Study stuff using Normal Rockwell's The Problem We All Live With" and images by French artist Gregoire Guillemin.

1. Ronald McDonald picks his nose.
Working on PRECISION (substuting specific words) & CLARITY
(adding so readers see what we mean.
1. The iconic representative of the fast food
chain, Ronald McDonald digs into his
nostrils.
2. Ronald McDonald, the advertising image
for the fast food chain, excavates his
nose.
3. McDonald’s verision of a real “Jack-in-
the-box, Ronald McDonald gouges his
nose-hole.

2. (1) Wearing her signature fur coat,
her eyes closed in anticipation,
Cruella De Vil and Maleficent, a
staple villain in the Disney Universe,
snort cocaine, the drug of choice for
the wicked.
(2) Her nose inhaling deeply, Cruella
De Vil, and Maleficent, arranging her
bump into a straight line, snort
cocaine, their favorite pastime.
Cruella De Vil and Maleficent share cocaine.

3. Captain America drinks his tomato soup.
His head tilted, Adam’s Apple bobbing up
and down, Captain America, quenching his
hunger, gulps his tomato soup, his eyes
closed in satisfaction.
● Absolute: Head tilted; Adam’s Apple
bobbing up and down; eyes closed in
satisfaction
● Participial Phrase: quenching his hunger
● Action (specific): “drinks” becomes “gulps”

4. The Wicked Stepmother looks at her i-Phone.
Lips sneering, her stenciled eyebrows raised in
suspicion, the Wicked Stepmother glares at her i-
Phone, wondering if she is the fairest of them all.
● Absolutes: Lips sneering. Stenciled eyebrows
raised in suspicion
● Participial Phrases: Wondering is she is indeed
the fairest of them all.
● Action (specific): “looks” becomes “glares”

5. Mr. Potato Head sees his fries.
Grinning in anticipation, Mr. Potato Head,
fingers reaching, mouth watering, ogles his
fries.
● Absolutes: Fingers reaching; mouth watering
● Participial Phrases: Grinning in anticipation
● Action (specific): “sees” becomes “ogles”

6. Absolute Phrase Participial Phrase Specific Action
Head tilted
Adam’s Apple bobbing up
and down
Eyes closed in satisfaction
Lips sneering
Stenciled eyebrows
raised in suspicion
Quenching his hunger
Wondering is she is the
fairest of them all.
Grinning in anticipation
“drinks” becomes “gulps”
“looks” becomes “glares”
“sees” becomes “ogles”
Noun + Verb Verb + “ing” Descriptive/Vivid