← Chapter 7
English Composition · Chapter 7

The Stress-Test Rig

Engineers load a beam until it deforms, on purpose, before a bridge does it by accident. Do the same to a thesis: attack it in four directions, then triage every objection. Ones you can answer become refutation paragraphs; ones you cannot become qualifiers that narrow the claim until it is true. Ignore one and it stays in the draft as an exposed flank — which is where grades go.
Whose draft are you loading?
Attack in four directions — do not wait for inspiration

The thesis that survives

Precision0
Exposed flank0

Reverse outline of the paper this produces

Run the rubric before anyone else does