months ago. So I selected to write about this restaurant. It is called the 1st Indian cuisine franchise in London. The first restaurant was inaugurated at Clapham 20 year’s back which is, still favorite for many Londoners and chefs. Many braches have been opened after that, now The Bombay Bicycle Club owns around 18 braches, in different parts of London. The aim of the employers of the company is maximum satisfaction of consumers. According to Tana Ramsay (Gordon Ramsay) told to the latest issue of the London Magazine that â€Å"the Bombay Bicycle Club was a local favourite.†It has to be from the Battersea one though, thats the best† Marketing communication of the Bombay bicycle club is effective. They apply all the marketing features in order to get the maximum profit and consumer satisfaction. I will now analyze all the marketing communication according to The Bombay Bicycle Club. Advertising: Bombay Bicycle Club invests in for advertising too. They have different ways of advertising. Since online shopping is a rage these days, they have also invested in e-retailing and the respond is overwhelming. It’s been made easy for the convenience of consumers. Customers can order their food without any hassle of walking down or driving down and finding the parking space. They can order food right from home by just clicking on the updated menus. The customers also get a discount for ordering their food online. They also provide facilities for customers to book a table or the whole place online. They also have leaflets with menus which they distribute it to shops, customers, and even as poster on bikes and other vehicles. Even billboards are used at high traffic areas to attract new customers They have regular ads in the Local and other news papers in the United Kingdom. Newspapers are a good source of reaching out to a large number of people. Another way the Bombay Bicycle Club has implemented is the use of magazine ads, as magazine ads are generally better as they are able to reached the desired demographics Sales promotion: Every now and then the Bombay Bicycle Club gives out vouches or coupons to customers, with these coupons customers get discounts on the food and drinks depending upon the season. For the regular customers, there is a flat discount which they get every time they visit the place. Public relations: All the employees and the managers are courteous, friendly and the atmosphere of the restaurant is warm and homely. The satisfaction of the customer to the smallest detail is the main priority for Bombay Bicycle Club. It also takes part in any community services by distributing food and drinks completely free. Direct marketing: The Bombay Bicycle club is mainly a direct marketing establishment as there is more of human to human contact. People are given all the details of a food item ot any product on a individual basis Conclusion: After all the research I came to conclude that marketing plays an important role in the business. Marketing is basically satisfying customer needs which increase the quality of life and better standard of living. I came to know about the marketing communications. Advertising and sales promotion increases the sales of the organization which also increases the profitability of the company. Sales promotion and direct marketing makes the organization to keep in touch with the previous customers. It not only helps the organization to retain the valuable customers but also to attract new customers. In short if all these feature of marketing work together, they can expand their business, make large amount of money and retain the customers. References: [Accessed on April 19, 2008] http://www.powerpr.com/newsletter.html [Accessed on April 20, 2008] http://www.answers.com/topic/advertising?cat=biz-fin [Accessed on April 22, 2008] http://tutor2u.net/business/gcse/marketing_promotion_sales.htm [Accessed on April 22, 2008] http://www.learnthat.com/define/view.asp?id=52 [Accessed on April 23, 2008] http://www.investorwords.com/1447/direct_marketing.html [Accessed on April 23, 2008] http://marketing.about.com/od/marketingglossary/g/imcdef.htm [Accessed on April 17, 2008] http://www.multimediamarketing.com/mkc/marketingcommunications/ Moriarty, Sandra E. PR and IMC: The benefits of integration. Public Relations Quarterly, Fall94, Vol. 39 Issue 3, p38, 7p, 1bw. Dave H, Rob J, and Carlo R, (2000) Business Studies, Italy: LagoPrint

Anyone Can Be a Hero

Anyone Can Be a Hero By Jennifer L. Jefferson Com/150 July 8, 2012 Sonya Macon Anyone Can Be a Hero Everyone has heard through some type of media resource that there are no more heroes in the world today, that any or everyone we look up to has a bad reputation or not worth our time and eventually will steer us in the wrong direction. To our understanding this is not true there are heroes in our world, Webster dictionary defines hero as a male figure that displays superior courage and strength or a person who, in the opinion of others, has heroic qualities or has performed a heroic act and is regarded as a model or ideal.Heroes are everywhere we just need to look further and find the hero within the people we know personally or people we have heard about. A hero is strong and looked up to and admired by many or only a few. The Ordinary Heroes Throughout a person’s life we can experience many obstacles, challenges, and hardships; that we sometimes face alone. There is always tha t one person that we seek for guidance, inspiration or just to save us from anything. To some they are parents and grandparents to others they are called the ordinary heroes.In fact an ordinary hero truly can be anyone that appeals to be hard-working, loving and dedicated. That is why parents and grandparents are classified as ordinary heroes, in the eyes of young children they watch as their loved ones love, support, push and make plans for them to have a better life. It’s not easy growing up not having that one person that has your best interest at heart, but to have someone to struggle to make sure that their children and families have the best out of life is an amazing experience. As a son grows up and wants to follow in is father’s footsteps because while he was younger he watched how his father made everything possible come to life for him. On the web site â€Å"my hero†, a young man wrote something special about his father and he quoted â€Å"as I was wa ndering along a path trying to figure out what doors were safe to enter, and learning that I would need to be true to me, no matter the entry point, my father was making sure that any door I ended up at was unlocked and open† (Meyers 1995). What about a daughter who watchers her mother go through any and everything to make sure that she have the best and only the best.Of course, the grandchildren that live with their grandparents as they step in to take care of them, showing them that we are here to make sure that everything is just fine. Telling old stories about when they were young and how they lived their lives to make it easy for us. Since the day we were born, our parents and grandparents have inspired us, giving us wisdom, supported us and protected us, they are the most amazing people in our lives; they know what they want out of life and are not afraid to pursue their goals to make our lives worth living.Unsung Hero Lives worth living that were the unsung hero comes t o mind. An unsung hero is defined as a person who makes a substantive ye unrecognized contributions or a person whose bravery is unknown or unacknowledged. There is a multitude of people in the world today who are true unsung heroes that don’t even worry about getting the recognition that they are due; they just do whatever they can to make other people lives amazing. Wow, there is a person who is seen every day struggling with what is not an everyday occurrence.She works hard every day and through something that most individuals will fall to Chemotherapy. The metamorphosis she goes through with the ever changing symptoms experience within her outer and inner appearance is life altering. To look at her, no one would know or even think she was ill. She is also managing type II Diabetes and the treatment for her cancer interfered with her maintenance of her Diabetes. One would never know because she smiles and encourages everyone she engages with. She is an Unsung hero a hero t hat is no in the news, on the radio or even given an award too.This hero is not recognized by her family as doing anything special because they have become accustomed to now she pushes and continue to do for others. No one speaks of this hero in their political plat forms or when petitioning for the next best thing in the world to be among their personal items. This unsung hero is truly a hero for all times. Beyond the Story Book Remember reading or hearing while growing up about the people in story books, thinking about how everyone in them was so heroic and we wanted to be just like them.However, one that comes to mind is a story about a man name Robin Hood. Yes, he was an outlaw who robbed from the rich to give to the poor. On the web site â€Å"The bold outlaw† it gives a brief summary on Robin Hood’s life. â€Å"Robin Hood was a Saxon noble, and was forced into a life of banditry, using his cunning ways and eager servant’s, they helped themselves to the ki ngs gold and jewels, that were levied from the oppressed peasants† (Wright 2004). Although some may argue Robin Hood’s actions are not heroic.Perhaps, the better adjective to describe him would be brave. He was brave to risk his life with such a selfless act; taking from those with more to give to those with less. I don’t know of a modern day real life person that would do such a thing, give to the less fortunate by taking from those with fortunes and expect nothing in return but the satisfaction of knowing he helped someone is pay enough. Now, some may say what he did was wrong. I agree that stealing is wrong, however; his intentions were good.While displaying courage and sacrifice, this helpful act that Robin Hood did, has shown us how to treat the less fortunate with compassion and respect by returning to the oppressed what belonged to them was heroic enough to us. The Realistic Hero Finally, as we went through years in school learning about the history of our superior country, there was one man that was so real that he became the hero of all heroes. This great man was Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. , a man of intelligence and willingness; that brought people everywhere together no matter what the cause or reason.With his speeches, marches and taking on different civil right tasks, he showed us and the world that no matter what race, gender or background, we are important. On the web site â€Å"more or less† it gives this great statement about Dr. King, â€Å"We pay tribute to Dr. King, the man who has never abandoned his faith in his unarmed struggle he is waging, who has suffered for his faith, who has been imprisoned on many occasions, whose home has been subject to bomb attacks, whose life and the lives of his family have been threatened, and who nevertheless has never faltered† (Harris 2008).His efforts were so outstanding that it led to the March on Washington in 1963 where he delivered his famous â€Å"I Have a Dreamâ⠂¬  speech, Dr. King being the youngest to receive the Nobel Peace Prize for his hard work to end racial segregation and discrimination. On April 4, 1968 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. , was assassinated in Memphis Tennessee. To give back to him for all that he has done for us we celebrate his life as a federal holiday on Jan 15. Dr. King was indeed a true hero because of his persistence and forward thinking that helped to begin equality for all.In conclusion, there are many types of heroes in the world today and that throughout life someone believed that they were heroes to them. No one can go through life without an ordinary, storybook or realistic hero in their life. Of course, everyone has their own opinion about what and who can be recognized as a hero, but in our eyes these heroes within this essay are real enough to be considered as heroes. Many of us don’t realize what a hero can be characterized as without using technology, if we step outside technology and look within ourselves to see the true hero that lives within we too can become a hero to someone.Today there are people who we call heroes, taking on the roles and responsibilities to show true leadership. Stand up and tell someone today that you appreciate them for being that one person who is loyal, dedicated, selfless and loving like a hero.References Harris, B. (2008), More or Less. Retrieved June 25, 2012 from http://www. moreorless. au. com Meyers, J. (1995), My Hero. Retrieved May 13, 2012 from http://myhero. com Wright, A. (2004), Robin Hood Story. Retrieved June 23, 2012 from http://theboldoutlaw. com

Is tuition classes important to sudents? Essay

Students these days are increasingly pressured to churn out better and better academic results. As such, parents and the students themselves feel it is necessary to enrol in tuition classes. These after school classes, often conducted by school teachers trying to earn a little extra cash, provide an avenue to those who wish to improve on the subjects they are weak in, or secure a distinction for those they are already proficient in. Nowadays, it is actually rare to find a student, aside for those with economic difficulties, that does not attend tuition class. However, is tuition really necessary? Many students of yesteryear managed to achieve high grades in their examinations while bereft of tuition classes. Students who completed their studies in the 70s up to the early 90s typically did not attend tuition class, yet their grades were no less spectacular than those today. This is mainly because studying for exams, like any other activity, is intrinsically driven. One cannot force a student who is not motivated to swallow volumes of text and regurgitate it out during exams any more than one can force a tiger to change its stripes. Inversely, as happened of yesteryears, students who are motivated to study will do so even if the only illumination available is a guttering candle. Another unsettling aspect of modern tuition classes is that it is only available to those who can afford it. Popular teachers command top dollar for students to enrol in their classes, or have such a large class that one could mistake it for a school assembly. Tuition, unlike teachers teaching in school, is profit driven. Tuition centres allow teachers to rent their space for a percentage of the profits. If however the teacher under performs or is not economically viable, he or she will soon be given the boot. Due to its market driven structure, one can consider tuition classes a form of elitism. Students will proudly compare which of their teachers is better or how they managed to secure a position in a class with a famous teacher, while student who are from the poorer economic group can only stand by and watch. This, in turn, enforces the class divide later on. Tuition’s concept is to allow the student to practice a subject more than the given amount of hours in school. This theoretically helps the student  improve the said subject. For a majority, it really does work. Students do improve after participating in tuition classes. However, as pointed out above, studying is an intrinsic value. A student dragged kicking and screaming to do more exercises on a hated subject could potentially worsen the situation, rather than improve it. The same concept, however, has allowed for some students to truly unlock their potential. Given the vast kaleidoscope of human interactions, it is entirely possible that a student does not â€Å"click† with his or her school teacher, but gets merrily along with the tuition teacher. Any psychologist will attest to that when a person is affable to another, the quality and quantity of the message conveyed has increased potency. It is possible that a student dislikes a given subject in school, but pays complete attention in tuition classes due to the quality and charisma of the teacher. When this happens, the tuition class fulfils its objective of improving the student’s said subject. Tuition classes play a subtle, but highly important role that is not limited to the academic arena . Students from various schools often meet in tuition classes. This leads to interaction between students of different schools, classes and creeds. This lays an important foundation in the construction of a sociable person later on. The foundation of which a proper, functioning person who contributes back to society later on is built upon may, unlikely as it seems, be built during an Additional Mathematics tuition class. So is tuition necessary? My personal belief leans toward yes, it is necessary, but only for this day and age. Had this question been asked ten, twenty or even thirty years earlier, my answer would have been an unequivocal no.

Causes of the Mexican-American War

The origins of the Mexican-American War can largely be traced back to Texas winning its independence from Mexico in 1836. Following his defeat at the Battle of San Jacinto (4/21/1836), Mexican General Antonio Là ³pez de Santa Anna was captured and forced to recognize the sovereignty of the Republic of Texas in exchange for his freedom. The Mexican government, however, refused to honor Santa Anna’s agreement, stating that he was not authorized to make such a deal and that it still considered Texas a province in rebellion. Any thoughts the Mexican government had of recovering the territory quickly were eliminated when the new Republic of Texas received diplomatic recognition from the United States, Great Britain, and France. Statehood During the next nine years, many Texans openly favored annexation by the United States, however, Washington rejected the issue. Many in the North were concerned about adding another â€Å"slave† state to the Union, while others were concerned about provoking a conflict with Mexico. In 1844, Democrat James K. Polk was elected to the presidency on a pro-annexation platform. Acting quickly, his predecessor, John Tyler, initiated statehood proceedings in Congress before Polk took office. Texas officially joined the Union on December 29, 1845. In response to this action, Mexico threatened war but was persuaded against it by the British and French. Tensions Rise As annexation was debated in Washington in 1845, controversy escalated over the location of the southern border of Texas. The Republic of Texas stated that border was situated at the Rio Grande as set forth by the Treaties of Velasco which had ended the Texas Revolution. Mexico argued that the river stipulated in the documents was the Nueces which was located approximately 150 miles further north. When Polk publicly supported the Texan position, the Mexicans began assembling men and sent troops over the Rio Grande into the disputed territory.   Responding, Polk directed Brigadier General Zachary Taylor to take a force south to enforce the Rio Grande as the border. In mid-1845, he established a base for his Army of Occupation at Corpus Christi near the mouth of the Nueces. In an effort to reduce tensions, Polk dispatched John Slidell as minister plenipotentiary to Mexico in November 1845 with orders to open talks regarding the United States purchasing land from the Mexicans. Specifically, Slidell was to offer up to $30 million in exchange for locating the border at the Rio Grande as well as the territories of Santa Fe de Nuevo Mexico and Alta California. Slidell was also authorized to forgive the $3 million in damages owed to US citizens from the Mexican War of Independence (1810-1821). This offer was refused by the Mexican government which due to internal instability and public pressure was unwilling to negotiate. The situation was further inflamed when a party led by noted explorer Captain John C. Frà ©mont arrived in northern California and began agitating American settlers in the region against the Mexican government.     Ã‚         Thornton Affair War In March 1846, Taylor received orders from Polk to move south into the disputed territory and establish a position along the Rio Grande. This was prompted by new Mexican President Mariano Paredes declaring in his inaugural address that he intended to uphold Mexican territorial integrity as far as the Sabine River, including all of Texas. Reaching the river opposite Matamoros on March 28, Taylor directed Captain Joseph K. Mansfield to build an earthen star fort, dubbed Fort Texas, on the north bank. On April 24, General Mariano Arista arrived in Matamoros with around 5,000 men.  Ã‚   The following evening, while leading 70 US Dragoons to investigate a hacienda in the disputed territory between the rivers, Captain Seth Thornton stumbled upon a force of 2,000 Mexican soldiers. A fierce firefight ensued and 16 of Thornton’s men were killed before the remainder was forced to surrender. On May 11, 1846, Polk, citing the Thornton Affair asked Congress to declare war on Mexico. After two days of debate, Congress voted for war—not knowing that the conflict had already escalated.