SADLIST Cheat Sheet
Structure - Rhetorical Modes
● Narration - tell a story or relate an event
● Description - recreate, invent, or visually present a person
● Example - carries one or more examples into great detail
● Definition - deeply examines a word or concept
● Process Analysis - show how an existing problem came to be, or how it might be solved
● Division/Classification - divides a large concept into individual pieces
● Compare/Contrast - focuses on similarities and differences between things
● Cause/Effect - explains why a sequence of events matters
● Problem/Solution - clearly identifies a problem and provides a logical, practical solution
Appeals ● Ethos - the use of credibility and trust
● Pathos - listener emotions and values
● Logos - reality, logic and proof
Diction ● Abstract vs. Concrete
○ Intangible - Tangible
● Elevated vs. Colloquial
○ Complex words, superior tone Everyday jargon
● Convoluted vs. Simple
○ Complex words, difficult to follow
- Easy, clear words
● Denotative vs. Connotative
○ Exact meaning - Suggested
meaning
● Euphonious vs. Cacophonous
○ Pleasant sounding - Harsh
sounding
● Formal vs. Informal
○ Academic - Conversational
● Ambiguous
○ Vague
● Bombastic
○ Arrogant
● Didactic
○ Instructional
● Emotional or Loaded
○ Expressive - Heavy emotional
charge
Language -
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Esoteric
○ Understood by a chosen few
Idiomatic
○ Peculiar
Moralistic
○ Puritanical, righteous
Pedantic
○ Scholarly, bookish
Poetic
○ Melodious, romantic
Pretentious
○ Pompous, arrogant
Sharp
○ Harsh
Simple
○ Clear, short, easy words
Verbose
○ Talkative, wordy
Vivid
○ Full of life and animation
Humorous
Patriotic
Political
Sarcastic
Offensive
Shocking
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Figurative language
○ Simile, direct metaphor, implied metaphor, allusion, personification, hyperbole
Imagery/Detail ● Sight - colors, movements, shapes, appearance
● Smell - fresh, moldy, putrid, sweet
● Taste - bitter, tangy, hot
● Touch - damp, cold, fuzzy, sharp
● Sound - piercing, rowdy, racket
Syntax ● Sentence types
○ Declarative, Imperative, Interrogative, Exclamatory
● Sentence length
○ Staccato - short, very abrupt
○ Telegraphic - fewer than 8 words, typically omit words
○ Long and involved - more than 30 words
● Sentence structure
○ Simple, Compound, Complex, Compound-Complex
● Other characteristics
○ Parallelism, Repetition, Anaphora, Juxtaposition, Rhetorical question
Tone ● Positive
○ Amiable, amused, brave, calm, cheery, compassionate, encouraging, exuberant, jovial,
lighthearted, loving, optimistic, peaceful, proud, revenant, soothing
● Neutral
○ Ambivalent, contemplative, detached, factual, judgmental, indirect, informative, intimate,
meditative, nostalgic, objective, sentimental
● Negative
○ Abhorring, angry, annoyed, belligerent, bitter, condescending, derogatory, frightened,
harsh, hopeless, scornful, violent
● Humorous/Ironic/Sarcastic
○ Bantering, comical, cynical, ironic, mocking, satiric, taunting, teasing, wry
● Strong
○ Ardent, assertive, authoritative, candid, confident, direct, dominating, earnest, fervent,
matter-of-fact, persuasive, stern, straightforward