Write reasoning as numbered steps with explicit warrants…
Externalize reasoning chains by writing numbered steps where each step connects to the next through an explicit warrant stating why step N leads to step N+1, marking any transition that relies on unstated assumptions.
When This Fires
- Before committing to a multi-step plan or argument
- When building a case for a decision, proposal, or recommendation
- During any complex reasoning where the conclusion has significant consequences
- When your reasoning "feels right" but you want to verify its logical structure
Common Failure Mode
Writing numbered steps without warrants: "1. Market is growing. 2. We should expand. 3. We need more engineers." Each step sounds reasonable, but the transitions are unsupported. Does market growth warrant expansion? (Maybe not — it depends on whether growth is in your segment.) Does expansion require more engineers? (Maybe not — it might require better tools or different partnerships.) Without warrants, the chain looks solid while being structurally fragile.
The Protocol
When externalizing reasoning: (1) Write each step as a numbered claim. (2) Between each pair of steps, write a warrant: "Step N leads to Step N+1 because [explicit reason]." (3) For each warrant, assess: is this based on evidence, assumption, or feeling? (4) Mark transitions where the warrant is assumption-based: [ASSUMPTION]. (5) The [ASSUMPTION] marks are your investigation targets — verify or replace these before treating the reasoning chain as sound.