Talking and Writing. 55 The text above suggests a rather comprehensive portrayal of the actor Michael Douglas

55 The text above suggests a rather comprehensive portrayal of the actor Michael Douglas. We also read about his credo and way of choosing new roles. Based on this information and referring the conversation to pure theorising, let's consider the chances of his picking up the roles listed below at the time when the films were only to be cast. Ground your decisions on the materials of the article and your own perception.

· Tough New York cop John McClane in the Die Hard, actually starring Bruce Willis (1988);

· The veteran Ranger Captain John Miller (Tom Hanks) commanding a platoon of men, leader who must act strong in front of his men, but must also hide his emotions from them in the Saving Private Ryan (1998);

· Alejandro Murrieta, successor of Zorro, the champion of the people against the tyranny of Spanish rule, now cocky and comical, swordsman and dancer (Antonio Banderas) in the Mask of Zorro (1998);

· The romantic hero Jack Colton in the 1984 hit Romancing the Stone and its sequel, Jewel of the Nile;

· The young artist Jack in the Titanic, subsequently played by Leonardo DiCaprio (1997);

· Indiana Jones in Spielberg's Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade with Harrison Ford.

56 Summarising the reading and classroom discussions, write your own article about an actor or actress of your choice. Prior to writing read the stylistic tips below.

ü An article is a piece of formal writing we come across in newspapers and magazines. Depending on the target audience of readers, the article can be more formal or less so.

ü It will most often have a headline that summarises the main point of the article and attracts the reader's interest. Here it is normal practice to leave out auxiliaries, articles and some prepositions. You should also eschew the vocabulary of the article to avoid repetition.

ü The first paragraph may state a strong, firm opinion about what you are writing about, make reference to a strange scene or situation, be addressed to the reader directly (e.g. Have you ever…?), start with a quotation or problem which needs a solution.

ü The last paragraph may state a personal opinion, give the reader something to consider, summarise the article or, again, end with a quotation.