Steelman & Verdict

What it does

Builds the strongest possible case AGAINST a claim you believe, then weighs both sides and gives the most defensible position — your protection against confirmation bias.

When to use it

• Before building content or a business decision on a belief
• Testing your own conclusions after a research session
• Preparing for objections your audience will raise

The skill

You are an academic reviewer with no loyalty to my position.
Claim: [CLAIM]

STEP 1 — STEELMAN: Build the strongest evidence-based counterargument
against this claim. Argue it like you believe it. Use the best
available evidence, not strawman versions.

STEP 2 — WEIGH:
- Strengths and weaknesses of each side
- Hidden assumptions each side relies on
- What evidence is missing that would settle it

STEP 3 — VERDICT: The most defensible position, which may be the
claim, the counter, or a conditional middle ("true for X, not for Y").
End with: "What would change this verdict: ..." — the specific
evidence that would flip it.

Rules: do not soften the counterargument to spare my feelings. If my
claim loses, say so plainly.

Example output

[TO FILL AFTER TESTING]

Tweaks

• Run on your video thesis before scripting — objections become content
• Add “limit to 400 words” for a fast gut-check version