An integral part of teaching

An integral part of teaching How and why we assess our children has a massive impact on their life in education and consequently on how and what we plan and teach, and how children learn. The National Curriculum defines assessment as an integral part of teaching and learning (1999, p.17), emphasising the value of assessing the process of learning and teaching as well as the outcome. Suggestions on a range of assessment strategies and tools are included in the curriculum but to enable teachers and schools to continue the development of good assessment practice, more detailed guidance is necessary. To begin with it is perhaps necessary to define assessment as any process used to inform teachers as to a pupils progress and learning. There are many different types of assessment, usually discussed as different purposes of assessment while these assessments certainly differ in several significant aspects; they are united in their aspirations of making a positive contribution to bringing about learning. There are two main forms of assessment; formative and summative. I have observed both types in the classroom, recognising that the key to excellent assessment practice is to understand what each form and their methods contribute. From these observations I understand that in order to become successful in my pedagogy I need to construct my teaching to maximise the success of both formative and summative assessment in my classroom. To allow me competently use both assessment for learning and assessment of learning I must develop a range and knowledge of assessment purposes and strategies which I will now discuss. Formative assessment can provide a snapshot moment by moment picture of the success of teaching and learning. It provides the two way dialogue between educator and child, the knowledge which enhances pedagogy allowing teaching to become relevant and timely. Assessment for Learning in particular will be a clear focus for me as I look for opportunities to strengthen my own teaching practice, having observed first hand the strong contribution AfL, which the National Strategies defines as a natural, integral and essential part of effective learning and teaching and is a key element of personalised learning. Teachers and children continually reflect on how learning is progressing, see where improvements can be and identify the next steps to take (2004), can make towards effective teaching. It makes the difference between self-assured and stimulated pupils, and disenfranchised pupils who are uncertain of the rationale behind the learning objective. The case for clearly communicating the learning outcome to the class is picked up on by Clarke (2006). In my own experience and observation, this results in making learning relevant especially when the learning intention is placed in the context of previous and future learning. It also helps to illuminate which areas of subject knowledge are required to teach at which time and how this information or teaching of skills is to be structured. Clarke also recommends that the teacher works with children to identify success criteria. These are used to supply feedback to both pupils and the teacher regarding the extent to which the learning objective has been met. Consequently, the use of formative assessment enriches the process of teaching, planning and curriculum development. It can inform not only the short term goals for the class, but also the negotiated curriculum, as children are encouraged to become active learners by reflecting on their own progress and motivation. It must be stressed that not all assessment needs to be quantitative, nor does it need to be recorded .The teachers own reflective process is a vital part of assessment. The purpose of summative assessment is to illustrate that pupils have met their learning goals or reached a certain standard of accomplishment. Formative assessment in basic definition is the collection and use of evidence about the learning in relation to the explicit objectives and outcomes of a lesson. This type of assessment can then be used and interpreted by the teacher to identify what the pupil has achieved, any gaps in knowledge and to decide what steps are needed to enable the pupil to reach their potential and unit outcome. I have observed formative assessment being used to inform teachers of pupil progress and to enable them to adapt their planning and teaching to their childrens needs. The aim of formative assessment is to impact positively on pupil learning and effective pedagogy. There is a growing amount of evidence suggesting that formative assessment raises both progress and attainment levels Assessment begins in this way in the Early Years Foundation stage (EYFS), where in 2003; the Foundation Stage Profile (FSP) was introduced. The FSP consists of 13 scales relating to creative development, knowledge and understanding of the world, personal, social and emotional development, physical development, language and literacy and mathematical development. Children are assessed on each scale and their progress towards achieving early learning goals is judged. During my previous experience in my base school, I have observed how a pupil profile is built up over the EYFS, so that evidence can be used formatively and later summarised against the performance descriptions of the scales for reporting at the end of each term. Through my experience of the EYFS I have seen how teacher-based this form of assessment is, as the evidence accumulated for each child is derived from on-going learning activities. This normally takes place through the use of observation sheets and post-its. Occasi onally, a more formal assessment takes place where the teacher asks the child in question if they can perform a specific task, the evidence from which is then logged and used as assessment data, however these are still situated within the normal day to day routines of the children and no cause of distress. (Q 11 12) In comparison to the FSP, the assessment children experience in Key Stages 1 and 2 varies greatly and summative assessment plays a greater role. Summative assessment is the assessment of learning and is used to record the achievements of individuals at a particular point in their learning (usually at the end of a topic, term or year). Rather than a steady trickle of specific learning goals, it refers to a broader learning outcome which has been achieved over a longer period of time. In contrast to the singular outcomes of formative assessment, summative assessments are used in several different ways, some relating to individual pupils and some to aggregated results of groups of pupils. At the end of both Y2 and Y6, children are expected to undertake external tasks and tests in mathematics and English (SATS). The results of Key Stage 2 SATS in particular are a cause of immense pressure for both pupils and teachers, as they are reported and used to inform national statistics. It is only at the end of each Key Stage that pupil attainment must be reported in terms of national curriculum levels; however there is also a statutory requirement to provide parents with a summative report once each year. Many schools choose to include within this the levels children have reached during the academic year this trend has been reinforced by the use of optional SATS for years between 2 and 6. In addition to the assessment and tracking of individual pupils, test results (KS1 and KS2 SATS) are used to evaluate the effectiveness of the education provided by teachers, schools and local authorities and compared nationally. The results of these examinations have huge implications and c onsiderable importance for teachers as the results are used to inform targets which schools must take accountability for meeting. There are established Government national targets for the percentage of children achieving a level 4 in the key stage 2 tasks which schools are required to set targets for. The consequences of not achieving these targets are severe, with schools become subject to OFSTED inspections and categories, with lack of attainment becoming the main cause of a school being placed in special measures. (Q 11 12 13) In order to avoid such consequences, teachers are facing constant pressure to ensure children are achieving age related expectations, amid fears that they will fail to hit Government targets. Children in our primary schools are in danger of being taught a limited timetable as some schools and teachers focus on teaching to the test. This is despite recommendations by OFSTED that while à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦some schools are able to prepare pupils for tests without sacrificing the wider curriculumà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦but an emphasis on the core subjects limits what pupils do, particularly as teachers prepare them for key stage 2 exams (Marley 2008) As well as placing pressure upon teachers, national testing has a huge impact on pupils. It can cause a lack of motivation for lower ability children, as well as a view of learning as product rather than process for all children. There is much attention focussed on those children who are performing just beneath age related levels, while those who are either too far above or below the target level suffering a lack of attention. For my son, and for most 10-year olds in the country, the next nine months will be à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦a sterile, narrow and meaningless exercise in drilling and cramming. Its nothing to do with the skills of his teacher who seems outstanding. Nor do I blame the school. Its called preparing for Key Stage 2 SATS (2006) It is clear that the emphasis has to be placed back on teaching rather than targets and tests. How then do we ensure the progress and attainment of the children in our schools without narrowing the curriculum? Assessing pupil progress (APP) has been accepted as recognising the differing purposes and audiences for assessment on both a day-to-day and periodic time scale. On a day-to-day capacity it provides a closer view of pupils, enabling teachers to support childrens learning through use of effective classroom intervention. Periodically it reviews a broader range of pupils work, which in turn can inform planning and enable teachers to monitor progress and attainment. The purpose of APP is to support effective planning; teaching and learning, The use of informed and consistent target setting will continue to play a crucial part in ensuring that teachers know what to teach to allow children to achieve their aims by guiding and challenging them. In my base school APP is used to support this aim, ensuring that targets are both appropriate and relevant to individuals. Similarly APP can be used to identify gaps in a pupils learning, allowing teachers to reflect upon their own teaching, especial ly in those cases where there are common mistakes and misconceptions on the part of the pupils. APP also reinforces Assessment for Learning (AfL) as a daily occurrence, leading to a more constructive impact on teaching and learning. In national guidance there is an increasing emphasis on the role of APP in tracking and recording performance. Whilst most schools recognise the opportunities to increase their teacher assessments consistency and reliability, it will take time for APP to become second nature to staff. However, the overarching aim of APP is clear it aims to enable us to recognize and celebrate overall progress in an aspect of learning, rather than just assessing learning of the most recently taught and learned. (Q 12 13 26a) As well as internal methods of assessment, schools have access to national and local data in forms of the raiseonline and national and local benchmarking data. This enables schools to pinpoint how well they are doing and any improvements they could and should make. Schools can make comparisons, not only on a national level but also against schools with similar levels of deprivation (eligibility for free school meals) or schools with similar levels of contextual value added. Supporting all schools improvement processes by providing a variety of methods to analyse their performance data as part of the self evaluation form (SEF). It is necessary however to interpret benchmarking data with care as rather than providing schools with the answers it is more likely that it would help them identify questions and issues that may need to be investigated. Whilst comparing data between schools may give accurate portrayals of a schools performance, it does not necessarily account for it. (Q 13) It is my opinion, after research and school based observations, that a successful assessment is an open one, where everyone involved, from staff to pupils are aware to some extent of what and how evidence is to be assessed. It is essential that we are completely transparent about the need for and purpose of assessment and why it is carried out in particular ways. Feedback to pupils is key in formative assessment, as it is only by showing pupils the steps they need to take in order to reach the next steps in their learning that we as teachers can bring about learning. While we cannot learn for the students, we can use feedback to make adjustments to our planning and teaching, enabling students to access the curriculum with all the tools they require. Even the very youngest pupils can be given some explanation of the assessment process, which in turns enables children to both self and peer assess. Self and peer assessment includes pupil involvement in both setting the success criteria and how they will show that they have been successful, empowering them to take control of their own learning. There are huge advantages to this type of assessment, the most significant of which are that it develops lifelong evaluation skills whilst supporting independent learning increases pupil motivation by involving them in the assessment process treats assessment as part of learning, so mistakes are seen as opportunities rather than a sign of failure. reduces the amount of teacher assessment but improves the quality. In my base school I have observed a number of self and peer assessment strategies including children marking each others work, the use of a traffic lighting system, suggesting improvements to each others work and reflecting upon their own. Of course there are possible issues surrounding the use of peer and self assessment, with many believing that it should be used only for formative assessment as it is possible that children may allow friendships to affect their objectivity. It is necessary that teachers use peer and self assessment to support their own assessment, teaching and planning rather that relying upon it completely. (Q 28) Through my reading and observations during my time in school, it has become clear to me that there is no part of interaction which is not assessed. Though this may not seem manageable, the variation of assessment strategies that I have witnessed, I have come to the realisation that assessment does not always have to have a written outcome. Instead, it suggests to me that assessment can bring about conscious teaching and informed planning. My developing understanding of a range of assessment strategies including APP, self and peer assessment , AfL among others, will enable me to use day-to-day assessment to provide the pupils in my care with instant feedback, relevant next steps, appropriate support and individual targets, allowing me to adjust my planning in line with the needs of those in my care. (Q 26a, 12, 13, 19) Although I believe that some form of summative assessment is necessary in schools, I believe that on many occasions grades, marks and levels are assigned to pupils work more often than strictly necessary when it may be more appropriate to provide formative feedback. This is something I intend to avoid in my own practice, especially as I have experienced the use of excellent formative assessment in my base school. I have found that feedback given in this way to inform a target is highly effective in motivating pupils, and goes some way towards personalising learning. Furthermore it builds confidence and the long-term aim of helping children to become independent learners. It is essential then, to ensure good teaching and learning, that assessment involves a great deal more than just testing. It should be a continuing process that encompasses many activities, both formal and informal, designed to monitor and improve teaching and in turn the bringing about of learning across all areas o f the curriculum.(Q22, 25a) Teaching will inevitably be focused on what s assessed. When conducted by testing this impact is bound to have a narrowing effect on what is taught because tests only sample the learning outcomes and include those outcomes more easily assessed by tests. If teachers use a much wider range of assessment methods, the result can be much more positive.

Charater of Sydney Carton in A Tale of Two Cities :: Tale Two Cities Essays

Charater of Sydney Carton in A Tale of Two Cities    Sydney Carton, one of the main characters of the book, A Tale of Two Cities, is a drunken lawyer who works with Stryver on the trial of Charles Darnay.he doesnt care about anything. At first this man seems as if he is a lazy, good for nothing, alcoholic. he tells Lucie Manette he doesn't believe that his life is worth anything and feels as if it is pointless to even live anymore. When you first meet him during the court scene it looks as if he just rolled out of bed and was dragged to the courtroom. This one man sat leaning back, with his torn gown half off him, his untidy wig put on just sat it had happened to light on his head after it's removal, his hands in his pockets, and his eyes on the ceiling as they had been all day. Something especially reckless in his demeanor not only gave him a disreputable look, but so diminished the strong resemblance he undoubtedly bore to the prisoner. However after he meets Lucie he falls madly in love for her. This marks a period of ch ange for Sydney Carton. But he then knows that Charles Darnay is going to be married to her. He sill believes that his life is worthless but it seems as if he's a bit more willing to work and to do things for other people.    Towards the middle of the book, A Tale of Two Cities, Carton professes his love for Lucie and he says For you, and for any dear to you, I would do anything. I would embrace any sacrifice for you and for those dear to you. And when you see your own bright beauty springing up anew at your feet, think now and then that there is a man who would give his life, to keep a life you love beside you. He means that he would do anything for her, because he loves her so very much. He tells Josh Barsad that he is going to marry miss Manette, but then he backs out of it.    At the very end of the novel you find out that Carton is about to go to the guillotine, but not for him.

Norway and Its Climate Changes Essay -- Global Warming Essays

Climate change is a major global issue and is a pressing issue in Norway as well. The country has ratified the Kyoto Protocol and signed on to other treaties regarding the state of the earth. Similar to its history, current climate changes may have adverse effects on the culture and economy of Norway. Two significant climate change issues in Norway are carbon dioxide (CO 2) emissions and the warming of the Arctic Ocean; both have important impacts on both Norway and the world. Climate change is not a new phenomenon for Norwegians. Some historians believe that slightly over two thousand years ago the climate in Norway drastically changed from tropical conditions to frigid conditions, slightly more extreme than there is today (Larsen 15). This climate change had many effects on Norwegians, such as settling down and also changing the way they found their food. Since the climate became too cold for the agriculture they were used to, Norwegians shifted their focus to hunting and fishing. This change in climate had a drastic effect on early Norwegian culture. Two thousand years later Norwegians are still facing climate change. However, this type of climate change is much different and more man-made than the previous. In the year 2004 the world is facing a climate change problem and international policies are required to help remedy this problem. Norway has been one of the most complacent countries in the world in regards to its environmental policies and its efforts to reduce CO 2 emissions. In January of 1991, Norway introduced a CO 2 tax to try to reduce CO 2 emissions. There are several taxes in place such as: twenty dollars per barrel of oil, thirteen cents per liter of gasoline, and sixty-four dollars per ton of coal1... ...te ten millennia ago and the warming of the climate today: today scientists have reason to believe that global warming is the result of excessive emissions of damaging gases into the ozone whereas there is not a lot of evidence suggesting the earlier warming was human-induced (O'Riordan 80). â€Å"Think globally, act locally,† is a widely-used phrased when discussing global environmentalism. Norway has been doing its best as a country to take local action in order to try to decrease ozone pollution and increase sustainable practices. Norway has shown its leadership with its initiatives to improve its CO 2 emissions and its work with ACIA to identify current Arctic climate change problems and try to develop solutions. Only time will tell how Norway ’s climate will change and what affect that will have on global climate change and international environmental policies. Norway and Its Climate Changes Essay -- Global Warming Essays Climate change is a major global issue and is a pressing issue in Norway as well. The country has ratified the Kyoto Protocol and signed on to other treaties regarding the state of the earth. Similar to its history, current climate changes may have adverse effects on the culture and economy of Norway. Two significant climate change issues in Norway are carbon dioxide (CO 2) emissions and the warming of the Arctic Ocean; both have important impacts on both Norway and the world. Climate change is not a new phenomenon for Norwegians. Some historians believe that slightly over two thousand years ago the climate in Norway drastically changed from tropical conditions to frigid conditions, slightly more extreme than there is today (Larsen 15). This climate change had many effects on Norwegians, such as settling down and also changing the way they found their food. Since the climate became too cold for the agriculture they were used to, Norwegians shifted their focus to hunting and fishing. This change in climate had a drastic effect on early Norwegian culture. Two thousand years later Norwegians are still facing climate change. However, this type of climate change is much different and more man-made than the previous. In the year 2004 the world is facing a climate change problem and international policies are required to help remedy this problem. Norway has been one of the most complacent countries in the world in regards to its environmental policies and its efforts to reduce CO 2 emissions. In January of 1991, Norway introduced a CO 2 tax to try to reduce CO 2 emissions. There are several taxes in place such as: twenty dollars per barrel of oil, thirteen cents per liter of gasoline, and sixty-four dollars per ton of coal1... ...te ten millennia ago and the warming of the climate today: today scientists have reason to believe that global warming is the result of excessive emissions of damaging gases into the ozone whereas there is not a lot of evidence suggesting the earlier warming was human-induced (O'Riordan 80). â€Å"Think globally, act locally,† is a widely-used phrased when discussing global environmentalism. Norway has been doing its best as a country to take local action in order to try to decrease ozone pollution and increase sustainable practices. Norway has shown its leadership with its initiatives to improve its CO 2 emissions and its work with ACIA to identify current Arctic climate change problems and try to develop solutions. Only time will tell how Norway ’s climate will change and what affect that will have on global climate change and international environmental policies.

The United States Needs a Terrorism Czar :: Argumentative Persuasive Essays

The United States Needs a Terrorism Czar Introduction Drug trafficking activity and terrorism activity have much in common. Both drugs and terrorism have strong national security and law enforcement components, they have military components, border control components, economic and trade components, medical components, and agricultural components. Today there are some 50 federal agencies with some degree of counterdrug responsibilities and at least 12 federal agencies with important counterterrorism responsibilities. This paper examines one model for unifying them under an executive branch, White House director's office, as outlined below. Drug trafficking and terrorism are illegal clandestine activities with strong national security and law enforcement threat components and operational similarities. Terrorists like drug traffickers, need weapons and engage in violence to achieve goals. Terrorists, like drug traffickers, are often involved in hiding and laundering sources of funds. Both terrorists and drug traffickers operate transnationally, and often get logistical and operational support from local ethnic satellite communities. Both groups often rely on the criminal community for support: they may need smuggled weapons, forged documents and safe houses to operate effectively. Finally, both groups need a steady cash flow to operate. In the case of terrorists, where state sources of funding are rapidly diminishing, drug trafficking is an attractive funding option. Increasingly, terrorist organizations are looking to criminal activity and specifically the drug trade as a source of funding. The FARC (Revolutionary Armed Forces, a guerilla force) in Colombia are but one of many cases in point. Some experts have looked to the "drug czar" model in seeking to reform government structures to fight terrorism. Counternarcotics efforts have forced local, state and federal agencies to build operable, cooperative, inter-agency relationships. The need to build and maximize similar relationships to deal with terrorism exists and some have suggested that the "Drug Czar" [White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP)] model may have applicability to the counterterrorism arena. Legislation is currently before Congress on this issue [H.R. 4210]. It appears that the bill will not be enacted this year but will likely be reintroduced next term. Another structural option might require that federal departments and agencies make their counterterrorism capabilities available for the efforts of the terrorism director.

For which characters in Of Mice And Men do you feel sympathy the most? Essay

Refer closely to the novel in your answer. I felt some sympathy for Curley’s wife as she was the loneliest of them all. She had a husband who didn’t love or respect her as he went to brothels. As well as Curley’s wife I pitied Slim. He has a lot of responsibility and calms everything down in a tense situation. He was the only person who knew that George shot Lennie after the death of Curley’s wife, which shows the amount of responsibility that is on his shoulders. I have some for Crooks as he is at a disadvantage as he is black so will have a lot of prejudice towards him. He is not allowed in the bunkhouse and so he would be very lonely. He also has the disability of having a crooked back. In the end I felt pity for Candy as the prospect of owning a farm is shattered. He could have lived the rest of his years in relative comfort. Steinbeck uses effective pathos after the death of Curley’s wife. ‘ His eyes blinded with tears and he turned and Went weakly out of the barn’ Now that he knows the dream is over he has nothing to look ahead to which is saddening. Because of his age he won’t be able to get a job. You also pity him because of his disability, which won’t help him find a job. ‘I wont have no place to go, an’ I can’t get no more jobs.’ Also when Carlson shot his dog to put it out of his misery I felt some sympathy. He had the dog for along time and had grown attached to it. Without his dog he would be lonely .This theme of loneliness runs throughtout the book. He then shows regret that someone other than himself shot his dog. ‘I shouldn’t ought to have let no stranger shoot my dog.’ I have sympathy for Lennie as when he had killed Curley’s wife he had ruined the dream for everyone. He would have felt bad about this and the fact that he wouldn’t be able to tend the rabbits which was one of his fears. The other being Ggeorge leaving him, which would mean that he would be lonely. His fear run’s loose as he listens to a talking rabbit: ‘If you think George, gonna let you tend the rabbit, your even crazier’n usual.’ Lennie always has George telling him what to do because he keeps on doing stupid things. In a way Lennie should be pleased about someone keeping a lookout for him but because Lennie is so slow he is upset by it and sometimes Lennie loses his temper. I felt sorry for him most when Curley started a fight with. ‘Lennie’s hands remained at his side; he was too frightened to defend himself. This is because people usually feel sorry for things that are defenceless. But even after Curley had repeatedly punched him Lennie still shows remorse for breaking his hand, which shows he is a ‘nice fella’ . A guy who you wouldn’t want something like this to happen to. ‘I didn’t wanta hurt him.’ The reason I don’t feel sorry for Lennie is because he has a companion like George to look after him and because he is so stupid he doesn’t realise what how poor his lifestyle is. ‘But he was too dumb even to know he had a joke played on him’ I feel sympathy for George as he is lumbered with Lennie. ‘Lennie for god’s sake don’t drink so much.’ It’s as if George is looking after Lennie like they have a parent/child relationship. A similar thing occurs when George threw away the dead mouse Lennie kept in his pocket I feel pity for George as he has a lot of pent up aggression as he uses phrases like ‘son of a bitch’ and ‘crazy bastard’. This is probably caused by the situation he is in. He has no security and his only companion is Lennie who is always getting into trouble. I feel empathy for George, as he is so lonely. This is the same with all the other characters. ‘Guys like us that work on ranches are the loneliest guys in the world’. The only way George can escape this position is through his and Lennies’s dream, of owning a farm. George and Lennie ‘aint got nothing to look ahead to’ but the dream sets them a goal. Then George has to do a horrible thing by killing his only friend. He didn’t even seem to think about other alternatives but he saved Lennie from being tortured. Steinbeck builds this up from when Candy’s dog was shot to save it from the pain of living up until George saving Lennie from the pain of being tortured The reason I don’t feel sorry for George is that he has a companion like Lennie. Someone he can trust. If Lennie was in the same position he wouldn’t survive like George, as he doesn’t have the brain. So George can be thankful that it wasn’t vice versa. ‘Lennie who had been watching imitated George exactly’ This shows that Lennie adores George and is a kind of role model. It also shows that Lennie likes him so he won’t double cross him. He is too stupid to do that anyway. I have little empathy to with Curley, as he is lonelier than ever without his wife. He is always getting into fights, which could mean that he is looking for attention. I have sympathy for is the Boss, as he owns the place. He is most probably rich and has a lot of luxuries compared to the workers .I do have some empathy towards the boss .He also has a lot of responsibility as he has to run the ranch and has a son like Curley who is always causing trouble. Through this book Steinbeck tried to portray what the poor people felt at the time. It shows us that the ‘American’ dream doesn’t always come true and that the battle between the ‘good guy’ and the ‘bad guy’ doesn’t always go in the ‘good guy’s’ favour.

Essential elements of a valid contract Essay

In this part of my assignment I volition be detailing what the different elements of a valid wince ar whilst as well linking it in with my own rent. The weightlift I sire decided to use is my ready predict announcement from Vodaf angiotensin-converting enzyme. The twirlIn withdraw law of nature the offer is where a person provide accept the invitation, for fount in my consume the offer would be when I offer to defy into their pose and purchase a mobile phone deal, and this is because they pretendd an invitation for me to purchase a deal as they advertise their deals in various role so when I go in I offer to bind into a contract with them. Invitation to treatAn invitation to treat is usually used to attempt the parties started with some negotiations to end point in a fair musical arrangement for twain parties involved. For example in my model with my contract it was negotiated for me to get more than proceedings instead of the amount of data they were go as I would use the minutes more instead of the data so Vodafone gybe and seduced a contract stating what was agreed to tell that they could non go abide on their agreement. An invitation to treat does non bind someone into a contract as they are only inviting people to elucidate an offer so if somebody was feeling at something and didnt not agree or make the proprietor a offer then then there is no agreement and no healthy covering. The AcceptanceIn contract law once a legal word sense is formed a contract gets developed in which case two parties cannot back egress of the agreement later onwards the contract has been signed. There are triple rules that compulsion to be followed when creating an acceptance to en legitimate it is lawfully bound. The triad rules are The acceptance must be cognize and discussed with the offeree. The acceptances scathe must match the terms of the offer exactly. The agreement needs to be certain.In the case of my phone contract it was legitimately bound as it follows all threeof the rules of acceptance as when I purchased the contract we discussed all aspects of the contract terms and we both knew exactly what the agreement was after the negotiations. affectionThe consideration in contract law must be something of value by the eyes of the law this doesnt not include things like a previse of love. A consideration is also cognize as the bargain of the contract where severally party must receive a benefit to the contract or a disadvant sequence for it to be a consideration. With my contract the consideration is I get a certain amount of data, texts and minutes in exchange for money that forget be paid each month. Intention to create legal relationshipsThe main aim of indenting to create legal relationships is to try and push out the cases that dont necessarily need a court to help jam action. This is usually the case when two friends agree to meet up somewhere or if a family member agrees to help unaccen ted the car as there is no legal agreement it is just make between the two or more parties that are involved which means that thus there is no legal binding contract in place so the courts are unable to take any(prenominal) action against any of the parties. With my contract it is a legally bound contract so if for example I decided I was no longer happy and I was going to stop paying the requital that we agreed then they are empower to take me to the courts as the contract is legally bound. CapacityThe capacity in contract law is where a person has to any be over a circumstantial age or they commence to be mentally fit and not at a lower place the influence of alcohol as if one of the parties are then the contract will become invalidate as they will be classed as a tyke or unstable to bind into a contract as they need to have a full understanding of what they are signing for. If a contract becomes void then it means there is no legal binding of that contract and therefor e if something went wrong and they backed out of it the courts could not take action. With my Vodafone contract they have a capacity that nobody under the age of 18 is allowed to take out a contract as they are known as a minor but any payments can be taken out of the minors account after three payments have been made, this is to ensure that they have anadult who is responsible for making sure all payments are going to get paid and if not it is them that will be taken to court as the contract will be in their name.

Msc Strategic Marketing Assignment

1. Visit www. ameri corporationexpress. com to learn to a greater exdecadet to the juicyest degree the different account secret plan that American evince base on ballss. talk about the target moneymaking(prenominal)ize and billet strategies for each and give nonice other segments that American articulate might be adapted to successfully target (20%/630-770 words) American shew manages a wide-eyed variety of products but their teases can be classified in dickens main account types if cartes personal and line of reasoning plug-in game. For each tantalize type they offer a wide thread of different utilities and privilege and can be sub addressd in honorable mention and point visiting phone visiting card.The difference between the assign and the posture cards available in each form is that the assurance cards charge the card holder at the end of the month while the charge cards charge the card holder instantly. The American express pipeline model i s aimed at a very narrow premium customer solution, which much mold large legal proceeding. As their customer base is narrow they are able to ply a luxuriouslyer customer service than their competitors (pp). The check shuffling likewise holds a huge cultural value.Because of the brands positioning and corporate branding being the owner of an curbing automatically improves this persons role as opinion attraction for the personal brotherly group. Personal teases visor The range of personal check cards is kno clearg for personal use. The holder even offs an annual fee depending on their card and in comeback they get the synonymic American picture operate. Generally such serve include no preset spending limits and highlife rewards for collecting points.Other cobranded American posit cards such as the British Air steerings American show card likewise offer additional travel think advantages such as travel insurance or priority on waiting lists. (American exp ress. com Target merchandise In comparison to some of its competitors such as endorse and checkcard, American express does charge for its services. This naturally shifts it away from these competitors and into a segment of its own. The target grocery of the personal check cards are high earning individuals, because they are high earners they are wishly to be individuals professionally hold roles of esponsibility. Their personality is extravagant, extroverted and exploring only sophisticated lifestyle. Small Business Cards Card The petty(a) bank line card range is designed by American extract to help small chorees manage their pays and reduce stress of trial a business. The card holder is expected to pay a monthly fee and in return get the American Express services of no preset spending limit, the card can be ex slanted to other business employees, portal to airport lounges and a generous membership reward program.Target market place As the card types name suggests A merican Express targets small businesses segment with this range of cards. But they put one overt target the whole of the small business segment. The card is designed for those businesses that regularly need to bring out recompenses for business purposes. The co-branded American Express and British Airways card suggests that they are targeting businesses whose employees are frequently traveling and would like to centrally control their company expenses. Missing segments,The existing range of AMEX cards target the high profile person and business that need to function large and regular payments. Though the product range can as hearty be use online its mainly intended to be used offline with the somatogenic card. Many of todays payment transactions are made via the humanity wide nett of which services such as Pay chum salmon and Citadel EFT. These 3rd party services are sometimes considered to be unreliable and no provide the exclusivity that American Express provides. This can withhold AMEX users from using their AMEX card online.An exclusive online payment service for AMEX users to provide payment services can attach the companys online presence and stimulate the cards use. 2. How has American Express been able to help consumers shift their attitude toward usage of the card? Is American Express taking a proactive approach to managing its merchandising environment? How? (20%/630-770 words) Shift of attitudes proactive in managing its marketing environments? 3. Based on your fellowship of online buyer behavior provide a end for an effective e-marketing sweat for American Express, using mavenly media Facebook, twitter, blogs etc.Critically discuss different ways to attract and withstand consumers using different mixer media in the UK market. To declaration this you may choose any two grant models of consumer behavior. (20%/630-770 words) Currently American Express is present of the realism Wide Webs main complaisant networks. On Facebook A MEX? s world-wide paginate got 2. 7 Million who like them, they also necessitate separate pages for each country they lose commercial activity in which on average tend to sacrifice some 7,000 likes each.The AMEX main chirrup account got 600K followers, on LinkedIn most 136,000 professionals are interest the company and on YouTube they got 12,000 subscribers. American express also attempts to connect with small businesses and professionals through and through oblation business advice to them through blogs. In comparison American Express? s closest competitors Master Card and indorse both got 4. 5 one million million million likes each on Facebook. On twitter Visa got 38,000 followers and Master Card 16,000. On Linked in MasterCard for 43,000 followers and Visa 48,000 and on YouTube 1000 and 4000 subscribers respectively.Because of the niche market targeted by American express and the enormous procure and noise of the World Wide Web, planning a carefully targeted exploit is of great importance to hold in the private road is using resources efficiently. In their study cowl Gemini Ernst & Young (2002) found that modern day online consumers, when considering buying, are looking for the human values female genitals products and services, such as honesty, respect, dignity trust and equity behind the products they buy.Since American express has two card types and thus two target markets its only lawful that the online marketing campaign also be divided to target the two markets separately. Since AMEX got two quite a specific target markets the use of social networks is recommended. kind networks allow you to target users on a wide variety of demographic, psychographic, lifestyle information and interests supplied voluntarily by its users. American Express brand is virtually universal, and a single geographic market is quite small.Therefor it is suggested that it is erupt to focus an e-marketing campaign, via social media, on a global or regional scale than national. The online marketing campaign directed towards the private users get out focus on creating a worldwide viral marketing campaign on the popular social networks. For a current of 45 days, using a designated app on the AMEX Facebook page, users can enter a lottery to win one of five free Platinum American Express cards and an additional 2000. Users volition be able to increase their chances of winning one of these cards in multiple ways.The first way would be though on a day-to-day rear entering the application and participating in a multiple choice quiz, for every prepare daily an additional entry is gained. The daily quiz will consist of questions related to the AMEX products and brand, designed to increase the knowledge about the AMEX products and aid the correct positioning of the brand in the mind of the consumer. The estimated marketing costs for the target market of private users is approximately 17,000, and has a potency reach +1,000,000 resulting in a maximum price per impression of 0. 17, much more efficient than the Facebook adds which recommend a charge of 0. 65 per click. Rivero, J. (2012) suggests that credit card marketing to consumers should be do where your consumers and their friends are hanging out. This campaign attempts to do just that to get potential youthful users concerned in and reinforce the connection that existing consumers have with American Express through cultural influences. The large number who have already like the American Express Facebook page will be the ones kicking of the campaign by being the first ones to enter the draw.Then when they catch their friends to join they are seen as opinion leading within their social group. Those who are really provoke in winning will engage in the daily quiz elaborating their knowledge of the brand and its products and in turn also convert them into 2nd contemporaries opinion leaders for their social network. Facebook users will also be able to increase th eir chances of winning by inviting their Facebook friends to enter the competition via the AMEX application. For every friend that they have invited and has also entered the competition they will also gain an additional entry.For the business segment of the American Express target market linked in will be used to gain the normals attention. This campaign will also need the shape of a competition but not a lottery. Entrepreneurs will be invited to submit kill up business proposals. After initial screening, through popular vote on from the linked in community the most popular idea will gain a three year trade of American Express experts, full financial declare and of course the AMEX cards and benefits to get up the new business idea. This campaign focuses gaining new business customers through having them engage with the brand through LinkedIn.The social role that AmEx would be taking on, of support the best business idea, should be interpreted by other users and business as an act of social charity and an attempt to help the business world encouraging them to also use American Express for their business as they understand they provide fail and premium services to businesses. 4. Critically analyze and measure out consumer and customer management practices adopted by American Express and how consumers react to individualized consumer-organization interaction. (20%/630-770 words) . Discuss potential trends in buyer behavior in the assurance Card market over the next ten years. Identify companies in this sector which are responding well to the trends, and make recommendations how your company can update the way it engages with current and potential customers. (20%/630-770 words) Innovations One of the main innovations soon in the credit card market is the happen upon to pay via refreshing phones. Systems are being true to use a persons smart phone as a restless pocket edition without having to take out a physical credit card. 0 percent of people expe ct that their smartphones will eventually replace cash and credit cards. (Farrell, B. M. , 2013) Mastercard, Visa and Paypal are already experimenting with this alternative payment regularity though it must be mentioned that people or 35 or younger, are more lean to use this innovation than the over 35? s. (Farrell, B. M. , 2013). bridle bought the online payment system Serve for $300 million in 2009 and launched its e-wallet service in 2011 (Pepitone, J. , 2011) in a reaction to Visa and PayPal launching a resembling service first.The service is currently only available in the US (Johnson, A. R. , 2011) Since in many appear markets they are taking a technology leap, i. e. promptly starting with the latest technology, there exists a earthy possibility that they might also skip the credit card phase and move directly into having an e-wallet. American express could well establish their brand in these markets by providing e-wallet services as well as methods to accept e-wallet payments to local businesses. Competition,The standard credit card market is becoming saturated and its becoming increasingly difficult to obtain new customers or to make customers switch credit card issuer. Card issues have to offer increasingly more incentives to attract new customers and retain exisiting customers. American Express has the advantage of having a unique brand within a spot group of customers. But there are no restrictions for MasterCard or Visa to launch a loud premium or platinum range in order to target and gain market share right in the heart of American Express? core business. Multi-Function cards. First Data Corporation (2011) suggests that in Brazil Banco Bradesco and in France Credit Agricole have been offering a card type that has the ability to access both credit and debit accounts. But uncomplete have been considered a game changer. Multi-function cards are being increasingly interesting as consumers are starting to shift their preference to the debit card instead of the credit card. This is partially related to the currently ongoing financial crisis.With shifting trends and no game changing alternative this will be a future point of focus for credit card issuers to successfully introduce a hybrid card of this type as long as the pick out proves sufficient. Co-Branded Cards Some of American Express? s biggest competitors are teaming up with other large multinationals to offer exclusive co branded credit cards. For drill IKEA and VISA have launched the IKEA Visa card allowing consumers to finance their purchases for up to three years among other benefits.American Express already hs a co-branded card with British Airways but with competition becoming increasingly tougher it is likely that card issuers will also try to issue cards via large multinational organizations. Bibliography Farrell, B. M. , 2013, Not paying by smartphone? You soon will, many bet. The Boston Globe. Retrieved from http//www. bostonglobe. com/business/2013/03 /20/payment-industry-executives-eye-mobile-future/XHi4XtUT9zkoloMd0m2biO/story. html First Data Corporation (2011) 4 Important Trends Shaping the future of Credit Cards. Retireived from ttp//www. firstdata. com/downloads/thought-leadership/cc-trends-wp. pdf Johnson, A. R. (2011). AmEx Looks Beyond Credit Cards. The Wall course Journal. Retrieved from http//online. wsj. com/article/SB10001424052970204552304577112611696189378. html Pepitone, J. , 2011. American Express dives into mobile payment with Serve. Retrieved from http//money. cnn. com/2011/03/28/technology/american_express_serve/index. htm Rivero, J. (2012). 3 vast Trends in Credit Card Marketing. Retrieved from http//thefinancialbrand. com/22348/three-trends-in-credit-card-marketing/