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Warrant Template

Audience: Students and faculty

Use this template for weekly reasoning entries in any engineering context.

Which file should I use?

  • Blank file: warrant-template-blank.md for direct copy into LMS, docs, or markdown notes.
  • Copy-ready template (below): same structure with field guidance.

Field guidance

Belief update

State what you believed before this session that you now revise. Name the evidence or calculation that changed your view.

Assumption + failure condition

Name one assumption and the condition under which it fails. If it fails, note what part of your recommendation changes.

Show one equation-to-physical-system connection. Do not just show math; explain what physical behavior it represents.

Skeptical challenge

Name the first point a skeptical engineer would challenge. State what additional evidence would resolve that challenge.

Copy-ready template

# Warrant Entry

## Belief update
What I believed before this session that I now revise:
What changed it:

## Assumption + failure condition
Assumption:
Failure condition:
Impact on recommendation if failure occurs:

## Math to physical link
Equation/result:
Physical behavior it represents:

## Skeptical challenge
Likely challenge:
Evidence needed to resolve it:

Short example entry

  • Belief update: I assumed conversion yield was the dominant risk, but utility duty now appears dominant after weekly energy-balance checks.
  • Assumption + failure condition: I assumed stable feed composition; this fails if feed variability exceeds the last calibration window and would shift control priority.
  • Math to physical link: The duty estimate increased with higher reflux ratio, matching the observed rise in condenser load.
  • Skeptical challenge: A reviewer would challenge whether this recommendation holds under off-design feed; I need one sensitivity run.

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