This is something every pilot learns early in their training.

You don't do this:

Pilot: "San Jose tower, Cessna 54321"

Tower: "Cessna 321, San Jose tower, state your position and request"

Pilot: "Tower, Cessna 321 is five miles to the southeast"

Tower (starting to sound annoyed) "Cessna 321, and your request please?"

Pilot: "I'd like a straight-in landing on runway 30 right"

Tower (if pilot is lucky) "321 cleared for straight-in approach and landing 30 right"

Instead, you do this:

Pilot: "San Jose tower, Cessna 54321 five miles southeast, request straight-in landing 30 right"

Tower: "Cessna 321, San Jose tower, cleared for straight-in approach and landing 30 right"