Dear Professor,
I am so sorry that you came to the conclusion that I have copied my English paper on ‘”Stars of Motown shining bright” from another source. I would hereby like to defend my paper by explaining how I got my understanding of the characters by referring to quotes from the story. The comparison of the two characters is evident in the primary source. The story reveals their differences, and my lines in this paper justify their differences. Honestly, in the entire plot, distinct traits of these two characters are evident. From how they relate, how they talk to each other, the characteristics are visible. For instance, Lucy’s envy and low-self esteem defines her. She knows that Melissa is more beautiful and dresses beautifully than her.
From such claims, I drew my differences of these two characters. The narrator says, “Lucy watched Lucy climb out, tall and lank in a short white skirt and sling-back shoes, her hair cut in a high ponytail. There was something about the sheen of her legs the slowness of her walk, that made Lucy sick with envy” (Orringer 146). To add on the same, the mentioned theme of sexuality is evident through the three characters, and the two girls have fallen in love with Jack Jacob. The narrator reveals this by stating that, “ Maybe if Melissa had lived closer, Lucy would have gone over to her house and whispered it to her ear in the dark. On the other hand, maybe she wouldn’t. She wasn’t sure how Melissa would react. Melissa liked Jack too” (Orringer 145-146). The idea of Lucy’s expectation of meeting Jack is evident in the same story also. The narrator confirms this claim by stating, “ She imagined entering Jack’s room in those pajamas, his eyes traveling over her, Melissa looking at her in envy” (Orringer 148).
I have not read the website you referred to, but I would like to assure you that I have not copied their writings even though you might think that I have had the same judgment about the characters of the story. The comparison of Lucy and Melissa, the theme of sexuality and relationship of the three characters
are evident in the story, as revealed in the above quotes.
I am utterly sorry for the inconvenience this may have caused, but I do hope I have been able to convince you that my writing has been based on my understanding of the story. I would highly appreciate it if you could reconsider my paper and grade.
Thanks in advance for your consideration.
Yours sincerely,
Diana
Work Cited
Orringer, Julie. How to Breathe Underwater: Stories. Penguin UK, 2005.
